David Starkey claims Britain is a ‘Royal Republic’
Royal Republic are a Swedish rock band but in a 60 second clip for hard right social media site GB News David Starkey has described Britain as a ‘Royal Republic’
Starkey is a historian of Tudor Britain but opines across any vaguely historical matter for GB News. On the clip he is described as a ‘royal historian’ and he has opined previously at length on the monarchy
He notes that at his Coronation King Charles will take certain oaths and the penalty for breaking them can be severe, Starkey claimed, drawing a parallel with Charles 1st who was executed in Whitehall on 30th January 1649.
Starkey claimed this is because Britain is a Royal Republic, an unusual formulation, presumably a reference to the fact that the country has been a Constitutional Monarchy since 1660. It seems unlikely that Starkey is familiar with the music of the Swedish rock band.
In further intervention Starkey noted Princess Anne’s view that King Charles’ plans for a slimmed down monarchy are problematic. Starkey notes, correctly, that there are very few working Royals. Princess Anne is one and three more are in their 80s. Another in his early 60s, understood to frequent pizza restaurants is not currently eligible, although Starkey didnt mention this.
Perhaps the answer is to retire the monarchy, so no question of working or public funding is needed…
And in yet a further intervention Starkey has opined that the settlement after the Glorious Revolution in 1688 meant that the King is simply a figurehead and the real power lies in Parliament or as puts it in 2023 King Rishi. Leaving aside the politics of the moment this seems like a view unfamiliar with the Guardian’s regular exposes of Royal meddling in Parliamentary affairs.
Historians should definitely not be political…bad enough that the original history was biased, ie written by the “victors”.
Charles should be declaring allegiance to the population…not the other way around