From Queen Caroline to Kate Middleton
The most important story in the world at the moment is Israel’s genocide in Gaza and the mass opposition it has brought on to the streets.
Yet in recent weeks another story has gained traction. Namely the health of Kate Middleton, partner of Prince William, heir to the throne. She had an operation in January and has been recuperating out of the public eye. Conspiracy theories abound about what her health condition is and if occasional photos and videos of her are genuine.
One might venture, who cares, but as a distraction from Gaza it has an impact.
There have been comparable periods in British history. One example is that of Queen Caroline (1768-1821). She was the estranged wife of the man who became George IV on 29th January 1820. She travelled to Britain to lay claim to the title of Queen. George tried to get Parliament to agree a divorce through legislation but failed.
At George’s Coronation in Westminster Abbey on 19th July 1821 Caroline was refused entry. She died a few weeks later.
Just another Royal story one might think.
However in the wake of Peterloo on 16th August 1819 when protesters for the vote were killed and injured by troops, and the repression of working class and radical protest that followed, Queen Caroline gathered considerable popular support.
Radicals such as Cobbett swung behind Caroline managing a campaign in her defence and mounting attacks on the Old Corruption of King George. As E P Thompson noted in the Making of the English Working Class radicals seized with ‘relief’ on the cause as a diversion from the hard work of agitating in the post Peterloo environment.
He argues that it was no longer the ‘revolutionary cap of liberty’ that was hung on the Queen. This had been lost somewhere on the way between Peterloo and Cato St’
He noted that the Caroline campaign displayed every radical vice, an easy target rather than the hard work of organising a post Peterloo movement. Entertaining as the Royal crisis around Kate Middleton is, and a chance to attack the institution of the monarchy, the real work lies in Palestinian solidarity.
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