King Charles looked for heroes to honour – and picked William, Kate and Camilla. Laugh? Cry? You choose

The choice of heroes: King Charles selects William, Kate, and Camilla. Laugh or cry? You decide

Monarchical Self-Adulation: A Farce of Honors

 

In a move reminiscent of a bygone era, the British royal family has once again bestowed upon themselves a series of grandiose honors, prompting ridicule and criticism from contemporary observers. 

The latest round of self-aggrandizement sees figures like Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, adorned with titles that evoke an imperial past long faded into history.

 

Camilla's appointment as the Grand Master of the Order of the British Empire raises eyebrows, particularly given the anachronistic nature of the title itself. As for Kate Middleton, her designation as a Companion of Honour, traditionally reserved for luminaries in the arts, sciences, or medicine, seems perplexing to many, leading some to jest whether her skill lies in the art of photographic manipulation.

 

The spectacle continues with the ennoblement of lesser-known royals like the Duchess of Gloucester, whose investiture as a Member of the Order of the Garter harkens back to a medieval age of courtly favoritism, even as the populace outside palace walls grappled with the ravages of the Black Death.

 

Not to be outdone, Prince William also joins the fray, assuming the mantle of Great Master of the Order of the Bath, a title that elicits skepticism rather than reverence in contemporary discourse.

 

Yet, perhaps the most egregious aspect of these self-conferred accolades is the sheer audacity with which the royal family bestows them upon themselves. The Royal Family Order, for instance, is granted to female members simply by virtue of their birth or marriage into the family, diminishing the significance of the honor itself.

 

Similarly, the proliferation of military decorations among royal ranks, with Prince Charles notably adorned with numerous medals, including those for service in the armed forces, raises eyebrows given the scant evidence of heroic exploits or acts of valor to warrant such commendations. Prince Edward's honorary title as Royal Colonel, despite his lack of active military service, epitomizes the disconnect between title and merit within the royal echelons.

 

Even Prince Andrew's accolades, notably his South Atlantic medal earned during the Falklands War, are tarnished by subsequent controversies, casting doubt on the appropriateness of his elevation within the royal hierarchy.

 

Moreover, the brazen self-aggrandizement of the royal family serves to undermine the integrity of the honors system itself, casting a shadow over the achievements of those who genuinely merit recognition. The system, originally intended as a means to honor outstanding contributions to society, has devolved into a spectacle of patronage and self-serving entitlement, perpetuated not only by the monarchy but also by political elites who exploit it for personal gain.

 

In essence, the recent spate of nepotistic honors only serves to underscore the archaic nature of the British monarchy, rooted in a distant past and out of step with the realities of modern society. Until the honors system undergoes genuine reform, the trivialization and corruption of merit will persist, leaving those truly deserving of recognition obscured by the shadows of royal self-indulgence.