Survival of British monarchy DEPENDS on Meghan and Kate's Fab Four 'charm & charisma'
THE survival of the British monarchy will “depend on the charm and charisma” of the new generations of royals after the death of the Queen, a royal author claimed.
Meghan Markle visits Hubb Community Kitchen in 2018
The monarchy is set to change at the end of the long reign of Queen Elizabeth II, but its survival is in the hands of Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, according to royal author Ted Powell. The so-called “Fab Four” have already brought under the spotlight new topics and interests, such as mental health and female empowerment, marking a gear change for the monarchy. The way they will stay in touch with the modern world will determine the future of the Crown, according to the author of King Edward VIII: An American Life.
Mr Powell told Express.co.uk: “William and Kate and Harry and Meghan will dominate the centre stage for the House of Windsor for years to come, and the survival of the British monarchy will depend on their charm and charisma.
“It is exciting to see this new generation of royals developing their own agenda for the modern world, with their emphasis for example on mental health and well-being, green issues and conservation, and equality issues.”
Prince Harry and Prince William have been particularly vocal over the importance of raising awareness on mental health, opening up on the long-lasting impact the death of their mother, Princess Diana, had on them.
And Meghan, who has been an outspoken feminist for years before joining the Royal Family, announced just months after her engagement to Harry she wanted to “hit the ground running” and work on issues she deemed important, including gender equality.
But Mr Powell pointed out changes within the monarchy are already taking place.
Prince Charles embraced decades ago interests for organic food, architecture and the more controversial topic of improving the lives of people living in difficult neighbourhoods.
And he has even planned out how the future Royal Family should look like, desiring to cut costs and titles.
READ MORE: Moment Prince Charles publicly ‘EMBARRASSED’ the Queen and left Government ‘FUMING'
Mr Powell said: “Prince Charles is known to favour a more 'slimline' monarchy, focused on his immediate family group, Princes William and Harry and their families, and easing aside the more peripheral royals like Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.”
Prince Charles’s interests in current affairs drew accusations of “meddling” with politics, despite royals are asked to not enter the political debate.
In 1999, for example, he snubbed a state dinner organised by the then-Chinese president Jiang Zemin, a move believed to be a protest against the Communist state’s policies regarding Tibet.
According to royal reporter Richard Kay, both the royal palaces and Downing Street were left livid by this act of defiance.
He said: "Buckingham Palace's response was one of anger, so angry in fact that some of their senior officials briefed journalists about what they described as a 'petulant and selfish prince'.
"The Labour government was spitting tacks, fuming about it.
"They saw this as a huge breach of the prince's duty to the state."
But Prince Charles had reassured he bears in mind the difference between being a Prince of Wales and a King.
During the BBC documentary celebrating his 70th birthday, he said: “I’m not that stupid.
“You can’t be the same as the sovereign if you’re the Prince of Wales or the heir.
“But the idea somehow that I’m going to go on in exactly the same way if I have to succeed, is complete nonsense because the two situations are completely different.”