The Duke of Edinburgh’s retirement is a reminder of the contradictions in the idea of ‘modern monarchy’ One of many peculiarities of Britain’s constitutional arrangements is the habit of calling the wife of a king the Queen, while the husband of the Queen is not king. If Philip Mountbatten, scion of Greek and Danish royalty, from the ancient House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, has ever felt short-changed by his matrimonial alliance with the House of Windsor, he has never let it show. Prince Philip turns 96 next month and he has maintained a formidable diary of official engagements long past the age at which Her Majesty’s subjects are entitled to a state pension. The Duke of Edinburgh (also the Earl of Merioneth, Baron Greenwich and Lord High Admiral) received generous tribute for the length of his public service on the announcement today of his retirement. His commitment to the work of a modern monarchy is beyond dispute, even to those who believe an institution defined by unearned powers cannot be modern. Continue reading...
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