Royal Secrets: The Queen’s Fear for the Monarchy Unveiled
The Royal Family's Secret Feud with the People: A History of Palace Panic and Politicking
It's no secret that the British monarchy has long been a thorn in the side of politicians, but what's less known is the extent to which they've wavered between impartiality and active interference. From the Queen Mother's alleged distaste for Thatcher's policies to the current monarch's reported Remain stance, the Palace has consistently shown a willingness to insert itself into national debates – often with explosive consequences.
Take, for instance, the infamous 2016 referendum on Britain's EU membership. The Sun's front-page headline "The Queen Backs Brexit" sent shockwaves through the nation, despite being based on a leaked conversation from 2011 that didn't even mention the then-upcoming vote. Yet, when the Palace was asked to deny the story outright, they couldn't – and so effectively ended up endorsing Remain by default.
Fast-forward to today, and we have Valentine Low's new book, Power And The Palace: The Inside Story Of The Monarchy And 10 Downing Street, shedding fresh light on the Queen's true feelings about Brexit. According to Low, a senior minister claimed that Her Majesty had confided in him just three months before the vote, saying, "We shouldn't leave the EU" and adding, "It's better to stick with the devil you know." This chimes with what a speechwriter for the Queen revealed to me years later: "Her Majesty was not a supporter of Brexit. It wasn't ideological or even political – she just feared instability and constitutional tumult."
But why would the Palace be so concerned about the potential impact on their own stability? As one well-placed source explained, it's because they've always been acutely aware that if the constitution is shaken, "the glittering bauble at the top of it might also wobble perilously." This anxiety has its roots in history – and is exemplified by the late Queen's grandfather, George V, who in 1917 refused to grant asylum to his cousin, deposed Russian Tsar Nicholas II, fearing that the revolutionary virus would spread and threaten the monarchy.
When Lord Balfour pushed back against this concern, King George was forced to write a personal plea to the Prime Minister, arguing that the public's reaction would be "strongly resented" and would compromise their own position. Only then did the Cabinet agree to retract the offer of asylum – and the following year, Lenin ordered the execution of Nicholas II and his family.
This pattern of Palace panic has continued to this day, with some arguing that the Queen and her family have little feeling for the aspirant middle-class who supported Brexit. In 2019, Nigel Lawson sounded a warning in the Lords about the growing rift between Parliament and the people, cautioning that "undesirable but very often understandable insurrectionary forces" might feel they can no longer trust the British system.
The Palace's most brazen attack on an elected Prime Minister came in July 1986, when they secretly briefed The Sunday Times that Margaret Thatcher was "uncaring, confrontational and socially divisive," and that her tough stance against the coal miners was damaging the country's social fabric. This explosive story sparked a firestorm, with the Palace eventually issuing a statement denying any involvement – but many believe this was just damage control.
As Charles Moore noted in his authorised biography of Thatcher: "Mrs Thatcher had a sense that the story would never have reached a newspaper if [the Queen's press secretary] hadn't felt emboldened by those he worked for to put it out." Andrew Neil, former editor of The Sunday Times, corroborated this, saying, "There is no evidence to indicate that Shea leaked at Her Majesty's behest, but I'm in no doubt that he was broadly reflecting the views of the Queen and other senior members of the Royal Family."
The Palace has always claimed to prioritize national unity above all else – but as we've seen time and again, their own interests often take center stage. Whether it's a fear of revolutionary ferment or a desire to maintain stability at any cost, the truth is that the British monarchy will stop at nothing to protect its own power and privilege.
In short, the Royal Family's secret feud with the people has been ongoing for decades – and it's time we took a closer look at their true motivations.