After playing the first song of the Diana concert, Sir Elton introduced the princes, “… their Royal Highnesses, Prince William and Prince Harry!” They came out on stage and walked up to him. Rather than bow, he shook their hands (ungloved) and even patted Prince Harry’s shoulder as though he were some common person at a spring break.
I guess my question is whether this was an intentional snub by Sir Elton. He does seem to revel in political controversy sometimes. Or was it an oversight? Maybe the case of nerves that he escaped during the funeral caught up with him here. Or is it something else? Is “Sir” a high enough title that he does not have to bow to royalty?
There’s no obligation to bow or curtsy or follow any particular etiquette. Some people go the whole hog, some don’t, it’s not a big deal. The two princes seem pretty laid back about it. They were just interviewed on TV and the interviewer addressed them from the start as William and Harry, no “your highness” or “Sir” or anything.
I don’t understand that. What’s the point of there being royalty then? If they’re all present, future, or potential heads of state, what’s the point in pretending that they’re just good ol’ boys and gals? I mean, “Don’t bow to me, just pay me for smiling and waving.”? What differentiates them from just plain ordinary celebrities?
Incidentally, if Sir Elton indeed freely chose his informality, I find it in very poor taste. Surely nobility has a greater obligation than ordinary people.
I mean, I’m no advocate for any nation-state. But when you have in place a system which you claim that God Himself established, why not at least play along with it properly and according to protocol? It’s like paying for a lavish day at Disney World and not going. The Queen is still the head of state, and if Sir Elton knelt before her and pledged himself to her, the very least he could do is behave in accordance with the system he endorsed by his actions.
Nobility is simply a religion which no longer has adherents. That the pomp and circumstances, so to speak, of royalty has changed is no more meaningful than Catholics abandoning the Latin mass.
In real terms, of course, royalty in Britain is just a set of gaudy toys for the public to have fun with. It absolutely depends for its existence on its total unimportance. If the Queen ever expressed a notion like yours, the monarchy would be abolished the next day.
Actually, the abandonment of thoughts like yours on nobility should give hope to atheists everywhere. If god’s representative on earth can be changed into a commemorative souvenir plate, then isn’t the death of all religion close behind?
And to address your worries, I suggest that the monarchy thing gets by just because people, mostly, really don’t give it much thought. If they want to keep their cute and interesting titles, well, I should prefer that they did not, but there are other political issues to look at first.
They should probably give some serious thought to taking themselves off to Hollywood and play at being the more usual kind of “celebrity”. Or, perhaps, Disneyland, given that one or two of that family do seem to have the ears for it.
It would appear that Elton might be viewed as an old family friend, one the boys grew up seeing and knowing more than just in passing. Even in public, such relationships might tend to allow Old Sir John to relax those standards a bit, no?
