All aboard!
It was undoubtedly meant as a gesture of commiseration with the masses of unemployed Britons struggling to regain their footing amidst one of the longest and deepest recessions in recent history. Even so, the sight of Elizabeth II boarding a commuter train to reach her Sandringham estate last week like the most common of mortals made me cringe. And I'm not even a monarchist.
Unlike politicians and their wives who are expected to display the common touch, the Queen's appeal is largely rooted in pomp and pageantry. They form an essential part of any monarch's public persona. Strip away the accoutrements of ceremony even for a moment and what you're left with is a small, elderly woman in sensible shoes and a headscarf. In other words, an image wholly inconsistent with the royal "brand" (for lack of a better term).
While one might argue that various members of the Queen's family have done more to damage the royal brand over the years than her recent choice of transportation ever could, they (unlike her) remain largely a supporting cast (for now) and therefore only of peripheral importance to the brand (thank goodness). It is also a testament to the deep respect the British people have for their Queen that the royal brand remains relatively intact today despite the antics of Charles and the rest of that lackluster brood. But, that respect is attributable at least as much to Elizabeth II's near-flawless management of her public image as to her competent stewardship of the British monarchy throughout her lengthy reign (fifty-seven years and counting). All the more reason therefore to cultivate that image carefully.
Viewed in this light, her embrace of public transport last week struck me as surprisingly off-key. Moreover, the gesture was unnecessary. The Queen has already scrapped the Royal Yacht Britannia due to cost and cancelled an order for a new private plane in the wake of the recession. Taking a commuter train to reach one's castle therefore seems a tad silly. It also came across as somewhat contrived and therefore unconvincing. London mayor Boris Johnson cycling to work or NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg boarding the subway to City Hall are one thing, but the Queen on the Tube simply doesn't work. It's about the brand Ma'am. Think of the brand!
Sincerely,
The Luxe Chronicles
Now that's more like it!
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