Kate Middleton is in the hospital delivering the heir to the heir to the heir to the throne of Britain. I suppose he/she could be termed as grand-heir or something like that? And unless there is a spread of avian flu, an airliner falls on Buckingham Palace or the royal family is involved in a bus crash, this kid will not reign over the ex-Empire of Queen victoria. Alternatively, a minor Duke descendant may chose the Kings Hearts and Coronets way and clear the path for him/her.
[ Do check that movie if only for the exceptional jolly performance of Sir Alec Guiness before he made beer and Star Wars or was knighted as he plays the whole D’Ascoyne family.
http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-kind-hearts-and-coronets-1949 ]
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I am not an expert on royalty but I have seen babies a lot even at birth cutting the umbilical cord in my son’s case. Every time a royal baby is announced anywhere in the world, I cannot help hoping the surgeons are darn good less even with an episiotomy that little crown gets snagged and stuck and complicates the birth. In any case, my most immense respect goes to all royal moms!
I also find surprising how many people follow such things worldwide. I am a citizen of a republic which does not make me a fan and the followers that abound in places like America strike me as odd since it was that very line of rulers that their democracy was built against? I suppose it may come from enjoying a little People type of entertainment and being too caught up by work or laziness to keep abreast of the antics of stars as in music, movies and sports? Royal watchers usually enjoy a more reasonable pace in news.
Of course many can claim an interest since their own lands are in fact kingdoms. 44 countries are still given as monarchies. Of course that list needs to be explained. For instance, it includes the Vatican which is not all that evident in my honest opinion. The throne to which the newborn son of Kate and William rules over 15 of these so that in fact we could construe the number of Kings and Queens to be 28, a much lower number. That could come back up to 29 actually since Andorra has 2 rulers : the Archbishop of Urgell and the French President. It is quite strange that the French Republic allows its head of state to be Prince despite its equality motto. In any case, 2 Princes add up to a King in my view so the total stays at 28. 😎
Of these Royal rulers, we should mention 3. King Willem-Alexander rose to his title in April of this year in the Netherlands. Emir Tamim bin Hamad replaced his out-going but not deceased father in Qatar on the 25th of June and yesterday, King Philippe ascended the throne of Belgium. Add baby x and one could say the monarchy system is alive and kicking, especially through the latter.
And to close on this humorous part, do check this BBC piece on 10 strange royal births facts :
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22983365
As far as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are concerned, it is interesting that they have the style of normal folks. The simple lifestyle and origins of Kate certainly appealed to William. He is after all the son of that gentle woman, Lady Diana. One should remember how taken aback she was, somewhat suffocated by the ceremonial and decorum of the Crown of England. Her looks and normalcy often shine in her son and his companion. In that view, the remote chance of succession to the title may actually be a blessing of sorts for both the kid and his parents. For it will allow him or her to be closer to that discreet and charming grandmother that will never get to bounce him/her on her knees and read stories as she did in that kindergarden when she met her husband. With this birth and this lifestyle, Princess Diana finally finds the everlasting private rest most thought she deserved and should never have lost.
May the new family keep that memory alive through their future by being simply happy?
http://www.dukeandduchessofcambridge.org/
Since we mentioned the crown associated with the throne of saint Peter earlier, let us think of its present wearer as Pope Francis is onboard a plane to Brazil for his first trip. Although originally from Argentina where he was Archbishop of Buenos Aires prior to his election, Brazil is a great choice. It has a huge Roman Christian population. It is rapidly evolving and part of the BRICS group that challenges traditional economy. It will host the Football World Cup next year of which it is the legendary most titled Nation. It also recently made the headlines for riots and upheaval of its poorer folks. There is an excess of poverty in Brazil even though the country as a whole is doing reasonably well :
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/fa6737a4-f222-11e2-afd8-00144feabdc0.html
To a Pope known for his simple ways and love of the poor that denounced the reign of money, Brazil was given.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/17/pope-francis-attacks-cult-money
Still, the very fact that the chosen successor of Jesus is seen as the originator of a Throne for those who came after him to occupy when the said Christ clearly gave power and riches as bad things never ceases to amaze me and it is likely that it bugs the gentle Francis as it bugged the gentle Diana!
Finally, let’s check real elections by contrast to these royalty news. Elections are not always democracy’s shining moment. We all should remember that America’s complex system for choosing a President actually brought George W. Bush to the job by default in 2000. In many places, seats do not represent percentages of voters and we have witnessed governments that did not even gather more votes than their opposition. Then in Egypt recently, a lawful election was reversed for the “good of the country”?
And the violence that that change fueled is ongoing as we write :
http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/22/world/africa/egypt-unrest/
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/07/201372216452414482.html
In the news, Portugal gives us this :
“Investors are likely to react positively to elections having been avoided,” . Oh? So no elections is good for democracy, huh? 😉
Turkey’s government is likely to spend money and raise the deficit target in order to win its elections planned in the next 48 months!
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/22/us-turkey-budget-idUSBRE96L0NZ20130722
And last but not least, Japan is in the news. There were elections and these saw Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s party win control over the upper house in addition to the lower one that it already had. That is a source of worry?
As we saw in our pages :
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/02/us-japan-politics-constitution-idUSBRE94101D20130502
There are worrisome reminders of Japan’s Imperial past being uttered by Abe and other Right-wing politicians. And he has a plan to change the Constitution inherited from the USA after WWII in a way that fits those views. It worried me then and it now seems to worry more important people :
http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-07-22/japans-elections-rattle-china
That’s one time when I wish my prediction could have been found wrong alas … I do mean to inform my readers with proper prospective analysis and to tell them the truth on the state of things in this World of ours. But somehow, a respite from bad news would feel good and has me thinking that maybe, just maybe, I should cover royal babies more often?
Sigh! Good day nonetheless to all, Tay.
Definitive Lapse of Reason 