In a stunning revelation that sheds new light on royal sentiment towards one of Britain's most divisive political events, the late Queen Elizabeth II held deep reservations about Brexit, according to explosive claims from former Deputy Prime Minister Lord Michael Heseltine.
The Conservative peer, who enjoyed decades of access to the highest circles of power, discloses in his forthcoming memoirs that the monarch considered the 2016 referendum "unnecessary" and "very divisive" for the nation she served for seventy years.
Behind Palace Walls: The Monarch's Private Concerns
Lord Heseltine, who developed a close relationship with the Queen through weekly meetings during his tenure as Privy Councillor, breaks the traditional royal silence on political matters. His account provides unprecedented insight into the sovereign's perspective during one of the most turbulent periods in modern British history.
"She thought the whole thing was quite unnecessary," Heseltine reveals, describing the Queen's view that the referendum created deep fractures within British society that persist to this day.
Constitutional Crisis: Monarch's Dilemma
The revelations highlight the extraordinary constitutional position the Queen found herself in during the Brexit process. While maintaining the crown's political neutrality publicly, privately she watched with apparent dismay as the country embarked on a path she believed would cause lasting division.
Heseltine's account suggests the monarch observed the political turmoil with concern, particularly as Parliament became deadlocked over implementing the referendum result—a situation that tested Britain's democratic institutions to their limits.
Historical Context: A Reign Defined by Stability
Throughout her record-breaking reign, Queen Elizabeth II witnessed numerous political upheavals and fourteen Prime Ministers. However, the Brexit referendum presented a unique challenge to the stability she represented, creating constitutional uncertainties about the monarch's role in a parliamentary democracy.
The revelations will fuel ongoing debates about Britain's relationship with Europe and the long-term impact of the decision to leave the European Union, adding a remarkable royal perspective to the historical record.
Lord Heseltine's memoirs, set for publication later this year, promise to offer further extraordinary insights into one of the most significant periods of recent British history, viewed through the eyes of those at the very heart of power.
