Veteran broadcaster David Dimbleby has declared that the British monarchy must fundamentally change to remain relevant and 'in tune' with the nation. The 87-year-old, a stalwart of royal event coverage, made these comments ahead of his new three-part BBC documentary, What's the Monarchy For?.
Mr Dimbleby expressed his belief that while Britain is unlikely to become a republic, the institution cannot survive as a 'flamboyant display of power and wealth'. He predicts that Prince William will institute 'radical alterations' when he eventually succeeds to the throne, ensuring the monarchy fits the 21st century.
A Monarchy for the Modern Era
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Dimbleby elaborated on the necessity for adaptation. 'The idea of a republic, I was thinking about it,' he said. However, he questioned the feasibility of finding a president suitable for all four nations of the UK.
He concluded that the future lies with a reformed monarchy, stating, 'It has got to change in some way so that it is more in tune with a country that is after all no longer top dog' and may struggle to sustain its traditional grandeur.
This new scrutiny of the royals comes at a sensitive time. The documentary airs just weeks after Prince Andrew was stripped of his military affiliations and royal patronages following further revelations about his association with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Contrasting Styles: Charles vs. William
Dimbleby drew a distinction between the current and future monarchs. He suggested that King Charles, who as Prince of Wales was known for his forthright 'black spider memos' to ministers, may still be pushing his opinions in private. 'I am interested that he may not quite have abandoned it,' Dimbleby noted.
In contrast, he pointed to Prince William's recent assertion that 'change is on my agenda'. Dimbleby interprets this as a clear signal that the Duke of Cambridge understands the need for significant reform to maintain the monarchy's popularity. 'What William's on about is, if the monarchy is to remain popular in the future, it has got to make changes,' he explained.
The broadcaster also admitted his own surprise while researching for the series, confessing, 'Almost everything surprised me, because I had never really looked at it in depth.'
Scrutinising Royal Finances and Influence
The documentary will also delve into the contentious issue of royal finances. Dimbleby revealed that King Charles is Britain's 'first billionaire' monarch and that the programme examines the various tax concessions and financial arrangements enjoyed by the Royal Family.
'They have a load of concessions about money, the tax that they pay voluntarily, taxes that they don't pay,' he said, adding that the operations of the Duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster are 'contentious matters'.
Furthermore, Dimbleby criticised the BBC's own relationship with the Palace, recalling his 2022 comments where he slammed the corporation's reluctance to criticise the royals. He accused the BBC of avoiding topics 'they feel their viewers will not like', such as the Palace's influence over taxation legislation.
What's the Monarchy For? begins on Tuesday at 9pm on BBC One.
