A startling revelation from a new royal biography has exposed a significant constitutional rift ignited by the late Queen Elizabeth II. The monarch's private description of the Scottish Parliament as 'lazy' is reported to have caused serious tensions within the Palace and with Scottish political leaders.
According to extracts from Robert Hardman's book, 'Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story', the Queen made the candid remark during a conversation at her Berkshire home. This private opinion, once revealed, threatened to severely damage the cherished principle of royal neutrality on political matters.
A Threat to the Sacred Impartiality
The core of the issue lay in the perception of the Queen's impartiality. The biography details how senior aides were thrown into a 'panic' upon learning of the comment. The Queen's unwavering political neutrality was the bedrock of her reign, and any hint of bias, especially concerning the deeply sensitive issue of Scottish devolution, was seen as potentially catastrophic.
Palace officials feared the remark could be interpreted as the Sovereign taking a side in the fierce political debate surrounding the powers of the devolved governments within the United Kingdom.
Controversy Within the Royal Household
The fallout from the comment reportedly extended to the highest levels of the royal household. The book suggests it caused a 'serious row' between the Queen's then-Private Secretary, Sir Edward Young, and her Treasurer, Sir Michael Stevens.
This internal disagreement highlights the immense pressure on courtiers to manage the monarch's image and protect the institution from any political entanglement. The incident serves as a rare glimpse into the delicate balancing act the Palace must perform behind the scenes.
The revelation adds a complex layer to the legacy of Queen Elizabeth II, reminding the public that even the most seasoned monarch could inadvertently stumble into a political minefield, with consequences that reverberated through the corridors of power in both Buckingham Palace and Holyrood.
