Anna Whitelock's recent article on the royal family's move towards modernity raises important questions about the monarchy's conduct, but it also highlights a deeper issue: the lack of transparency that requires constitutional remedy, not merely royal discretion. Relying on the sovereign's magnanimity to embrace openness is inadequate and archaic, as it leaves accountability to personal choice rather than legal obligation.
The monarchy has long benefited from opaque arrangements, with the government underwriting its undemocratic operations. Recent crises, such as the Andrew-Epstein scandal, have exposed the troubling inadequacies of this relationship with the state. The case for making the royal family answerable directly to parliament is stronger than ever, and there is a need to codify moral and ethical principles by which they can be held accountable.
When royal conduct is shameful but hidden from scrutiny by protocol, the celebrated 'reverence' and 'magic' that protects it becomes an affront to democratic principle. It is time for constitutional change to ensure transparency and accountability, rather than relying on outdated traditions that shield the monarchy from proper oversight.
