Veteran broadcaster David Dimbleby has launched a three-part BBC inquiry with a provocative answer to the question of the monarchy's fundamental purpose: it exists to stop Britain from establishing a presidency.
The Spectre of a Politicised Presidency
In the opening episode of 'What's The Monarchy For?', the programme suggested the institution's primary value is as a bulwark against a directly elected head of state. The documentary posited that without the hereditary system, the nation could face the prospect of ambitious politicians jostling for the top role. The stark, unspoken example given was the potential for a figure like former Prime Minister Tony Blair – referred to pointedly as 'Sir Johnny B. Liar' – to dominate such a contest, aided by powerful allies.
Now 87, Dimbleby reflected on his own decades-long role in covering the royals, stating 'We at the BBC have been, if you like, the royal ringmasters'. He highlighted the BBC's, and his family's, crucial part in shaping the monarchy's public image, noting his own central role at the 1981 wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer.
Scrutinising the 'Black Spider Memos'
A significant portion of the documentary examined King Charles's decades of activism as Prince of Wales. Dimbleby challenged a succession of political figures, including former Prime Minister David Cameron and ex-Attorney General Dominic Grieve, on whether the King wielded too much influence. The programme detailed Charles's relentless lobbying, citing his 2,000 letters a year to ministers and policymakers.
Dimbleby framed this not as occasional correspondence but as a 'sustained industrial level over many years', questioning if it constituted an abuse of his constitutional position. This, however, was presented as a somewhat traditional critique.
A Defence of the Modern Monarchy
The documentary countered this argument by suggesting Dimbleby's view was rooted in 20th-century expectations of royal silence. It posited that the role of the monarchy has evolved. Where once the Royal Family was expected to remain mute on issues, today's public figures are encouraged to champion causes.
Far from being problematic, the King's well-documented passions for architecture and sustainable farming were presented as hallmarks of a modern monarch. Similarly, the Prince and Princess of Wales's work on homelessness and mental health was cited as evidence of the institution using its platform for contemporary advocacy.
In conclusion, the programme argued that in an age of self-appointed influencers and pundits dictating policy, a hereditary, apolitical head of state provides a stable and necessary constant for the nation's constitution.
