Recent news from Canada has also been bad for the family. Sixty-two per cent of Canadians want a democratic head of state in place of Britain’s feudal queen according to an opinion poll by IPSOS. Fifty-eight per cent believe their country should break all links with the British monarchy when Elizabeth Windsor leaves office.
The poll was conducted in advance of a visit to Canada by Windsor later this month. In French-speaking Quebec 80 per cent want to be free of monarchy.
The Canadian monarchist league opposed a change to the sort of republic with which most of the world is familiar as a “fundamental shift” for Canada “on a scale unheard of”.
Windsor, who is 84, has been head of state of Britain and numerous former British colonies since 1952. She inherited the position from her father and will be replaced by her son. The people have no say.