The relationship between the monarchy and the British people underwent an unprecedented change during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. Along with these changes in society, Queen Elizabeth II had an extraordinary ability to recognize the need for reform within the monarchy. With one or two exceptions, he was sensitive to the social revolution taking place outside his palace doors.
He was born at a time when tacit acceptance of tradition was the norm of the British aristocracy. In upper class society, it was customary to hold the breath. British society was still following the traditions of the 19th century.
Despite the brutality and devastation of World War I, wealth, class and descent remained largely the criteria of status and power in British society.
The rules regarding the behavior of the royal family and their relationship with the outside world were very strict. There was virtually no scope for flexibility or adjustment.
When Elizabeth II came to the throne, a large part of the world map was still red. In the aftermath of World War II, British colonial rule was greatly weakened but not completely destroyed.
She sits on the throne as a confident young woman. That phenomenon was exceptional throughout the world because almost all the holders of power in Britain and outside Britain were middle-aged men.
Sir Winston Churchill said at the time that a new 'Elizabethan Age' had begun. Austerity, which was imposed after the Second World War, was gradually lifted after the Queen took power.
It seemed that the British monarchy was now secure and unquestioned. Although some isolated anti-monarchist groups sometimes criticized and shouted, they had no place in mainstream politics.
Controversy over monarchy
But in 1957 a debate began about the role of monarchy in modern society. And what was surprising was that the debate was delivered by a member of the Conservative Party in the House of Lords.
Lord Altrincham—who later quit the House of Lords and dropped the title of Lord to be known only as John Grigg—wrote an article in a niche periodical called the National and English Review.
In that article he writes of the younger queen - "she is sorely lacking in training" to take over as queen. Criticizing Rani's manner of speaking, he writes that listening to it gives him a "pain in the neck". He compared Rani's personality to that of "a proper schoolgirl".
Monarchy, writes Lord Altrincham, must meet the "almost impossible challenge of being both ordinary and extraordinary at the same time".
The debate that began after the publication of the article shows that there are different opinions in British society about the way the monarchy works.
Under pressure, Altrincham then stated that his article was intended to "protect the interest of monarchy, to strengthen it so that the institution may survive. This institution is too valuable to be despised."
Referring to the relationship of ordinary people to the royal family, he spoke of a "truly classless Commonwealth palace". He expressed concern about Prince Charles's education.
New times in the sixties
Altrincham fell under the wrath of the monarchists. One day, after leaving a TV studio, he was attacked in the street by the League of Empire Loyalists, a radical pro-monarchist group.
However, after the publication of his article, many people began to question the rigid structure of the monarchy.
Then a new era began in the sixties. The younger generation, whose words were not valued in the society, started voicing their opinions. They started expressing their likes and dislikes through fashion, lifestyle, music
Minister's secret romance
TV programs such as That Was The Week That Was began to directly mock state institutions. The secret affair of a minister at the time, John Profumo, was so scandalized that many people became disillusioned with state institutions.
The royal family has not escaped criticism either. In the face of these criticisms, Rani began to show her reaction in two ways.
First, members of the royal family began to play a more active role in various aspects of British society. They started going to different places, on different occasions to create the impression that the royal family was getting more involved with the society and people.
Second, as one British colony after another became independent, the Queen's role as head of the Commonwealth grew in importance.
The Queen began frequent visits to Commonwealth countries. He continued to encourage relations and dialogue between the relatively rich and poor countries of the alliance.
The mystery begins to disappear
A BBC documentary called The Royal Family in June 1969 changed people's view of the monarchy and the royal family.
The documentary shows Rani working, playing leisurely outside of work. Meeting a variety of people at Buckingham Palace. Welcoming foreign guests. Vacationing with family members at Balmoral Prasad.
A scene of her barbecuing was featured in the documentary which generated much discussion at the time.
But not everyone was happy with the royal family being exposed to the public like this. Many family members and many advisers felt that secrecy was a matter of great importance to the royal family and that exposing themselves to the media in this way would spoil it.
Lord Mountbatten of Burma, the uncle of the Queen's husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, played a major role behind the royal family being exposed to the public.
He thought the royal family should change with the times. Many call this thought of his "Mountbattenism" Mountbattenism.
Ben Pimlott, the author of the Queen's autobiography, wrote that Mountbatten began a "conscious effort" to sway public opinion in favor of the monarchy and the royal family.
The Silver Jubilee celebrations of the Queen's accession in 1977 attempted to show that the monarchy was in touch with the common people.
Along with this effort to be open, the process of change also started in the financial affairs of the royal family.
A system called the Civil List reduces the amount of money Parliament pays directly to the royal family. Rani began paying taxes on the income from her investments. Royal and family expenses were greatly reduced.
Sadly, many of the new generation of royals did not strive to maintain the dignity of the family and the monarchy.
For example, three of Rani's four children are divorced. When an unusual dispute broke out over the damage to Windsor Castle in a fire, the royal family eventually said they would pay for it.
A group called The Way Ahead was formed consisting of members of the royal family and palace officials. It was decided that this group would meet twice a year.
Death of Princess Diana
Issues such as the future of the monarchy, the provision of the royal family's budget were discussed in the group's meetings. Attempts are made to show how the royal family is responding to public opinion. They are thinking about these things even before people think.
But although there was a conscious effort by the royal family to adapt to public opinion, the public reaction to the death of Princess Diana in August 1977 put the royal family under severe pressure.
The Queen has come under fire for not returning to London to pay her respects to her late former daughter-in-law after a vacation at Balmoral Palace in Scotland.
Monarchy in the new century
But what the critics failed to understand was that as a sensitive grandmother, the Queen wanted the two bereaved children not to be too public so that they could grieve their mother's death in the privacy and peace of the family.
Breaking with the traditional customs of British society, many people behaved wildly in mourning Diana's death.
The Queen eventually returned to London in the face of continued criticism from several tabloids, and paid her respects to her former daughter-in-law on live TV in an unprecedented manner.
Then into the new century the monarchy and royal family continued to evolve.
Golden Jubilee of Ascension to the Throne
The Queen attends special days related to business, broadcasting, arts as a guest. While traveling to different parts of the city, he suddenly encountered local people. Rani also appeared on the sets of the BBC serial drama EastEnders.
Gradually a more "touchy-feely" royal family emerged that was more aware and tolerant of the multiculturalism and beliefs of a changing Britain.
An example of how successful this strategy has been can be found in the passionate public participation in the Queen's Golden Jubilee and later Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2002.
2019 is the year of trouble
Rani visited different parts of the country to celebrate these two events and received support from millions of people. Their passion and love for Rani was evident.
But when her great-grandson, Prince George of Cambridge, was born in 2013, no one could say for sure that this child would one day sit on the throne.
Rani herself called 2019 a year of trouble: her husband was in a road accident. His son, the Duke of York, had to abdicate all royal duties. And Prince Harry was looking to break free from the strictures of the royal family.
But whatever changes to the monarchy's complex relationship with the common people, it is clear that the public's relationship with the queen was very strong. Although Britain has undergone radical change in the 70 years since he ascended the throne, many people have always felt reassured about him.
Together with her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh - who died in 2021 aged 99 - Britain's longest-serving empress managed to keep the monarchy intact and bring it safely into the 21st century.
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