Settling Into A New Role !

Harry and Meghan will no longer be announced as " His or her Royal Highness " and that title of " Duke and Duchess of Sussex " will not have the same cachet. They have not exactly reverted to the role of " commoners " but the Queen has laid down explicit rules that they will be forced to follow. There is speculation that they may never again return to the land of grace and favour extended to those titled folk who permeate British society.

Britain is well known for its aristocracy.  In many ways it is a society that values " class " as much as India and just observing the flow of citizens on a city street is a review of class membership.  They dress very differently and when they speak the listener has no doubt of which class each person belongs.   That class rating is instrumental in deciding  entry into many professional qualifications and in the past was decisive in the makeup of the public administration.

Strangely, within this upper class there is a sharp distinction of rank.  It is the same " old money " and " new money " that divides society across the world spectrum and in Britain that distinction is rife.  It all depends on when you received both your title and your money, and that separation is chronicled in the history books.

The Monarchy in England had a turbulent past which is known as the " War of the Roses " and this was when many titles were created.  Wealthy land owners needed to pick a side to support and those that chose the winning side were usually rewarded with a title and the land of the vanquished. Those titles were hereditary and according to the law of " Primogeniture " both the title and the money passed to the eldest son of the titleholder.  Britain was awash with many younger sons who had minor titles bestowed by birth association with a title holder but who lacked money.  Along with the title came the privilege of a seat in the House of Lords.

A newer source of aristocracy came when the East India Company established a trading monopoly with the Indian subcontinent which ultimately led to the British Raj.  It was a time when vast fortunes were made at Indian expense and the victors returned to England and used their wealth to gain entry to parliament.  Wealth subverted power and it was usual for such people  to gain accession to the aristocracy by using their wealth to gain a bestowed title.  It became fashionable to craft a great estate somewhere in the countryside to add lustre to that title.  Such are the great homes so admired today in Britain's tourist realm.

Wisely, when the Australian colonies met to decide the formation of a Commonwealth nation it was decided that we would not adopt such a realm of reward.  The highest accolade would be a knighthood limited to the lifespan of the holder and that system has served this country well.  No doubt we will eventually get a visit from Harry and Meghan in their quasi Royal role.   They are joining the world of " celebrities " who gain public adulation by the news interest they gather and there is no doubt they will be made welcome.

It will be interesting to see how this defection settles in rank conscious Britain now that a remote heir to the throne has abdicated his duties.  A lot depends on the type of lifestyle Harry and Meghan adopt.  The fact that they will be responsible for earning their own living makes some sort of business arrangement inevitable and that may not sit well with regal expectations.  But a Britain seeking a new future outside the European Union will undoubtedly encounter change from within and this may be the breath of fresh air its aristocracy needed.

The world will sit back and wait to see how this episode ends !