Prince William gets political
Prince William has surprised everyone with a statement in which he calls for an immediate end to the fighting in Gaza and increased humanitarian support to the people there. Traditionally, members of the British royal family do not comment on political issues. The media focus less on what was said than on whether the heir to the throne is entitled to speak out.
New openness to be welcomed
The Guardian sees the prince's initiative as warranted:
“The prince is right to speak out on potentially contentious issues so long as he doesn't trespass on domestic political controversies or frighten the horses at Westminster. We got used to his grandmother for decades not saying anything remotely contentious, but the modern monarchy needs to show it does not float in a cloud of unknowing about what is happening in the world - and most royal supporters are not going to quibble with that. Only republicans seem to object to them saying anything at all, seemingly preferring them to be out of touch. It's not as if William is suddenly going to announce his conversion to socialism.”
Moral ventriloquism
But The Spectator says it is not right for the monarchy to speak out on political issues:
“Who elected William to say the war in Gaza must end? Not me, not you, certainly no one in Israel. That the Foreign Office and No. 10 okayed William's statement, and reportedly welcomed it, is worrying. There seems to be some moral ventriloquism going on here. Nervous, perhaps, of saying anything too firm on Israel-Gaza, the government instead deploys popular Will as a political instrument to prod the debate along. Can we be more grown-up please, like a real democracy, where elected leaders set policy?”