Fall of Windsor: Part I - Setting the Stage

It is arguable that the British press, which has grown bolder and more intrusive over the past fifty years, is responsible for the downfall of the House of Windsor. After all, it is the press that runs the fantastical stories that challenge the monarchy. But it is truly unfair to blame the press for reporting on issues that were already there. How can a newspaper report on the Prince of Wales holding a lusty conversation with his married mistress if the conversation never took place? Indeed, how can any of the royal slip-ups that the press delight in parading across the front page be thus paraded without the complicity of the royals?

Naturally, there is a tendency to gawk at the royals at their best as well as at their worst. Their weddings, their parades and other events all garner major interest among the British people. But with this intense interest comes intense scrutiny, and so every time a royal is shown to be adulterous, immature, or even rude, the media cannot resist taking advantage of it. After all, scandals sell papers and cause viewers to turn on and tune in.

But the fact remains that these bad choices that are reported on (exploited, more monarchy-friendly types would argue) do exist; they are not generally created to sell newspapers or improve ratings. The final responsibility rests with the individual who makes a mistake.