Liz Hyman 

Staff Writer 

With all the changes we have faced these days, the royal family has somehow remained mainstream. Though they are an essential part of British culture, it may be time for the Windsor Dynasty to step aside and gracefully bow out of history.   

As a simple American, removed from any impact the royal family may have, I can still acknowledge the unity they can bring. Queen Elizabeth II brought perceived fortitude to Britain for 70 years, which I admit goes a very long way for the United Kingdom’s success. However, the royal family gets the privilege of having very little accountability because their status allows them to abuse their already extensive privilege.   

Some family members have brought a sense of elitism and irresponsibility to the modern world and have yet to be held accountable for their actions. For example, Prince Andrew, Duke of York (the second son of Queen Elizabeth II), has kept his title even though he has a history of sexual misconduct and predatory behavior. At 64 years old, Prince Andrew maintains these accusations are false, yet he paid a vast sum to his accuser’s charity in a 2022 settlement.   

The Duke of York allegedly has a troubling 20-year friendship with Jeffrey Epstein (the convicted sex trafficker who seemingly took his own life in 2019). There was a settled lawsuit in 2022 that accused Prince Andrew and Epstein of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl. Though the queen stripped him of a few military titles before her death, Andrew has remained rich, royal, and protected. Not only is Prince Andrew’s immunity incredibly inappropriate, but it is also indecent to have such a large government (or rather a government symbol) protect such sinister behavior in the name of saving face.  

We should also note that the royals’ elitism, peddled as tradition, has decimated many people’s livelihoods throughout their modern reign. They have particularly harmed women, which brings us to the only silver lining: the late Diana Spencer. Princess Diana of Wales suffered endlessly as a member of the royal family. The family and British media ridiculed her in every way imaginable: as a mother, a wife, a figurehead, and a woman.   

Her then-husband, Charles, repeatedly teased Diana for suffering from severe bulimia in a recorded audio. The family’s toxicity exacerbated Diana’s uncontrollable eating disorder and mental health decline. After her divorce from Charles and before her untimely death in 1997, Diana became a champion of the people and for her charity work for people of color and disenfranchised communities, which the royal family further demonized.  

We now see similar criticism for Meghan Markle, another princess under extreme scrutiny and blatant racism. Sources have said the family was critical of Markle’s pregnancy, worried a black baby would offset a white family. It seems with the royal family, even when you’re in, you’re out, and I’m sure Meghan knows (and I expect Diana knew) this firsthand.  

In any case, a family that preaches unity in public but elitism in private is hardly fit for leadership positions, bloodline or not. We live in the 21st century. We do not need kings and queens; we need diligence and accountability. We need an equal playing field, and that doesn’t happen when elitism and old-world excuses for mistreatment, hypocrisy, and bad behavior embed themselves in the government.