A Real Australian Royal at Last

So great is the cultural cringe in Australia that the elevation of Mary Donaldson of Hobart from Crown Princess to Queen of Denmark was cause of national celebration: anything will do especially if it involves our recognition by old Europe. As suddenly as the announcement of the abdication of her mother-in-law, Queen Margrethe II, on 1 January, WfaAR by chance joined live coverage of the ascension to revere the new top-of-the-pole royal couple and their children including the male heir. No expensive coronations for the practical, sensible Danish but huge crowds in the streets on a gloomy north European winters day to see the new king (in military fancy dress) and queen, looking tired, stressed – and uncomfortable in their new roles – presented to their subjects, short proclamations by the Prime Minister etc. The Sky coverage was unbearable. Having long periods in which nothing was happening at all during the official handover behind closed doors, we were treated to the wittering of “royal commentators” Danica De Giorgio and Caroline di Russo (who has formal connections to the Liberal Party in WA and hosts the weekly Royal Report ie gossip on Sky After Dark) banging on endlessly about how wonderful the monarchy is and about whom the words “humble” and “humility” as applied to the hapless Mary, apparently a saint for rescuing and redirecting her wayward husband and heir, fell like confetti. All in all, a cold miserable event showing how out of touch Sky News is – or, that it appeals to a certain conservative element in the Australian community definitely in the minority, the rusted on monarchists who stay up very late for royal events.