by Enrica Roddolo
Hugo Vickers, the historian closest to the Windsors, examines Harry’s memoirs. And he tells Corriere: For example, he wasn’t at school but was skiing when Queen Mum died.
“Harry’s worst allegations in his book ‘Spare’? I would say that certain reported experiences are perhaps more damaging than ignorance of family history, the Crown and so on, but still…” replies Hugo Vickers, historian, biographer of Prince Philip’s mother and the Queen Mother, the Courier from London and Lifelong Friend of the Duke of Edinburgh.
In short, if the Windsors, loyal to the “never explain, never complain” rule, don’t descend to the level of Harry and his caustic memoir “Spare” (Mondadori), listening to Vickers is a good litmus test, and not only to find historical errors, but also to understand the palace’s mood towards the king’s younger son, who after the publication of his book has hit a new negative popularity record: now only 24% of Britons like him, 68% hate him ). Only Meghan (only 22% love her) and of course Andrea (7%) are worse than him. Brother William his nemesis? Convinced 70% and Kate 69%.
Mr Vickers, sources at the Palace these days on the book and what it says, without getting into the field of controversy, have fished out the Queen’s words on the Sussexes’ initial allegations following the interview with Oprah Winfrey two years ago: “Memoirs may vary’, in short, ‘recollections of the facts may be more or less questionable’. What does not fit?
“Meanwhile his memories of the death of Queen Mum didn’t call him to school at Eton to say that the Queen Mother died because it happened during the Easter holidays and that’s why he was in Klosters (skiing, n . ed.). So the whole scene was made up. And then it’s not true that the Queen went to the Guildhall in Windsor for the civil wedding of Charles and Camilla in 2005, she only attended the blessing that followed in the chapel. And Harry was sitting next to William, not by the altar as he writes.’
Yes, Elizabeth II. The mistake, but also the worst affront that moves Harry to the Queen, his grandmother?
“The insult he gives them when he talks about the funeral of the Dukes of Windsor who, according to what Harry writes, are locked in a secluded tomb in Frogmore. In fact, the Queen wanted the flags at half-mast in honor of the Duchess when she died on the day of her funeral. By the way, on Monday, January 16, on the occasion of the funeral of King Constantine of Greece, no flags will be flown at half-mast».
But Constantine was very close to the Windsors, Philip and Elizabeth, and also to his cousins Charles. The last king of Greece was named as William’s godfather. Will the Prince of Wales go to Athens for the former ruler’s private funeral?
“Indeed, and I think William should go, after all the ex-King Constantine was his godfather.”
Underlying Harry’s entire book is a charge the Windsors are accused of wanting to dominate the front pages of newspapers. She knew Prince Philip as well as the Queen and has told the Corriere in the past that they never bothered with the press.
“That was the secret of their success: they went on without paying attention to what people thought.”
January 14, 2023 (Change January 14, 2023 | 11:00 p.m.)
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