The Queen did not “back Brexit”, according to the late monarch’s former director of royal communications. Sally Osman, who worked for Queen Elizabeth II between 2013 and 2019, made the claims yesterday (19 September) in a published interview with CNN. Speaking about her time in the role, the former Buckingham Palace worker stated she was “lucky” as she did not have to deal with many royal “crises”.
Queen backs Brexit
She did but add that one of the predominant problems she needed to deal with was when people attempted to “bring the Queen into politics”, bringing up The Sun’s notorious “Queen backs Brexit” headline as a key example. When pressed on whether or not or not this was true, Ms Osman quickly replied “I don’t think so” with a laugh. Of course, the Queen in no way publicly commented on her support for or competition to the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union, regardless of widespread speculation from the press and public.
According to royal protocol, monarchs must continue to be neutral on political matters – and Elizabeth II constantly strictly adhered to this rule, regarded by many for by no means revealing her personal or political perspectives. In 2017, she wore a deep blue dress for the opening of Parliament, which sparked speculation about her support for the EU. However, as mentioned, she by no means openly discovered her opinion on the 2016 Referendum. On eight March 2016, three months earlier than the referendum, the Sun splashed on an “extraordinary bombshell” titled: “Queen backs Brexit.” Written by political editor, Tom Newton Dunn, it quoted “a senior political source” and “a highly reliable source”, who stated that people “were left in no doubt at all about the Queen’s perspectives on European integration”.
The Sun stated the Queen criticised the EU at events, with then-deputy prime minister Nick Clegg at a lunch for privy counsellors in 2011 and at an MP reception at Buckingham Palace. The Palace complained to the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) about the article, and the press watchdog upheld that the headline was “misleading”.
The authentic article now has a correction above the primary text. Queen Elizabeth II died aged ninety six on eight September, after her doctors found out they have been “concerned” for her health. She sat at the British throne for an notable 70 years and become the longest-reigning monarch in the records of the United Kingdom.
Yesterday (19 September), her state funeral took place – which noticed tens of lots of people throughout the United Kingdom flock to London and different viewing factors to pay their respects to the late queen. She has now been laid to rest in Windsor Castle, together along with her husband Prince Philip, who died 9 April 2021.
