TURMOIL IN THE HOUSE OF WINDSOR-Punch

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Anthony Akinola

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Jan 13, 2020, 10:44:00 AM1/13/20
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Anthony Akinola <anthony....@gmail.com>

8:52 AM (5 hours ago)
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Turmoil in the house of Windsor

Published January 13, 2020
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One must-read book I have been trying to bring to the attention of the academic world is “State and Society in Nigeria” by Gavin Williams, Emeritus Fellow at the University of Oxford. Published by Malthouse Press Ltd, this important book takes a comprehensive look at every facet of Nigerian life – history, politics, economy, as well as the interactions between ethnicity and religion and the inherent conflicts managed and still being managed as a result of these interactions. Any public library or university would have space for this book. A possible future edition, that is a 3rd edition, might want to incorporate a few dimensions on the role of the traditional institution in the life of Nigeria.

The traditional institution preceded colonialism and the rule of politicians. I honestly do not envisage any revolution that will sweep it away. The main reason for this assumption is that the traditional institution no longer impedes on the lives of ordinary Nigerians and its existence takes diverse dimensions in society. There might have been a time, in some parts of Nigeria, when the traditional institution was perceived as the preserve of the locals and not-too-educated individuals. This is no longer the case. Most educated men and women now aspire to some traditional role after retirement from their professional calls. We do not have a King or Queen of Nigeria as they have in some nations of the world. What we have in Nigeria are potentates that preside over hundreds of cities, towns, and villages. The future of their institutions would seem to be assured.

The same may not be said of centralised institutions or monarchies. Be it in France, Russia, or Iran, many monarchies have been swept aside by one kind of revolution or the other. The British Monarchy is the most visible and celebrated in the modern world. Its future may not be cast in stone or iron as some might assume. The current Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, is one of the most loved, level-headed, and cultured creations of God history has ever known. She is in her advanced age and no one can say in certainty what could happen in future if an irritant were to inherit the crown she has worn with so much grace. Royalists and anti-royalists exist in proportions and the latter have been declining in number with succeeding generations. Some irritating developments, in recent months, have brought the institution of the Monarchy into disrepute and unfriendly debate.

In November 2019, Prince Andrew, second son of the Queen, brought shame to royalty when it was reported, courtesy of a recorded interview at Buckingham Palace, that he had close ties to American billionaire, Jeffrey Epstein, who was charged with sex trafficking offences. Following enormous criticism of his conversation with journalist Emily Maitlis, Andrew said he did not regret his relationship with Epstein. He would later voluntarily step back from his royal duties.

Just into the new year, the ongoing anger of Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle with the tabloid press boiled over. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have consistently complained of negative reportage and harassment or bullying by the press. Many have rightly or wrongly attributed this to the background of the Duchess, a 38-year-old divorcee who is of mixed ethnic heritage. They blame the antagonism of the white-dominated press on racism. Both the Duke and Duchess have threatened to withdraw from royal duties and seek a progressive independent existence. Prince Harry is being compared to King Edward VIII who abdicated the throne a few months into his reign in 1936 following political, social and religious opposition to his determination to marry the twice-divorced Wallis Simpson.

Prince Harry was only 12 when his mother, Princess Diana, was killed in a crash in 1997. The hounding of the press was not unconnected with this. Harry has every reason to be apprehensive of their activities and to want to prevent his family from a similar fate. However, the half-sister of Meghan does not seem to buy into this. The 55-year-old Samantha Markle describes her sister as an attention seeker whose strategy is to divide and conquer. “Meghan has had the chance of a lifetime, that people all over the world would be proud to have, and has blown it… Billions of people would want to be in her shoes and instead of honouring the chance she has got, she has desecrated it. In this Cinderella story, the shoe did not fit!”

You may call Samantha the enemy within, if you like, the fact remains that recent developments in the House of Windsor have been generating debates about the future of the Royal Family. Clive Lewis, a possible contender for Labour leadership, was reported to have suggested a referendum on the Royal Family, what the future of the monarchy is and what shape it should be. With that neck-to neck outcome on Brexit and the controversy it generated, no true lover of the Monarchy will want to dare a referendum on the future of that institution.

Anthony Akinola, Oxford, United Kingdom

Gbolahan Gbadamosi

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Jan 13, 2020, 2:03:52 PM1/13/20
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"Clive Lewis, a possible contender for Labour leadership, was reported to have suggested a referendum on the Royal Family, what the future of the monarchy is and what shape it should be. With that neck-to neck outcome on Brexit and the controversy it generated, no true lover of the Monarchy will want to dare a referendum on the future of that institution." - Anthony Akinola

Why not? That discussion is not a matter of if, but when. Several happenings in the last decade, particularly, have revealed that the British monarchy would not be the same post Queen Elizabeth II. 

Gbolahan Gbadamosi

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Julius Eto

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Jan 13, 2020, 7:30:46 PM1/13/20
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Harry knows that his wife is white since her father is, although supremacists/racists regard her as black or a "woman of colour."

Same way the supremacists rejected Obama who, ironically, was also not accepted by Blackists (purists) as the first black president of the United States.

However, despite the latest turn of events, i still believe in what i posted recently on this forum: that Harry's marriage to "a woman of color" has lifted the English monarchy, the "white" (European) race and humankind. Harry is also a giant of history who risked all in a move to unite races and foster international solidarity. The Royal Family can no longer be regarded as one of the bastions of "white" supremacy but an abode of true inter-racial love. Harry's wisdom is for all ages/time. His racial stock and family will realize this some day. African leaders (AU) should honor this great man (Prince Harry).

But if the Queen, her household and the white British press continue to alienate Harry and MM, history will be harsh on them, especially after Diana's experience and gruesome end.


Omokioja Julius Kwame Eto

Oluwatoyin Vincent Adepoju

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Jan 14, 2020, 7:18:59 AM1/14/20
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the Queen has declared the royal family is giving its support to the couple

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/usaafricadialogue/585919918.7179702.1578948222334%40mail.yahoo.com.

Anthony Akinola

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Jan 14, 2020, 7:19:08 AM1/14/20
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Of course, royalists  would not want to dare a referendum if they were aware that popular or majority opinion supported the abolition of the Monarchy
Anthony Akinola

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/usaafricadialogue/CACBXb0pZkf6h6eXEgXt0WRwGUUkQHPp3E9Pk7a09hhNDWyoLTg%40mail.gmail.com.

OLAYINKA AGBETUYI

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Jan 14, 2020, 4:53:49 PM1/14/20
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Oga Gbadamosi.

The reason is that it is rue the Monarchy that the UK will not succumb to that bastardiisation of the elementary rule of democracy common around the world: majority rule.

Yes, have a referendum a thousand times it will come back in favour of the  (reformed) Monarchy.  The British know the alternative is the triumph of demagogry in which the minority may rule the majority for ever.

OAA.



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-------- Original message --------
From: Gbolahan Gbadamosi <gbola.g...@gmail.com>
Date: 13/01/2020 19:05 (GMT+00:00)
To: USA-Africa Dialogue <usaafric...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - TURMOIL IN THE HOUSE OF WINDSOR-Punch

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"Clive Lewis, a possible contender for Labour leadership, was reported to have suggested a referendum on the Royal Family, what the future of the monarchy is and what shape it should be. With that neck-to neck outcome on Brexit and the controversy it generated, no true lover of the Monarchy will want to dare a referendum on the future of that institution." - Anthony Akinola

Why not? That discussion is not a matter of if, but when. Several happenings in the last decade, particularly, have revealed that the British monarchy would not be the same post Queen Elizabeth II. 

Gbolahan Gbadamosi

On Mon, 13 Jan 2020 at 15:43, Anthony Akinola <anthony....@gmail.com> wrote:
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OLAYINKA AGBETUYI

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Jan 14, 2020, 4:53:49 PM1/14/20
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Julius.

As I already stated before myself I regard Harry as a hero of the Royal Family.  But he only symbolised in unquantifiable measure what the Royal Family as a whole unit stands for.

Her Majesty has always led " the Firm" from  the front in this regard.  This is why I said she caused the young princes to be socialised into black communities.   southern Africa even before their teens.

You must also remember that HRH The Prince of Wales serve as both the father of the bride and groom at the wedding of Harry and Meghan handing over Meghan to his son.  So its a foregone conclusion he and Her Majesty would back the decision of their children.


Now their decision is different from the feelings of a considerable section of British society who was writing in the dailies to express the need for sanctions on the young couple.  The Royal Family is not oblivious of the fact that there is segment of racist Britain, but it is not the duty of a monarch to impose her will on the people in a democratic polity but to serve as a beacon of shining light for change through leadership by example.  The Obama factor and the Harry persona like I posted before has caused great changes in British society that I never thought thirty years ago that I would live to see but there is still more work to be done.

For instance the Harry initiative has opened a new blueprint for royals in the UK that it will no longer be seen as betrayal for British royals to choose to live abroad ( a situation that is common with other royals across the globe, including yours truly, making their residence in the UK) it simply will now be considered as a more enduring manifestation of their ambassadorial role.

HRH.  OAA





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-------- Original message --------
From: Oluwatoyin Vincent Adepoju <toyin....@gmail.com>
Date: 14/01/2020 12:19 (GMT+00:00)
To: usaafricadialogue <usaafric...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - TURMOIL IN THE HOUSE OF WINDSOR-Punch

Gloria Emeagwali

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Jan 15, 2020, 8:17:11 AM1/15/20
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“Harry is also a giant of history 
who risked all in a move to unite races ......” 

Prince Harry did not get into 
this marriage to foster racial 
harmony but rather to free himself 
from the nefarious forces that robbed 
him of his dear mom.To do that he
had to venture into a new world and
explore new possibilities. 

In his earlier years,  he even gave a 
Nazi salute etc but we  ignore this and 
hope that this was a thing of the past.

What truly unites his mom and his 
wife is their activism. Diana got into 
activism in protest at the horrible 
treatment by Charles and he, in turn, 
is  protesting his mom’s horrendous 
demise. 

We don’t know whether
exceptionalism is a driving force here.
Is she “black  but comely” or “Black 
and comely?” Whatever the case
I wish the couple a wonderful
marriage.





GE
gloriaemeagwali.com

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Julius Eto

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Jan 15, 2020, 11:43:39 AM1/15/20
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GE,

Can a racist who gave a Nazi salute love and marry a "woman of colour"?

How old was he when he allegedly gave the Nazi salute?

At that age, did he understand the implications and believe in Nazism as a royal?

Omokioja JK Eto


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