For those who clamour for a Monarchy Free Britain, one has only to look at the actions of the Queen and Prince William over the past four days to realise what an asset - rather than a liability - they are for this country. Sadly, the same cannot be said of our Prime Minister, whose ineptitude has only deepened, so as to be booed and pilloried each time she raises her head above the Number 10 parapet.
The Monarchy
Queen Elizabeth II, a woman who has been slow in the past to show her inner feelings, hiding them in a cloak of duty and service to her country, stepped up to the mark on her June 16th visit accompanied by Prince William to a Grenfell Tower relief centre for victims of the fire.
Her grandson returned only days later to make another effort to raise the spirits of the defeated. She learned a valuable lesson on the death of Diana, - the 20 year anniversary is only weeks away - and has never shown to be lacking in any crisis since. William, of course, is the child of his mother, and you would expect nothing less from him.Theresa May, on the other hand seems extremley nervous on camera and without a script, appearing to have learnt nothing from the debacle of the past few weeks. Her paucity of words and lack of any real empathy shine through, as if she is unable to grasp the seriousness of the situation at hand. She talks of leadership yet offers none, or, reassurace when she can give none.
Grenfell Tower is a drama still unfolding and we do not yet know the numbers of dead, only the all too visable anguish of the living.
The Responses
Frankly, it has all been appalling. Kensington Council, emergency services, and certainly our own government, should have responded far quicker than they have. It is numbing that those who have experienced such devastation should have been left so long to fend for themselves.
Traumatised residents have been visible on news channels saying the same sad thing, that they have mostly been left to their own devices, the main help they have received coming from within their own community groups. One can only hope that the charities who daily appeal to us to give £3 a month to some undoubtedly worthy cause, are watching with interest.
Charity does begin at home after all. This is as big a disaster as we have seen in a very long time, though there has been limited response thus far. Nonetheless, the yellow tents of the Scientologists, no doubt touting for business amongst so much despair, were in prominent view for a few days.
