A TALE OF HEIRS AND SPARES

by Jacques Arnold

The recent dramas of Princes Andrew and Harry have brought into high relief a perennial problem facing our own Royal House and indeed others on the continent. Whilst constitutional monarchy requires a distinct and understandable line of succession, it gives little quarter to the “heirs and spares” who face a lifetime of duty and the inescapable glare of publicity covering their official duties, but also mercilessly their private lives. 

The problem of the heirs and spares is not new, but the glare of publicity is.  Problems that arose were once quietly handled behind the scenes. In the latter part of the twentieth century and onwards, it has been done in the spotlight of the media, with accompanying damage and personal hurt.

Victoria’s heir, Albert, later King Edward VII, as Prince of Wales got himself into a variety of scrapes, coped with largely in private.  His own heir, Albert-Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale, proved a problem, prone to sickness and indolence. In 1879 he was sent on a three year world tour as a Midshipman in H.M.S. Baccante with his brother, George Duke of York, a far more stable character. Nevertheless, on his return, his onward performance was to say the least disappointing. Rumours linked him to the Cleveland Street scandal, and even to Jack the Ripper. Finally, in 1892 he succumbed to the then influenza epidemic. 

His brother, George, then succeeded him in the line of succession, eventually to succeed as King George V. He also succeeded to his fiancée, Princess Mary of Teck, later the venerable Queen Mary. Stability reigned.  George managed to avoid the first world war shipwreck in which most continental monarchies lost their thrones.  He turned our monarchy from a junior branch of the German dynasty of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha into a proud British brand (the House of Windsor), complete with the practice of marrying no longer continental princesses, but daughters of the senior ranks of the British peerage.

The next generation presented further problems.  The Prince of Wales, while impressively carrying out imperial tours, had a tormented private life, culminating in an American divorcée, Wallis Simpson, for whom he gave up his throne, to which he had succeeded as King Edward VIII.  His brother, Albert, Duke of York, the “spare”, succeeded as King George VI. The latter, happily married to a daughter of a Scottish Earl, restored the monarchy to stability.

A generation on, the succession was secured his elder daughter. Although she defied her parents, notably her mother, by not marrying an heir to a senior Scottish peerage. Her marriage to Prince Philip of Greece has created a bastion of stability, despite the many pressures created by a press no longer inhibited by deference or discretion.

The same could not be said of her sister, Princess Margaret, who became a victim of the merciless intrusions of the press.  Ancient taboos denied her marriage to a divorcé, Group Captain Peter Townsend. Her subsequent marriage to Tony Armstrong-Jones, ended in acrimony.  She was the first in this contemporary age to succumb to the “Heir and Spare” syndrome, carrying out her royal duties with assiduity, whist conducting a private life prone to scandal. 

In the next generation, the ancient taboos struck again.  The heir, Prince Charles, was discouraged from marriage to his first love, and directed towards a young daughter of a, this time English, Earl.  Everyone is familiar with the Diana trauma and tragedy.  The Prince of Wales eventually married his first love, and now enjoys a stable marriage. 

The “spare” enjoyed no such luck. Prince Andrew made a marriage which also turned out to be unsuitable, and ended in divorce.  In high royal tradition, be served in the Royal Navy, his courage leading him to become a war hero during the Falklands war.  His subsequent fate, requiring him to relinquish his naval career and dedicate himself to minor royal duties,  led to a number of private associations, notably in the USA, which proved disreputable, which has led him to the harsh decision to retire from public life. 

In many ways, the next generation has suffered the same troubles.  The “spare”, Prince Harry, also developed a career in the armed forces, serving with distinction in Afghanistan. He was also obliged to relinquish his military career in favour of minor royal duties. He did so brilliantly with his Sentebale venture and Invictus Games, a sporting event for injured servicemen and women. Nevertheless, his private life and search for a wife have been troubled. His marriage to Meghan Markle, a young American film actress, who despite her marriage, is intent on pursuing an American celebrity career, has created pressures which have led to his, hopefully temporary, withdrawal from public life.

The whole history highlights the practical and human difficulties that afflict the monarchy in their duty to the nation.  In the past centuries, the “spares” were invaluable in providing us with Kings George the fifth and sixth. In the post-war world, it is the “spares” that have suffered the pressures heaped on them by their Royal fate.

The monarchy has declared its intention to be “slimmed down”.  It is ironic that fate is forcing that upon them.  Nevertheless it should not deny us of our gratitude for the long-standing service of “minor royals” that we have enjoyed from the Gloucesters and Kents, and indeed from the continuing and uncomplaining service from the Princess Royal and from Prince Edward and his wife. And that does exempt the wonderful service we have received from the nonogenarian Prince Philip, not only in his staunch support to the Queen, but in his myriad duties to the nation, performed with such devotion and indeed good humour.

As yet another generation sets out on public service, we should thank our stars that the affliction in this generation did not hit the heir. Prince William and his remarkable wife Katherine have been outstanding, and together with their young family present us with the prospect of a stable future for the monarchy, in their devoted service to the British nation and the Commonwealth.

The latest genealogy of the Royal Family may be found in the latest edition of GREAT BRITAIN Volume 1.

THE ROYAL HOUSES OF EUROPE   by Jacques Arnold.