It's been 'open season' for the enemies of the Crown and
the Monarchy during the past month since the despicable 'sting'
by a Sunday national newspaper which trapped Sophie, Countess
of Wessex, wife of Prince Edward, into making comments about
a number of leading figures in British life.
It's fair to say that Sophie, having been involved with public
relations firms for years, should have been more suspicious
of the 'Sheik' who apparently persuaded her to comment on
political leaders.
But within days it became obvious that sinister and shadowy
figures in the background are following their own agenda -
and it is a republican one. There are people determined to
destroy the Monarchy in the United Kingdom and replace it
with a president.
Such people would have had no hope of achieving this a few
years ago, and their cause would have been greeted with a
mixture of contempt and amusement. But the controversies in
the past decade involving the late Princess Diana and Fergie
have enabled republicans to crank up their campaign again.
It's a sad commentary on the decline of moral and spiritual
values in Britain that the Monarchy should be the subject
of such speculation. No-one could have been more dedicated
in the office she has occupied since 1953 than Her Majesty
the Queen. The nation and Commonwealth have been fortunate
in having such a Monarch and Consort, and while so many values
precious to the British people and nation for so long have
been toppling or undermined, the Queen has remained steadfast
in her Christian leadership.
The Queen has a vast experience and no-one has more knowledge
of the complex affairs of a modern State than Her Majesty.
But throughout her long and fruitful reign, the Queen has
never revealed by word or writing her political preferences
- if she has any - and she has earned the respect and admiration
of Prime Ministers of both the leading political parties in
Britain.
There have been suggestions in some papers in the aftermath
of the Wessex affair that there are a majority of Cabinet
ministers who are republican by inclination. Prime Minister
Blair's wife Cherie has also been accused of being republican
inclined.
It has to be stressed there is no evidence to support this
claim, apart from the fact that Mrs. Blair failed to curtsy
to the Monarch at an important function. There is nothing
to suggest that Tony Blair is anything other that totally
loyal to the Monarch, and, indeed his advice to the Royal
Family during the crisis at the time of the death of Diana
was spot on.
Of course, there are differences when a Labour government
is in power, but so far there has been nothing concrete to
suggest that the Blair government has any inclination to undermine
the Royal Family or the Monarchy.
But there are forces out there beavering away to try and
destroy the great institutions of British society - the monarchy,
the established church, the armed forces, and the law. Such
people would regard New Labour as anathema to their preferences
and, indeed, would regard it as alien to 'true socialism'.
But it is imperative that everyone connected with the Royal
Family, especially the minor royals realise the huge onus
placed on them to set an example and to maintain the high
standards set by the Queen and the other major personalities.
The moves to set aside the Act of Settlement, especially
the Protestant succession to the Throne can be seen in the
same mould as the latest campaign against the Royal Family.
Such people are not unduly concerned whether a Protestant
or Roman Catholic should be monarch - they want to abolish
the monarchy altogether.
In today's Britain where trivia and materialism are rampant,
and where the religious influence has declined it is easy
to proclaim ideas which even a decade ago would have been
preposterous. It's time for all who treasure the Monarchy,
and who admire the Queen for leadership over nearly 50 years
to speak out and proclaim their loyalty, and do all they can
to safeguard the institutions which have served this State
so well for centuries.
Here in loyal Ulster there should be no question where the
allegiance of the vast majority of people lie. This has always
been the most loyal part of the United Kingdom, and Orangemen
and Orangewomen have been in the vanguard of the loyal cause.
"We are King's men", Lord Craigavon and Lord Brookeborough
often declared, and when Her Majesty became Queen the loyal
declaration from Ulster's leaders was the same - "We
are Queen's men and women".
That will continue to be the feelings of the loyal majority
in this Province, and the Orange Order is proud of that fact,
and also the leading role played by the Orange in Australia
last year when an attempt to replace the monarchy with a republic
was defeated.
Now it looks as though the same battle may have to be fought
and won in the United Kingdom. If a campaign ever does get
off the groung to replace the monarch with a republic and
a presidential style of leadership, then the Orange Order
in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland will not be found
wanting.
These are testing times, and with the re-assessment of values
being carried out in all parts of the UK, it is vital that
the Protestant people make their stand for their ideals. Even
in Northern Ireland there have been losses as regards the
observance of Sunday as a special day, and that is only the
forerunner of other projects which the enemies of Protestantism
and the Reformed Christian faith have their agenda.
The overthrow of the Monarchy is top of the list, but no-one
should be under any illusions - thee are a whole number of
items on the agenda, and no doubt the incorporation of Northern
Ireland into a united Ireland is another of them.
Protestants must be vigilant and Orangemen and Orangewomen
must set a lead in their communities and educate the people
as to what is going on, and the need to be vigilant and to
stand firm in the faith, and in loyalty to the Queen and Crown.
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