Royal Groundlings?

 

 

The Crown -- Season 4

A lot of us have found solace in the offerings of various streaming services since the beginning of the pandemic, tethered by Netflix but venturing into other previously unknown realms for our viewing pleasure. It's interesting what we'll watch when other forms of entertainment have been removed from our lives. All to say, that even though I think monarchies are a bit of a scam we've begun watching Season 4 of The Crown. We're moving into the most recent era which includes the unlikely duo of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Lady Diana Spencer.

In an early episode of this season called The Balmoral Test, both of these women are guests at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, Queen Elizabeth's summer cottage, if a 19th century stone estate house on 50,000 acres can be considered as such. It was and is a refuge for the family where they love tramping about in woods and on moor, riding a horse here, shooting a stag there.

The story-line in  the episode is that Thatcher came totally unprepared for being outdoors and considered the visit a waste of her valuable time in running the country. Diana, on the other hand, showed up with sensible shoes and was loved by the royals for gamely seeking game. This sealed her fate as an approved candidate as wife for Charles, the heir to the throne, poor soul. 

                                     Scene from The Crown, Diana Spencer and Prince Philip

Who knows how accurate the  notion of the "Balmoral Test" actually was, and what actually transpired during those visits. I do find it heartening that this place which is adjacent to wildlife preserves has been a source of solace for the royal family for generations, given how stultifying so much of their existence seems to be. Queen Elizabeth was there this past summer although she was not able to attend church as she usually does on Sundays because of COVID restrictions. I wonder if she has her own theology of the Creation, given that she is a person of faith? 

Prince Charles, who was certainly a cad as a husband to Diana, has a strong commitment to environmental issues, His estate called Highgrove has 15 acres of organic gardens and is managed to support wildlife. 

Hey, we are all Groundlings, whatever our station in life. Our expressed affection for the world which God has created may not be the source of anyone else's curiosity, but we all pull on our hiking shoes one foot at a time!

                                        A younger Queen Elizabeth at Balmoral