‘His most important achievement was that he kept his mouth shut for seventy years’

“I agree with that statement. Some of the attention was obvious, but I think the immense excitement that was also spreading through the Dutch media was exaggerated. All the gossip stories surfaced, including that Queen Elizabeth was the rock on which Great Britain was built.

His most important credit is that he kept his mouth shut on political matters for seventy years. He had given speeches here and there, but he certainly didn’t write them himself. After all, Elizabeth is largely celebrated as someone who has managed to remain uncontroversial for seven decades, except for the brief period surrounding Princess Diana’s death. He shouldn’t have responded adequately by not coming to London right away. Anyway, I completely understand that, because I’m not a huge Diana fan. Even from the royal family in a general sense, by the way. ”

‘There has been much more important news in recent days’

“In recent days there has been news that is far more important than Elizabeth’s death: military advances in Ukraine. What a remarkable development in all that unpleasant conflict. It is now beset with the question of whether Elizabeth’s dogs are happy. In light of the Queen’s death, we are once again dealing with one of those senseless media outbursts. For mediums, this is a delicious treat, a huge meringue cake. It is not about anything, is not politically controversial and does not lead to polarization. It was a beautiful cry filled with a faint sentiment.

We also had a media boom in the Netherlands when Prince Bernhard died in 2004, who was the scapegoat of the royal family for his whole life, but suddenly became a quirky hero when he died. Princess Diana was also suddenly baptized into the conscience of Western civilization after her death. I think that’s a bit too much.

By the way, constitutionally Elizabeth has no powers at all. He really had nothing to say. When Queen Beatrix still had a role in the formation, she was stronger than the Queen of England. Therefore Elizabeth is a purely symbolic figure and for that reason too her attention is exaggerated. That they’re making a big play in England is two new things, with all those weird uniforms and stuff.”