It has been almost three decades since the Queen memorably summed up 1992 by calling it her “annus horribilis.” However, that famous phrase has enjoyed something of a revival for a full three years now as 2019, 2020 and 2021 all saw the monarch grapple with repeated setbacks, loss and controversy. Related video above: Royal Astrologer Predicts Meghan Markle Has a Big Year AheadSo much so that we now begin 2022 with the notion that significant, often bitter, family divisions and a disgraced Prince facing sex abuse allegations are now an established part of the British royal story. At the same time, the 95-year-old sovereign, who has commanded so much respect for steadily steering the ship for decades, has lost her “strength and stay” and been forced to take her biggest step back so far from public life. Yet, 2022 is gearing up to see the monarchy at the center of nationwide celebrations as Britain marks one of the most significant milestones in royal history. The queen reaching 70 years on the throne–a landmark she will pass in the early hours of Feb. 6, 2022—makes her the first British monarch ever to have a Platinum Jubilee. The central celebrations, planned for an extended weekend in June, have been billed by organizers as a “reopening ceremony” for the U.K. following COVID-19. However, just as the pandemic brings us repeated twists and turns that make large-scale gatherings an uncertainty, the monarchy also faces challenges that were not there when flags waved for the Diamond Jubilee a decade earlier. Exactly how visible the queen will be during the events remains unknown after she canceled multiple appearances at the end of 2021 when doctors told her to rest. While there will undoubtedly be a huge desire from many to celebrate her regardless of how much she can be seen, if she is too unwell to take part it will mark another turning point. But while everyone is hoping that the queen will make it onto the Buckingham Palace balcony in June, the same cannot be said for her third child, Prince Andrew. The final days of 2021 saw him make headlines once again as his friend Ghislaine Maxwell was found guilty of five out of the six charges in her sex trafficking trial. While the Duke of York was hardly mentioned in the trial and faces no criminal charges, the result undoubtedly turns up the heat on the pending civil case against him brought by Virginia Giuffre who has accused the Prince of sexual abuse. Andrew is expected to find out this month whether the case will be thrown out (as his legal team have requested) or proceed to trial in New York. No one is more acutely aware of the challenges facing the royal family than the two future kings, Prince Charles and Prince William. With William and Kate enjoying significant popularity with the British public and Charles and Camilla having successfully established acceptance as a couple on the world stage, the senior working royals will continue to fly the flag in 2022. A visit across the pond could also be a possibility for Prince Harry and Meghan next year for the central jubilee celebrations, although nothing has been confirmed or announced regarding attendance in June. However, regardless of whether they are able to be there or not, there is no getting away from the fact that much of the narrative around the events will refer to the fractured family dynamics that have played out so publicly in the past few years. After three years of challenges, 2022 has the potential to be a turning point for the royal family. But the jury is out on which direction things will take.
It has been almost three decades since the Queen memorably summed up 1992 by calling it her “annus horribilis.”
However, that famous phrase has enjoyed something of a revival for a full three years now as 2019, 2020 and 2021 all saw the monarch grapple with repeated setbacks, loss and controversy.
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Related video above: Royal Astrologer Predicts Meghan Markle Has a Big Year Ahead
So much so that we now begin 2022 with the notion that significant, often bitter, family divisions and a disgraced Prince facing sex abuse allegations are now an established part of the British royal story.
At the same time, the 95-year-old sovereign, who has commanded so much respect for steadily steering the ship for decades, has lost her “strength and stay” and been forced to take her biggest step back so far from public life.
Yet, 2022 is gearing up to see the monarchy at the center of nationwide celebrations as Britain marks one of the most significant milestones in royal history.
The queen reaching 70 years on the throne–a landmark she will pass in the early hours of Feb. 6, 2022—makes her the first British monarch ever to have a Platinum Jubilee. The central celebrations, planned for an extended weekend in June, have been billed by organizers as a “reopening ceremony” for the U.K. following COVID-19.
However, just as the pandemic brings us repeated twists and turns that make large-scale gatherings an uncertainty, the monarchy also faces challenges that were not there when flags waved for the Diamond Jubilee a decade earlier.
Exactly how visible the queen will be during the events remains unknown after she canceled multiple appearances at the end of 2021 when doctors told her to rest. While there will undoubtedly be a huge desire from many to celebrate her regardless of how much she can be seen, if she is too unwell to take part it will mark another turning point.
But while everyone is hoping that the queen will make it onto the Buckingham Palace balcony in June, the same cannot be said for her third child, Prince Andrew. The final days of 2021 saw him make headlines once again as his friend Ghislaine Maxwell was found guilty of five out of the six charges in her sex trafficking trial.
While the Duke of York was hardly mentioned in the trial and faces no criminal charges, the result undoubtedly turns up the heat on the pending civil case against him brought by Virginia Giuffre who has accused the Prince of sexual abuse. Andrew is expected to find out this month whether the case will be thrown out (as his legal team have requested) or proceed to trial in New York.
No one is more acutely aware of the challenges facing the royal family than the two future kings, Prince Charles and Prince William. With William and Kate enjoying significant popularity with the British public and Charles and Camilla having successfully established acceptance as a couple on the world stage, the senior working royals will continue to fly the flag in 2022.
A visit across the pond could also be a possibility for Prince Harry and Meghan next year for the central jubilee celebrations, although nothing has been confirmed or announced regarding attendance in June. However, regardless of whether they are able to be there or not, there is no getting away from the fact that much of the narrative around the events will refer to the fractured family dynamics that have played out so publicly in the past few years.
After three years of challenges, 2022 has the potential to be a turning point for the royal family. But the jury is out on which direction things will take.
