CROWN IN CRISIS

CAN THE BRITISH MONARCHY SURVIVE AFTER ANOTHER SCANDAL-FILLED YEAR?

- By Kylie Walters

Since Queen Elizabeth declared 1992 to be an "annus horribilis", it has become an overused term to describe any 12-month period where something goes wrong for the Windsors. But it does seem apt to refer to the royal family's experience in the current decade as a horrible one.

The 2020s were ushered in with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepping down from their royal roles, as they gave tell-all interviews slamming the institution. This was followed by the death of the monarch in 2022 and a series of serious health scares affecting some of the most high-profile and popular members of the family.

The halfway point, 2025, saw King Charles take the historic action of legally stripping Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor of all his titles and honours (see page 20).

"I think it is something that they might live to regret," royal commentator Robert Jobson tells WHO. "It shows how fragile the system is. And once you've lost the trust of the people, it can all start to unravel." But rather than weaken the monarchy, Andrew Morton believes the extreme measure projects strength.