Now Prince Philip is set to retire, let’s talk about getting rid of the monarchy entirely

‘My rush-hour commute this morning was greatly improved by anticipation of what the royal announcement might be all about. I actively ignore monarchy-related news as much as possible, but this had an air of importance about it. Would Harry be having an out-of-wedlock baby with that actress The Sun is obsessed with? Is the Queen dead? Had they decided our taxes might be put to better use improving the NHS, tackling homelessness or ending child poverty rather than paying for palaces and private jets for unelected officials?
No such luck. Turns out we were all on tenterhooks for no reason, and they just wanted to let us know that Prince Philip is finally retiring (that’s the Queen’s husband, for anyone as uninterested in the monarchy as me). He’s luckier than most people – my generation, for instance, for whom retirement will surely become a pipe dream before we reach our golden years, as well as the current pensioners who are forced to make ends meet on the meagre £122.30 per week they’re entitled to. No £122.30 for Phil, though.
It’s not the Duke of Edinburgh’s retirement that we should be worrying about, however, but rather the question of how he kept his job for as long as he did. Somehow despite his numerous controversial and often xenophobic “gaffes”, this man has continued to be allowed to at least partly represent Britain for more than 50 years. If there were ever a moment to question our own complacency as a nation, this is it.’
Read more: Now Prince Philip is set to retire, let’s talk about getting rid of the monarchy entirely