It has been almost three decades since the Queen memorable summed up 1992 by calling it her “annus horribilis”. However, that famous phrase has seen some kind of revival for three years now, as 2019, 2020 and 2021 have all seen the monarch grapple with repeated setbacks, losses and controversies. So much so that we now start 2022 with the idea that significant, often bitter family divisions and a disgraced prince in the face of allegations of sexual abuse are now a part of British royal history. At the same time, the 95-year-old sovereign, who has garnered so much respect for the ship’s consistent conduct for decades, has lost her ‘strength and hold’ and has been forced to take her biggest step back so far. of public life.

Yet 2022 is gearing up to see the monarchy at the center of national celebrations as Britain marks one of the most important milestones in royal history. The Queen reaching 70 on the throne – a milestone she will cross in the early hours of February 6, 2022 – makes her the first British monarch to have a platinum jubilee. The central celebrations, scheduled for an extended weekend in June, have been touted by organizers as a ‘reopening ceremony’ for the UK after COVID. 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 the flags waved for the Diamond Jubilee a decade earlier.

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It’s unclear just how visible the Queen will be during the events after canceling several appearances in late 2021 when medics told her to rest. While there is undoubtedly a huge desire on the part of many to celebrate it no matter how much it may be seen (polls in the UK show it remains popular and that a large majority of people think she did a good job), if she’s too sick to participate, that will be another turning point. british newspaper The Guardian recently highlighted how this jubilee “will be different” and, in light of this, called for a public conversation on what should follow. “The monarchy enjoys enviable public support, in part as an embodiment of national stability, but the public also wants it to be a modern monarchy, embodying today’s values. There is a need to talk about all of this, and talk about it before the change happens, not after it has already happened, ”the editorial read.

But while everyone is hoping the Queen arrives on the balcony at Buckingham Palace in June, the same can’t be said for her third child, Prince Andrew. The closing days of 2021 saw him make headlines again as his friend Ghislaine Maxwell was found guilty on five of six counts in her sex trafficking trial. While the Duke of York was barely mentioned in the lawsuit and faces no criminal charges, the outcome undoubtedly puts pressure on the ongoing civil case against him brought by Virginia Giuffre who accused the prince of sexual abuse. As the Daily mailRichard Kay wrote of the now infamous image showing Andrew with Ghislaine and Virginia, “Consider how it could be captioned now. From right to left, ‘the sex trafficker,’ the sex slave ‘and the duke. “

Andrew is expected to know this month whether the case will be dismissed (as his legal team has requested) or whether it will go to trial in New York. Meanwhile, his total erasure from royal public life continues. He was absent from the list of royals pictured attending Windsor Church on Christmas Day, nor did he make a public appearance at the cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday last year for the second time, although he still holds honorary military appointments.

Regardless of what happens with his civil lawsuit, Andrew’s reputation is already in tatters and it’s nearly impossible to see how he can appear publicly at Platinum Jubilee celebrations without causing significant controversy. But if, and how, the legal action against him progresses this year will be decisive for the monarchy.

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No one is more aware of the challenges facing the royal family than the two future kings, Prince Charles and Prince William. William and Kate enjoying great popularity with the British public and Charles and Camilla having succeeded in gaining acceptance as a couple on the world stage, the members of the royal family will continue to carry the flag in 2022. It is not no coincidence that the queen specifically referred to it. to both couples in her deeply personal Christmas Day message as having “taken up and magnified” the work of her beloved husband, Prince Philip. As COVID restrictions begin to ease, we’ll likely see royals working a lot across the Commonwealth, as they have in previous jubilee years. A trip to the United States could also be considered for William and Kate after the announcement of the William’s Earthshot Awards in 2022.

A visit to the other side of 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, whether or not they may be there, there’s no denying that much of the narrative of events will refer to the fractured family dynamics that have unfolded so publicly over the past several years. No matter how much attention is paid to planning contests, tree planting initiatives, public feasts and picnics, much of the success of this jubilee could ultimately depend on what members of the family say and do.

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After making racism allegations against an anonymous royal and spreading important criticisms of the institution which sparked much debate around the world, see the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with the rest of the royal family could be a powerful sign of more positive relationships. However, if they choose to criticize the family again this year, it could make headlines and divide opinion again. Harry’s autobiography, due out at the end of 2022, could ultimately determine whether the Platinum Jubilee year ends on a high or becomes another candidate for “annus horribilis”.

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 are going to take.

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