Royal expert Valentine Low’s new book Power and the Palace claim the Queen had supported Britain remaining in the European Union and that she was frustrated by Brussels bureaucracy
The Queen was a Remainer and wasn’t at all keen on Brexit, a new royal book has claimed.
Power and the Palace, written by former royal correspondent Valentine Low, reveals the secretive relationship between the monarchy and government. It covers the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union five years ago, and how it was received within the household.
Of course, by Royal convention, the Queen never got involved in politics, and never referred to Brexit directly with Buckingham Palace clear that the Monarch is always completely neutral. But almost three years after her death, it has been claimed she wasn’t happy about the idea – and frustrated by Brussels bureaucracy.
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It is alleged the Queen told an unnamed senior minister more than three months before the 2016 Brexit referendum: “We shouldn’t leave the EU.” The Times report that, as they discussed the referendum, she went on to add: “It’s better to stick with the devil you know” and the Queen saw the EU as part of the post-war settlement “marking an era of cooperation after two world wars”.
Former Prime Minister David Cameron added: “She was so careful never to express a political view, but you always sensed that, like most of her subjects, she thought that European co-operation was necessary and important, but the institutions of the EU sometimes can be infuriating.”
The new suggestions go against previous headlines in The Sun in the run-up to the Brexit referendum nine years ago, which claimed ‘The Queen Backs Brexit’. Buckingham Palace, who complained to the publication following the article, have declined to comment on the new claims.
Many understood what the Queen told the Sandringham Women’s Institute was, in fact, a secret Brexit message. “Reflecting on a century of change, it is clear that the qualities of the WI endure,” she wrote. “The continued emphasis on patience, friendship, a strong community-focus, and considering the needs of others, are as important today as they were when the group was founded all those years ago.
“Of course, every generation faces fresh challenges and opportunities. As we look for new answers in the modern age, I for one prefer the tried and tested recipes, like speaking well of each other and respecting different points of view; coming together to seek out the common ground; and never losing sight of the bigger picture. To me, these approaches are timeless, and I commend them to everyone.”
Last week, an insider revealed what the late Queen thought about Donald Trump on times the pair met in London, including the infamous lawn walk where the President went in front of the Royal Trump made his love for the Royal family clear ahead of his 2018 visit as Jeremy Hunt, the Foreign Secretary at the time, admitted the Republican said he would only visit the UK if he was going to meet the Queen.
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Trump gained a reputation for supposedly being rude to the monarch during his visit, after her kept her waiting when he arrived and he infamously walked in front of her on the lawn of Windsor Castle. Despite this, other Royals who were there for two meetings between Trump and the late Queen say the monarch was not put off by the American’s behaviour.
A senior member of staff, speaking to the MailOnline, claimed Trump actually did not arrive late to meet the Queen and was correct. They said: “He arrived exactly on time. It was the Queen who had come out early because she wanted to check the dais and the steps, which were always a concern at that stage of her life.”
This insider said Trump’s 2018 visit was the first big event the Queen dealt with following the Duke of Edinburgh’s retirement from public work, which could have explained her apparent early show.
The member of staff added: “She wanted to get it right. It was the same inspecting the troops. All through her reign, it would be the duke who escorted the visitor to do the inspection and she hadn’t done it before.”
The US President’s infamous lawn moment came when the pair were inspecting the Guard of Honour at Windsor Castle and he walked in front of the Queen. This royal insider claimed visitors are always welcome to walk first and the Queen gestured him to go in front.