A red velvet throne appears empty against a background of the British flag, and in the distance three dogs – a priori corgis – are guided by an elegant figure dressed in blue: this is how the Polish conservative weekly Directly illustrates its one dated September 12 to 18, in homage to Sovereign Elizabeth II, Queen of England, who died on September 8. As usual, the publication is content with a drawn cover, without further indication, but the editor’s editorial answers the question:
“Why is Elizabeth II so important to us?”
“The death of Elizabeth II is not only an opportunity to lament the end of an era that she co-created. More crucially, thanks to her, good old England […] continues to fight against the totalitarian evil that threatens freedoms and democracy”, thus believes the publication.
For the author, the British crown is, on the one hand, “for decades a symbol of the free market”, which has withstood the test of Brexit. Above all, “His Majesty did not hesitate when it came to providing political and military support to defend our freedom and democracy,” argument Directlyalluding to the United Kingdom’s unwavering support for Ukraine in the face of Russia, which invaded it on February 24th.
“At a time when continental European powers are entangled in compromising collaboration with the regime in Moscow, it was the United Kingdom, in cooperation with its overseas cousins, that ensured that the Central Europe is where it is today”, says the editorial, before continuing: “It would have been much more difficult without the continuity represented by Elizabeth II.”
The publication recognizes that the British monarchy and Prime Ministers are not immune to scandals of all kinds, and of course, the former colonized peoples “probably have their say” on this ancient empire where the sun never set. However, the author prefers to qualify: “It would be easy to find those who will remind you that it is thanks to the Crown that India is today the largest democracy in the world”, before concluding by emphasizing “the irresistible charm and the great political value of the reign (of Elizabeth II)”.