PRINCE Philip was handed a knighthood by Australia after the Queen moaned he had been overlooked for honours in favour of their son Charles, it has been claimed.
 |
| Prince Philip was awarded a knighthood by Australia |
He said it was only awarded to him to settle a family rivalry between Philip and Charles, as the Duke had "not been so richly rewarded" by Australia as her son.
The 94-year-old Duke was presented with the knighthood by the Queen during a lavish ceremony in April this year.
Critics said the award of the honour was a "totally crazy" move by Mr Abbott, who personally sanctioned it at a time when Australian republicanism is simmering close to the surface.
He even announced the knighthood on Australia Day, when the country celebrates its history as an independent nation.
 |
| It is claimed the Duke was awarded his knighthood following a plea from the Queen |
Mr Abbot was savagely criticised at the time with many questioning why he had made such a controversial move just days before a crunch regional election for his Liberal Party, which it subsequently lost.
He told reporters: "I stand by the decision. I understand why some people don't like it. I respect their right to be critical and I take it on the chin."
But it has now been claimed he was prompted to act following an intervention from the Queen.
Columnist Greg Sheridan wrote in The Australian that awarding Prince Philip the knighthood was the "worst mistake" of Mr Abbott's tenure, but that he had done it out of loyalty to the monarchy.
 |
| The Queen was said to be unhappy that Charles had received more honours |
Philip had not been so richly rewarded by Australia
He said: "The inside story of the knighthood has not been revealed before and this information does not come from Abbott. But Abbott gave Philip a knighthood because he learned the Queen wanted her husband to have one."The Queen’s son, Prince Charles, had a number of Australian honours but Philip had not been so richly rewarded by Australia.
"The Queen is immensely well regarded in Australia, and rightly so. Prince Philip, like Prince Charles, is much less popular.
"For Queen to make a request of Abbott meant that all that was honourable and generous in Abbott — loyalty, chivalry, romance — was lined up against the pragmatic political judgment that should have guided him."
 |
| Tony Abbott was ousted as Australian prime minister this week |
Mr Abbott was ousted as Australian prime minister earlier this week in favour of his more liberal rival Malcolm Turnbull.
Awarding the Duke of Edinburgh a knighthood was one of his more unpopular decision in office, and one that Mr Sheridan believes may have led to his downfall.
He wrote: "Awarding Philip an Australian knighthood was the worst mistake of Abbott’s tenure in office.
"Although in a sense a matter of no real consequence in itself, it was devastating for Abbott personally and for the Liberal Party.
Awarding the Duke of Edinburgh a knighthood was one of his more unpopular decision in office, and one that Mr Sheridan believes may have led to his downfall.
He wrote: "Awarding Philip an Australian knighthood was the worst mistake of Abbott’s tenure in office.
"Although in a sense a matter of no real consequence in itself, it was devastating for Abbott personally and for the Liberal Party.
Source: Express
0 comments :
Post a Comment