'Will and Kate represent the 21st century' - Leslie Stokes, OBE

This April 29, millions of people around the world are expected to watch the wedding of Great Britain's Prince William to his longtime girlfriend Kate Middleton. The event is being called one of the most anticipated weddings in recent history. But what's the relevance of the British monarchy in today's age of information, individual empowerment, and political change? Last April 25, News to Go anchor and GMA News Online Editor-in-Chief Howie Severino interviewed Manila-based British citizen Leslie Stokes, an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), about what the royal wedding means to British society and the world. Read the full transcript below. Howie Severino (H): There’s this global excitement now about the grand wedding that’s about to happen in your country. Are you surprised about all this excitement, even here in the Philippines? Leslie Stokes (L): I think I’m most surprised with the way it has grown. I mean we’re talking about a 2 billion audience around the world. I think it’s very good, showing the monarchy is moving into the 21st century. A lot of people will begin to identify with it. And I think it’s wonderful to see it here in the Philippines because you don't have a monarchy. H: How would you explain the appeal of the royal family and the royal wedding in this day and age? L: Well, it’s still the fairy tale element as it was in 1981 when Charles married Diana. And I think that now, these two (William and Kate) represent very much the 21st century. Kate Middleton is a commoner. He’s a working prince because he's in the Royal Air Force. And then, they met at university, they were no more than students. Young people of today can identify with the both of them. H: So this is far from being an arranged marriage? They really fell in love and... L: Yeah. No arrangement here. H: So you are an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, can you briefly explain what that is? I know that British society has all these ranks that are bestowed by the monarchy itself. L: Yes. The Order of the British Empire was actually started by King George V himself to recognize British service to the country. A member of the Order of the British empire which is the lowest level, officer of the order, which is what I have, commander which is the CB, and the knight commander which is when you become Sir and you're knighted. H: And all these are earned? L: Yes. What happens is that they are recommended to the government, to the cabinet office and then there is a vetting process, which as I understand is about 6 stages. If you get through all those 6 stages, it then goes to the cabinet office for approval, the prime minister, and then they’ll ring you and say will you accept it if you’ve been awarded? And once you say yes, it goes to the queen for approval and then as a British citizen like me, you can go to Buckingham Palace and get it. H: Any privileges for someone like yourself? L: There are a few. The unique one for an officer and above, not a member, your daughters can get married in Westminster Abbey, where the royal wedding will take place on Friday. I have two daughters so both my daughters are officially allowed. I can apply to have them married in Westminster Abbey. H: So, any plans? L: I have to talk to my bank manager ‘cause it’s quite expensive. But I am entitled. H: I hope your daughters don’t put a lot of pressure on you. L: They’re going to the Westminster Abbey in three weeks’ time to have a look. I think then, that’s when the pressure really comes. H: Back to the royal couple-to-be, Kate Middleton is a commoner. She’s marrying into the royal family. She will be addressed as what after she gets married? L: She will become Princess Catherine. Kate of course is K-A-T-E. But her real name is Catherine with a C so she becomes Princess Catherine. They are talking about that officially she will be Princess of Wales eventually, remember she’s Prince William’s wife. When he becomes king, next in line to Charles his father, she becomes Queen Catherine. H: So she will become Queen Catherine. Is it common for an in-law to become king or queen? L: Well, the way the system works, the King George VI is queen’s father who died in1952. Obviously, Queen Elizabeth became queen. But when Queen Elizabeth II became queen in 1953, her husband did not become king. It follows the male line. Obviously, because Diana and Charles had two sons, William as the eldest, then his wife will become queen. H: So in British society, I just want to clarify, the monarchy does not hold any more political power. That’s now in the prime minister, in Parliament, as opposed to long ago when kings actually led armies. So what is the relevance now of the British monarchy in your society? L: The monarchy is symbolic. It doesn’t hold political power. The prime minister holds political power. The only political power the queen holds is that she can dissolve Parliament. She has the authority to do that. But that has to really come from either the opposition or the government in any major crisis. She is the one who makes the Queen’s Speech in the House of Parliament but she’s reading a speech which was written for her by the government. H: There are monarchies elsewhere in Europe but when they get married, there’s no such hoopla. How would you explain the popularity of this particular monarchy today? L: Well, I think it’s partly historical. I think the other thing is, of course, that we have a big advantage that we speak the most common language in the world—English. And the royal family in Britain has been the longest serving. And we now have longest serving monarchy as well, the queen because she turned 85 last week. And she has been on the throne for so long. So it’s fantastic. H: Prince William’s parents, Prince Charles and Lady Diana, had what we would call politely a colorful married life, some would call it dysfunctional. Did this affect the popularity of the royal family through the years? L: Yes. There had been a trough in the monarchy. I think the biggest trough which none of us would remember was in 1936 when Edward, King George’s elder brother, became king and then married an American divorcee and had to abdicate. And we got through that. And then the queen became queen in 1953 because the king died quite young of cancer in 1952. She stabilized it. But then the four children of the queen, three of them are divorced, Charles, Anne and Andrew. So we’ve gone into a second trough which deepened when it became very obvious to the world that Charles and Diana was also a dysfunctional marriage. And then the famous statement of Diana hit the world media: "There are three people in this marriage," just before she was killed in a car crash. And of course then it all came out that Charles’ real love of his life had been Camilla Parker Bowles who, of course, got married and had children before her divorce. So if Charles becomes king, there’s still a big question mark about whether she would be made Queen Camilla. The family has moved on. H: So they’re legally married now? L: Yes, legally married. He’s a widow, and she is divorced. In theory, she could become Queen Camilla but there was a big backlash after what happened with Diana. And there is a big doubt whether the British public could accept that. But in the case of William and Catherine, there is no question if when he becomes king, she will become Queen Catherine. No question. H: So British society has pretty high expections of the royal family’s conduct, at least marital conduct. I mean they’re like an ordinary family—they go through divorce, they have affairs, and yet these are considered big scandals throughout British society. L: I think that is why there is worldwide attention on this marriage because, purely and simply, she is a commoner, she has no royal background or lineage. He is the eldest son of Diana. And this is the marriage of the century which may take the monarchy into the real homes of people, younger people. H: You were telling me earlier that not everyone agrees with the monarchy or likes the monarchy. You’re talking about some British citizens or people overseas, Australians, people in the Commonwealth. Why do they not like the British monarchy? L: I think it’s not a question of like. Let’s take Australia. Australia, many are British immigrants, which make up most of the Australians in the 50s. They are now multi-cultured... But there is a republican movement in Australia. In the UK, there is a small republican movement but there is no way, unless it’s a major scandal, that the monarchy will not survive at least in the next 50, 60 years. H: And not many complain that they’re supported by British taxes? L: Well, there are people. The money given to the royal family for services is very limited. It only goes to about 5 to 6 levels under the queen. The rest have to work for their money. H: Final question. How will you watch the royal wedding? Where will you watch it? L: The British ambassador is hosting the Queen’s birthday, her real birthday was last Maundy Thursday, she was 85. So there’s always the Queens’ bithday garden party at the ambassador’s residence in Forbes. But this year, because it’s a public holiday on Friday and the royal wedding, he’s combined the two. It will be at the ambassador’s residence, watching it on the big screen and we’ll be seeing it there, and then I'm flying to London. My family’s flying to London on Sunday, Mayday, and I’m taking my daughters to see where they could get married but probably won’t, at Westminster Abbey. And I'm taking them to Buckingham Palace to see where daddy went to get his OBE. So, a very special trip. H: Sounds like fun. L: A lot of fun. They’re very excited.