Category: The Crown

Boris Yeltsin and “The Crown”

On By Marc NadeauIn Boris Yeltsin, History, Mikhail Gorbachev, Monarchy, Nicholas II, Queen Elizabeth II, Russia, Sir Rodric Braithwaite, The CrownLeave a comment
Queen Elizabeth II and Russian President Boris Yeltsin (The Telegraph)

I’m watching every episode of The Crown, not only because of my love and appreciation of the monarchy in all its complexity but mainly for its entertainment value. For obvious reasons, I never take the content of the series at face value since there are many aspects which differ from reality.

Nevertheless, episode 6 of The Crown’s Season 5, titled “Ipatiev House”, brought many questions to my mind. For one, Russian President Boris Yeltsin never went to Buckingham Palace to meet Queen Elizabeth II, which makes the whole diatribe in which he insulted the Queen in Russian fictitious and potentially misleading for anyone believing that the series is an accurate portrayal of reality.

I therefore decided to ask Sir Rodric Braithwaite, Her Majesty’s Ambassador in Moscow between 1988 and 1992 and the author of an excellent recent book about the history of Russia, to shed some light on the relationship between the Crown and the two-headed eagle.

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The Crown and the Gurkhas

On By Marc NadeauIn Afghanistan, General Sir Peter Duffell, Gurkha Odyssey, Gurkhas, Hong Kong, King Charles III, Military, Queen Elizabeth II, The CrownLeave a comment
Lieutenant General Sir Peter Duffell (right) as a Lieutenant Colonel commanding First Battalion 2nd KEO Gurkha Rifles with his Colonel-in Chief, the then Prince of Wales, visiting a training exercise in 1982. (source: Lieutenant General Sir Peter Duffell)

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In the aftermath of the passing of our beloved Sovereign, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, I reached out to one of my favorite military figures, Lieutenant-General Sir Peter Duffell, who is a retired high-ranking officer of the Gurkhas and the former Commander of British Forces in Hong Kong. Sir Peter – who is notably the author of the enthralling book Gurkha Odyssey: Campaigning for the Crown (Pen & Sword) – generously accepted to share his insights with me, in an exclusive piece I am extremely happy to share with you below. These comments detail the relationship between the Gurkhas – who are among the very best soldiers in the world, but who also serve in one of my favorite units in the British Army, with the Scottish Regiments – and the Crown.

Many sincere thanks for sharing this with us on this mournful and historic occasion, Sir Peter!

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In the volume of commentary that has followed the passing of Her Majesty the Queen, almost every aspect of her reign and the life of King Charles III has been well documented including their very personal links with the Armed Forces of the Crown.

Everyone who has served in uniform will have sworn allegiance to Queen and Country and will have been reminded constantly through their titles, insignia, medals, standards and colours of proud and important links with the monarch.

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Elizabeth II, fille d’Écosse

On By Marc NadeauIn Écosse, Éditions Perrin, Charles III, Devoir, Elizabeth II, George V, Histoire, Jean des Cars, Loyauté, Monarchie, The CrownLeave a comment

La vie a été formidablement généreuse avec moi, en me permettant de vivre en Écosse en 2014-2015. J’y ai d’ailleurs déposé mes bagages un 11 septembre… J’ai alors pris la mesure de toute l’affection que portait ce peuple fièrement enraciné dans un héritage singulier envers la Reine Elizabeth II.

Je regardais avec attention les images diffusées par la BBC du cortège transportant la dépouille de notre défunte souveraine en partance du château de Balmoral vers Édimbourg. Ces images ont fait jaillir de magnifiques souvenirs dans mon coeur et ma mémoire. Il en a été ainsi en parcourant les pages du plus récent livre de Jean des Cars Pour la reine : Hommage à Elizabeth II (Perrin).

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