One Anti-Racist British Monarch

So you’ve seen “The Queen” and perhaps you even have a special tea set that makes the next gen feel oh so special when you grant them permission to try it out. Then you hear all this stuff in the news recently about the Royals being racist. How does one respond? Well, you can always offer up another real life example on the same level.

Just watch “Victoria and Abdul”. Two real life personalities in their real-life relationship. Yup, Queen Vic stopped snoozing to get her Royal Court to be less racist. It can be tough to accomplish such a task, even as a monarch and regardless of the century.

But Abdul’s a Pakistani, you say. Isn’t that country over-run with terrorists? First, in the here and now, oh please. Second, back then, oh please. This film is about high society getting a dose of high enlightenment and does not leave the viewer outside of the same expectation. (How very British, eh?)

The only thing you will ever find between these two characters in this film is receptivity and each of them focusing on what the other has to offer. Given the huge cultural differences, even back then, every conversation they have is deeply sincere. It’s quite refreshing, actually.

That said, the film does beg the question as to whether royalty is so bored with life that they often, simply, nap wherever you find them. While I am uncertain as to the historical accuracy of that aspect, the film takes that and uses it to contrast life with and without authenticity. (Although, I am sure very young viewers might find it amusing.)

Now a doctor, you would think, who is geared and sworn towards helping others would fall into the same boat. Well, he does, in a way. I found him the most vivacious of the bunch. So perhaps, then this matter has something to do with a root because his character was flawed in a misdirected sort of way and it took a queen to sort him out (in addition to others).

In this day and age on that little island across the pond that once ruled a significant percentage of the world from a nice chair, it seems this film may even point out the roots of another British social phenomenon. You see, there are laws and rules in place now to discourage people from being too…British. Almost literally.

Not too many flags, not too many banners. Subtle restrictions here, subtle restrictions there. One can argue over the aims and goals of this, what some British expats might call hullabaloo - or worse - but it begs a very valid question. Is there something unkempt hidden in pompousness that warrants attention?

Vic and Abdul had wildly differing thoughts and approaches to the matter. When their ideals meshed, however, that’s when a difference really started to be made.

To put it less philosophically, consider something that happened at the dinner table when my Canadian parents were hosting Brits at our home while we - and they - were living abroad. Earlier in conversation my parents were asked how things were in the colonies. Later, their guests inquired as to the sheer size of our dining room table, to which my father responded, “All colonial officers are issued one of this size upon being stationed here.” We enjoyed seeing their jaws drop. (In fact, it was simply a very large piece of smooth wood placed atop the same table all officers were issued with a big table cloth draped over it, of course.)

Returning to the task at hand, is there something outside of yourself that one needs to consider? You will find examples like the above to answer this and other questions as well.

So imagine yourself poised. Watching tea. Sipping on a story loaded with British royal delights. You’ve already read about Princess Di. You’ve seen dramatizations of QE II during WWII under the ‘tutelage’ of Winston Churchill. Perhaps you’ve even binged watched the Tudors. Shirley Temple, well, she never really cut it close to the monarchy, even in “The Little Princess”.

“Victoria & Abdul” will speak to the past, the present, the monarchy, and a societal ugliness that still rears its ugly head every once in a while. The approaches that lie within the reels of this film will likely spark something small in you to help alleviate that ugliness in a truly civilized manner.

After all, if an injustice anywhere is an injustice everywhere, then it must be rooted out. But this film asks you to consider a contrast first, before you go all French, like Joan of Arc. Pomp and circumstance spark a very particular kind of awe and even hope. Pompousness (from what? who knows…) can hide something if not properly checked. For that, anyone can be found guilty.

Perhaps, then, recent interviews with “Harry’s choice” speak to something pseudo-institutionally British. The fact is, racism no longer has anything to do with whoever is wearing a shiny metal hat.

It should be noted that I do not pay much attention to royal affairs and celebrity gossip. In fact, I found the movie, “The Queen” so stale I would not have eaten it had it been a biscuit (which says a lot because I am a big tea drinker who loves cookies of nearly any variety). “Victoria and Abdul” was tolerable to my palate only because it got me to thinking about bigger questions. How will this film strike you?

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