Seems to be part of the existential struggle within the family and the institution to grasp the concept of a modern monarchy which also requires sharper defined boundaries and responsibilities between the person, the head of a family (business) and the constitutional position as Head of State. It will take a great deal of effort but will it will strengthen the position of the monarch and make it much easier in due time for any archivist dealing with 'the paperwork' and for historians to do research.
It goes without saying that all documents related to the position as Head of State are to be kept and archived separately from private or 'Firm related' matters. I imagine that is precisely what the courtier is doing on behalf of the new Head of the Family and current Head of State.
What i find quite dubious is that someone trained in one profession is expected to understand another one he has received no training for.
I know Queen Victoria's private journals were edited by her youngest daughter princess Beatrice and it did not help historians.
My personal wish would be that a long serving constitutional monarch like Elizabeth II deserves that in time (probably not my lifetime) historians can follow her train of thought and why she made the decisions she made. There are a few crises in her reign i cannot fully explain yet i do think she had her reasons to do as she did. I'd be appalled by the idea that a most loyal footman destroyed personal papers that would give future historians the understanding of HiM's motivations because he feels he needs to protect her image with present day views. Not the right way to handle historic papers in my view.
I don't for a second believe the Queen's very personal "stream of consciousness thoughts" are in that pile of documents. Princess Anne or maybe even Prince Philip - when he was well - already have sifted through her diaries and letters and destroyed them. What the footman and archivists are allowed to see are those that have historical significance and are less sensational.
The Queen's health was deteriorating for some time and I wouldn't be surprised if she herself had already destroyed many of her personal papers. Her Majesty - rightly - could not risk having those "accidentally" winding up in the wrong hands.
The Queen is perfectly within her rights as her private sufferings and disappointments are - in my view- not in the public's right to know.
Princess Diana's mother destroyed Diana's personal writings and Princess Margaret destroyed the Queen Mother's.
I believe King Charles knows the sensitive documents have already been destroyed. Otherwise he would not have entrusted them to an employee, however trustworthy that employee is.
Indeed, yes, Nellie. Fraught and complex, but, if I might, beyond the purview of the footman, however tall.
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