David Starkey Calls The Queen 'Elizabeth The Silent' But Here Are 8 Times Her Views Slipped Out
David Starkey Says Elizabeth Never Speaks Out - But Here Are 8 Times She Did
Louise Ridley— The Huffington Post UK
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As The Queen becomes our longest-reigning monarch today, historian David Starkey has sparked debate by repeating his belief that the monarch had "said nothing that anyone will remember".
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Starkey said The Queen has "made it an absolute rule to say nothing about anything" throughout her record-breaking 63-year reign by remaining resolutely apolitical.
Elizabeth today thanked people for their "touching messages of kindness" from Scotland, where she travelled by steam train along the new Scottish Borders Railway.
But Starkey suggested The Queen could be called 'Elizabeth the changeless' or 'Elizabeth the silent' because of her determination to avoid making her views public.
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David Starkey meeting The Queen
"In private she's sharp, she's funny, occasionally malicious, a good mimic," Starkey said, but a "large padlock is placed upon the royal lips" when it comes to her behaviour on official duty.
His comments lead to criticism on Twitter, where some listeners who are not fans of Starkey suggested that the outspoke historian should perhaps be a bit more silent himself:
Heard David Starkey discuss the Queen, now longest reigning monarch, on #BBC and her lack of public utterances. What a pretentious wind bag.
In August, Starkey was called a "venomous old queen" by critics after writing that The Queen has "done and said nothing that anyone will remember" in a Radio Times piece.
He stressed that this could be seen as a compliment, because Elizabeth's neutrality has ensured she can't be seen as a hate figure.
A relieved David Cameron forgot he was being recorded in 2014 when he told former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg that Elizabeth had "purred" when he told her the Scottish referendum 'no' result.
"The definition of relief is being the prime minister of the United Kingdom and ringing the Queen and saying 'It's alright, it's okay'. That was something. She purred down the line," he said, suggesting she was mightily pleased.
On Thatcherism(02 of08)
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In 1996, historian Professor Pimlott said The Queen was "in her own way, a bit of a lefty". His biography of the monarch claimed she disapproved of Thatcherism and its treatment of the poor. According to The Queen: A Biography of Elizabeth II, Her Majesty felt Thatcher's policies were damaging Britain with their uncaring attitudes. (credit:Boris Spremo via Getty Images)
On Abu Hamza (03 of08)
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BBC security correspondant Frank Gardner broke a story about The Queen being angry that radical cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri had not been arrested in 2012. The BBC apologised on the same day for revealing the content of a private conversation. (credit:Metropolitan Police/PA Archive)
On Turkey(04 of08)
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It seems The Queen is not keen for Turkey to join the European Union. According to the girlfriend of Denis MacShane, the Labour Europe minister, Her Majesty said in 2011 that Turkey should be kept out of the EU for a 'long time’. (credit:Gary Yeowell via Getty Images)
On invasion(05 of08)
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According to The Queen: A Biography of Elizabeth II, The Queen was angry that the UK Government's lack of protest against the US invasion of Grenada in 1983. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
On her son's marriage(06 of08)
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Another biography, Elizabeth The Queen by Sally Bedell Smith, said that the queen feared "history was about to repeat itself" when Prince Charles experienced problems in his marriage to Diana. The Queen reportedly feared Charles would abdicate for his now wife Camilla, in the same way as King Edward VIII who resigned the throne in 1936 to marry Wallis Simpson. (credit:Boris Spremo via Getty Images)
On Egypt(07 of08)
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Britain should perhaps not have invaded Egypt to regain Western control of the Suez Canal in 1956, the Queen is reported to have thought. Israel invaded first, followed by Britain and France. The Queen's views were revealed in The Queen: A Biography of Elizabeth II. (credit:Associated Press)
On bombing Libya(08 of08)
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The same biography of Elizabeth II also suggested Her Majesty was doubtful about the Britain's move to allow the USA to use British airbases for a bombing raid on Libya in Spring 1986. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)