Senior royals set to call for national unity over Brexit
MORE senior Royals are to call for national unity over Brexit after the Queen’s dramatic intervention, it emerged last night.
The depth of the nation’s deepening divisions over Britain’s EU withdrawal have been identified by the 92 year-old monarch as a crisis issue.
In a rare intervention on current affairs, she issued a plea for “respect” and “a coming together” on Thursday night.
Buckingham Palace sources have revealed that the Queen has also now asked her family to engage publicly to promote compromise and a less embittered debate.
Speeches and public comments from Prince Charles and his sons William and Harry are now being planned.
The Queen’s intervention is being seen as a boost for embattled Theresa May, coming just a few days before a crucial Commons showdown on Tuesday to keep her Brexit deal alive.
A Palace source said last night: “Her Majesty would never try to influence a vote.
As we look for new answers in the modern age, I for one prefer the tried and tested recipes, like speaking well of each other and respecting different points of view
“Seeking to raise the tone of public debate, urging cooperation not conflict amongst those with power and influence - that is the job of her and her family. There will be more to come in the weeks and months ahead.”
It also emerged yesterday that Buckingham Palace kept No10 completely in the dark over the Queen’s plea, so as not to embarrass Theresa May by any suggestion the desperate PM had asked for her help.
Senior ministers heaped praise on the monarch’s words to Sandringham’s Women’s Institute on Thursday.
In thinly veiled remarks about the impassioned Brexit debate, the Queen told them: “As we look for new answers in the modern age, I for one prefer the tried and tested recipes, like speaking well of each other and respecting different points of view; coming together to seek out the common ground; and never losing sight of the bigger picture.
“To me, these approaches are timeless, and I commend them to everyone.”
The intervention followed on from her Christmas address, in which she called for “treating the other person with respect” during “even with the most deeply held differences”.
Chancellor Philip Hammond said there is “huge wisdom” in the Queen’s words, adding: “It’s been our enormous strength over centuries that we have been able to find compromises that bring the nation together”.
The PM’s official spokesman said: “The Prime Minister’s own view is that we should always show great respect for the point of view of others.”
