'We are blessed to have them': Fury author Hilary Mantel claims royals facing 'the endgame'


‘We are blessed to have them’: Fury as Wolf Hall author Hilary Mantel claims the royals are facing ‘the endgame’ and ‘won’t outlast William’

  • Dame Hilary, 68,  said she wished Queen had abdicated to make way for Charles
  • She claims the Royal Family won’t outlast William and there is no interest in it
  • Author controversial after she called Kate a ‘mannequin’ with ‘plastic smile’ 
  • But her latest comments have sparked a strong defence from royal supporters

Social media users have jumped to the defence of the Queen after author Dame Hilary Mantel described the Monarchy as a ‘self-punishing institution’ facing the ‘endgame’. 

Booker Prize winner Dame Hilary, 68, who sparked outcry in 2013 by describing the Duchess of Cambridge as having a ‘plastic’ smile said of the Queen: ‘I wonder if she’s the only person who really believes in the Monarchy now, and I’m sure she believes with all her heart.’ 

But the Wolf Hall author’s comments have sparked an ardent defence by supporters of the Royal Family, who have rushed to Twitter to hit back at Dame Hilary’s prediction.

One Twitter user said ‘we are blessed’ to have the royal family, while another praised the Queen saying she ‘continues to inspire daily’. 

Dame Hilary, 68, (pictured) whose withering assessment of the Duchess of Cambridge as 'plastic' caused an outcry in 2013

Dame Hilary, 68, (pictured) whose withering assessment of the Duchess of Cambridge as ‘plastic’ caused an outcry in 2013

One person wrote of Dame Hilary’s comments: ‘Absolute load of tosh. All the statistics say that we as a nation are behind the monarchy.

‘I think there have been a few smear attempts this weekend at the royals and especially their future but I think we are blessed to have them.’

Another said: ‘In a transient world, the UK is lucky to have a monarchy. 

‘We have a constant, something to depend on. Her Majesty the Queen continues to inspire daily.’ 

One Twitter user added: ‘Fortunately the majority of the public disagree with Hilary Mantel.’

And another predicted that the popularity of the Royal Family will increase during the reign of Prince William. 

In an interview with the Daily Telegraph magazine yesterday, Dame Hilary said she wished the Queen had abdicated to make way for Prince Charles. 

‘I understand she thinks of this as a sacred task… It’s a conflict because most of the world sees the Royal Family as a branch of showbusiness.’

Reflecting on the death of the Duke of Edinburgh, Dame Hilary said that at the end of any long marriage, ordinary people sought routine and were 'able to mourn in a natural way'

Reflecting on the death of the Duke of Edinburgh, Dame Hilary said that at the end of any long marriage, ordinary people sought routine and were ‘able to mourn in a natural way’

Asked about the Monarchy's future, she added: 'I think it's the endgame. I don't know how much longer the institution will go on'

Asked about the Monarchy’s future, she added: ‘I think it’s the endgame. I don’t know how much longer the institution will go on’

'No other family would be expected to parade a very elderly, newly widowed lady before the TV cameras, and yet it's taken for granted that's what will happen'

‘No other family would be expected to parade a very elderly, newly widowed lady before the TV cameras, and yet it’s taken for granted that’s what will happen’

Reflecting on the death of the Duke of Edinburgh, Dame Hilary said that at the end of any long marriage, ordinary people sought routine and were ‘able to mourn in a natural way’, adding: ‘But what recent events bring home is how far the Monarchy’s arrangements with the media have turned it into a self-punishing institution.

‘No other family would be expected to parade a very elderly, newly widowed lady before the TV cameras, and yet it’s taken for granted that’s what will happen – just as it’s taken for granted that a new Royal mother will appear beaming on the hospital steps within a day of giving birth. 

‘There’s no legitimate public interest behind it.’

Asked about the Monarchy’s future, she added: ‘I think it’s the endgame. I don’t know how much longer the institution will go on. 

'I'm not sure if it will outlast William. So I think it will be their last big era. There's no legitimate public interest behind it'

‘I’m not sure if it will outlast William. So I think it will be their last big era. There’s no legitimate public interest behind it’

Eight years ago, Dame Hilary dismissed Kate Middleton as a personality-free 'shop window mannequin' with a 'plastic smile'

Eight years ago, Dame Hilary dismissed Kate Middleton as a personality-free ‘shop window mannequin’ with a ‘plastic smile’

‘I’m not sure if it will outlast William. So I think it will be their last big era.’

The Wolf Hall author’s historical novels chronicle the brutal fate suffered by Royal consorts in Tudor times. 

Eight years ago, Dame Hilary dismissed Kate Middleton as a personality-free ‘shop window mannequin’ with a ‘plastic smile’ whose ‘only point and purpose’ was to give birth.

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