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CNN Live Today

Interview with Robert Jobson

Aired April 01, 2002 - 14:42   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Britain's Queen Mother is being remembered and honored today. Shots fired during a 41-gun salute could be heard around Britain and Gibraltar. And while mourners lined up at St. James Palace, an emotional Prince Charles today spoke about his grandmother.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PRINCE CHARLES, UNITED KINGDOM: I learned so much from her, of immense value in my life. Apart from everything else, she wrote such sparkling, wonderful letters. And her tone of phrase could be utterly memorable. But above all, she saw the funny side of life. And we laughed until we cried. Oh, I shall miss those laughs.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIN: Prince Charles was reportedly her favorite grandson.

For more now on the legacy of the Queen Mum and how she's being mourned and remembered, we're joined by Robert Jobson. He has served as royal correspondent for the "Daily Express" and written extensively about the royal family.

Good afternoon to you. Thanks for joining us.

ROBERT JOBSON, ROYAL COMMENTATOR: Good afternoon.

LIN: Yes. You know, in just watching Prince Charles' response, I'm just not used to seeing him be this emotional and this expressive in public. What sort of impact do you think the Queen Mum's passing is having on him?

JOBSON: Well, I was actually close to where he was on holiday, with his sons, William and Harry, when he heard the news. And he was absolutely devastated. I spoke to one of his closest aides, who told me he was totally devastated. She was like a mum to him, is how it was described.

And let's face it. She was with Prince Charles most of his young life, whilst the queen was getting on with the job of being queen. She didn't have as much time for her son as perhaps she would have wanted. And so the queen mother took on a lot of responsibilities that a mother would have. And so he is totally devastated by her death. LIN: What is the impact on the rest of family, do you think? She was very close to her daughter, Queen Elizabeth.

JOBSON: Without doubt. I think we've all been mourning the loss of the queen mother. But the queen, in particular, is absolutely heartbroken. She's lost her sister, Princess Margaret, within the last 7 weeks, and now her mother. These are not only the closest members of her family, but are the two key women and advisers in her life, who have helped her, over the last 50 years, to reign.

And it's not been an easy reign. And they have been very influential in helping her go through all the major problems she's had to cope with. So, to be now left alone without her mother and her sister is just absolutely appalling for her.

LIN: Robert, do you think that this is going to get Queen Elizabeth thinking about, perhaps it's now time to step down from the thrown? Pass on the mantle to her son?

JOBSON: There's no question that the queen will never abdicate. She swore a coronation oath, and that means that she'll serve as sovereign of Great Britain and the dominions, et cetera, for the next -- until she dies. But I do believe that the passing of the Queen Mother will vacate a matriarchal role for the queen, and she will gradually do less and less.

And the Prince of Wales will step into more kingly, statesman- like duties. He will take on some of those arduous and hard foreign assignments that the queen undertakes. And I'm sure that will help ease the queen into a form of retirement. Although retire is not a word they utter at Buckingham Palace. The queen will continue to serve the people until the day she dies.

LIN: Yes. What do you think the Queen Mum thought of Prince Charles' future with Camilla Parker Bowles?

JOBSON: I believe that the Queen Mother, although she do not wish to -- the whole problem of the abdication crisis stems from the prince of Wales wanting to marry a divorcee. She wouldn't have wanted the prince of Wales to marry Camilla Parker Bowles. But I think that this is a benchmark, the death of the queen mother. And I think that it's time to reassess some of those that we've lived our lives agreeing with.

I think it's time now for the Prince of Wales to look at the situation, and perhaps he now can be king and marry the woman that he loves. I'm sure that most people in this country would like to see him happy. I'm sure that that is one of the things that would make him happy.

LIN: And, Robert, most people in my country are betting that that is going to be the next big story out of the royal family. Thank you very much for joining us today. Robert Jobson, professional royal watcher. Appreciate your time.

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