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CNN Live At Daybreak
Queen Elizabeth Set to Open Parliament This Morning
Aired November 13, 2002 - 05:10 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.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: And now we're going to take you to London and a royal mess going on there. Some say the allegations of rape and a palace cover-up could bring down the British monarchy. As Queen Elizabeth formally opens a new session of parliament, will tradition be overshadowed by all of the tabloid frenzy?
Let's go right to CNN senior international correspondent Nic Robertson, who's been covering all this for us in London -- hello, Nic.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Catherine.
Well, certainly the situation for the monarchy doesn't seem to be getting any better, if you judge by the British newspapers today. Now, late last night, Sir Michael Peat, the private secretary to Prince Charles, announced that there would be an internal investigation of the allegations of homosexual rape, of the allegations of the sale of gifts that have been given to the royal family and also an investigation into Prince Charles's role into the ending of Paul Burrell's theft trial recently.
Now, there have been much speculation in the British press that perhaps the royal family would choose to go for an independent investigation.
Now, I'm joined here by author, royal author Robert Jobson.
Robert, exactly what was expected?
ROBERT JOBSON, CNN ROYAL ANALYST: I think what was expected is total transparency. And what we got yesterday was the announcement of an internal inquiry. What was needed was an independent inquiry to show the royal family had nothing to hide. I think the fact that it's being carried out by a courtier, no matter how respectful and how honest that man is, it will be seen that he is on the queen's payroll and as a result he cannot be fully independent.
ROBERTSON: Given that Sir Michael Peat does, has worked in the queen's office before and has only been in Prince Charles's office for two and a half months, does that not give him some level of independence?
JOBSON: Oh, I think that's quite significant. I think, I've met Sir Michael and he's a very decent man and a man of integrity. He will, of course, as the new boss of that office, want to sort things out. He wants, if there is any bad apples in there or there have been any cover-ups and bad mistakes, he surely wants to get those right now so he doesn't have it inherit an office that actually has not done very well over the past.
ROBERTSON: But during the interview yesterday announcing this decision, there was an indication that he'd already prejudged some of the issues.
JOBSON: That is, that has been raised by members of parliament already this morning. They're saying how can it be an independent inquiry if you're already saying that you have made assessments and judgments? How can you say he knows what the queen has said without actually going and speaking to her again? I think we, that is exactly why they needed an independent transparent inquiry.
ROBERTSON: The state opening of parliament today, should we be looking for signs of emotion on the queen?
JOBSON: Well, one of our historians said that this was the dignified side of the British constitution. Certainly the queen is a dignified lady. I don't expect any change of expression. She will carry out her job reading out the forthcoming bills that will be happening for this government. But obviously it's not, this is far from dignified, what is going on at the moment.
ROBERTSON: How is it going to play out in the coming days?
JOBSON: It's very difficult to read this at the moment. I think that it's going to gradually recede and go away, if they'd announced not necessarily on television, but just announced that there would be an independent inquiry. What has happened is that they've, in fact, stoked the fire because there's too many unanswered questions.
ROBERTSON: Robert Jobson, thank you very much.
JOBSON: A pleasure.
ROBERTSON: Catherine, it appears as if we can expect more of the sensational headlines in the coming days, more questions about how the palace is handling all of this.
CALLAWAY: All right, we'll be back with you a little bit later.
Thanks, Nic.
During the next two hours of CNN DAYBREAK, we will be going back to London periodically and continuing our talk about the latest controversy that is surrounding the royal family.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired November 13, 2002 - 05:10 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: And now we're going to take you to London and a royal mess going on there. Some say the allegations of rape and a palace cover-up could bring down the British monarchy. As Queen Elizabeth formally opens a new session of parliament, will tradition be overshadowed by all of the tabloid frenzy?
Let's go right to CNN senior international correspondent Nic Robertson, who's been covering all this for us in London -- hello, Nic.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Catherine.
Well, certainly the situation for the monarchy doesn't seem to be getting any better, if you judge by the British newspapers today. Now, late last night, Sir Michael Peat, the private secretary to Prince Charles, announced that there would be an internal investigation of the allegations of homosexual rape, of the allegations of the sale of gifts that have been given to the royal family and also an investigation into Prince Charles's role into the ending of Paul Burrell's theft trial recently.
Now, there have been much speculation in the British press that perhaps the royal family would choose to go for an independent investigation.
Now, I'm joined here by author, royal author Robert Jobson.
Robert, exactly what was expected?
ROBERT JOBSON, CNN ROYAL ANALYST: I think what was expected is total transparency. And what we got yesterday was the announcement of an internal inquiry. What was needed was an independent inquiry to show the royal family had nothing to hide. I think the fact that it's being carried out by a courtier, no matter how respectful and how honest that man is, it will be seen that he is on the queen's payroll and as a result he cannot be fully independent.
ROBERTSON: Given that Sir Michael Peat does, has worked in the queen's office before and has only been in Prince Charles's office for two and a half months, does that not give him some level of independence?
JOBSON: Oh, I think that's quite significant. I think, I've met Sir Michael and he's a very decent man and a man of integrity. He will, of course, as the new boss of that office, want to sort things out. He wants, if there is any bad apples in there or there have been any cover-ups and bad mistakes, he surely wants to get those right now so he doesn't have it inherit an office that actually has not done very well over the past.
ROBERTSON: But during the interview yesterday announcing this decision, there was an indication that he'd already prejudged some of the issues.
JOBSON: That is, that has been raised by members of parliament already this morning. They're saying how can it be an independent inquiry if you're already saying that you have made assessments and judgments? How can you say he knows what the queen has said without actually going and speaking to her again? I think we, that is exactly why they needed an independent transparent inquiry.
ROBERTSON: The state opening of parliament today, should we be looking for signs of emotion on the queen?
JOBSON: Well, one of our historians said that this was the dignified side of the British constitution. Certainly the queen is a dignified lady. I don't expect any change of expression. She will carry out her job reading out the forthcoming bills that will be happening for this government. But obviously it's not, this is far from dignified, what is going on at the moment.
ROBERTSON: How is it going to play out in the coming days?
JOBSON: It's very difficult to read this at the moment. I think that it's going to gradually recede and go away, if they'd announced not necessarily on television, but just announced that there would be an independent inquiry. What has happened is that they've, in fact, stoked the fire because there's too many unanswered questions.
ROBERTSON: Robert Jobson, thank you very much.
JOBSON: A pleasure.
ROBERTSON: Catherine, it appears as if we can expect more of the sensational headlines in the coming days, more questions about how the palace is handling all of this.
CALLAWAY: All right, we'll be back with you a little bit later.
Thanks, Nic.
During the next two hours of CNN DAYBREAK, we will be going back to London periodically and continuing our talk about the latest controversy that is surrounding the royal family.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
