Charles does a lot of good. Until he opens his mouth
Sadly we are in a culture (sic) where everything is pretty much decided by what is popular, embodied by the celeb du jour: pumped up, allowed to float and then shot down by the media, who get what they need on the way up, along (which is usually boring and hence doesn't get permitted to last very long) and down.
In entertainment the process is measured in months. Pols can get away with a few years, especially if they persist in staying in office though that darn democratic vote thing.
Royals are different to one and one. They are locked in for the long haul, by an odd combo of historical precedent, loadsamunny, oodles of space to hide away in... and a a slight problem of what else can be done with them.
Over the centuries a rough plan has evolved and become established, and 'don't ask, don't tell' has served well, even outside these shores. Simply for being, they can lob up, open a napalm factory in Saudi and the whole world press goes 'Wooooo'.
The problems kick in when they start wanting to start behaving and actually do behave and get caught out like normal folk... only without the grubby down sides.
Of late there have been quite a few deeds that have done awfully well to give the royal poppemoffsti enough ammo and opportunity to bag a fair brace.
But the newest and greatest Royal flaw to this arrangement working as intended has been to want to mouth 'orf. And do it in public via the gutter press (ie: all of them - sorry, but you know it's true:).
Often this can and has been used by those who know people who know people to swing a a good cause higher up the ratings list, and thus the earning league. Even the odd slow moving, rich consumer goods range.
But the trouble with created idols, especially high profile regal ones, is that when they are proven only human, the lustre is all the more damaging for being seen as flawed as normal folk. And when those some would place above us on a pedestal with no real substance come crashing down, they can end up doing a lot more damage than any good achieved whilst floating around 'up there'. Being rich may be aspirational, but it's not exactly a worthwhile job description to be taken seriously by those who really know how and can do.
It's a bit like the Red Arrows. Awesome as you crane your neck to catch a glimpse. A rush of national pride as they do their thing. Probably well worth the investment in terms of national ROI.
But if they come too close to the ground and, heaven forfend, fail to stay a touch above it, it can prove... less than optimal.
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