Randy Andy & The Monarchy

                                                                                                                                    And how he is tarnishing their image

 

King Charles III and Andrew Mountabaton Windsor

CONTENT

  • LISTENING
  • READING
  • VOABULARY AND TRANSLATION
  • COMPREHENSION
  • TRUE OR FALSE
  • GRAMMAR - Present Perfect
  • SPELLING
  • PREPOSITIONS
  • ANSWER KEY

The Royal Family

 

The British monarchy, over a thousand years old, has evolved from powerful rulers to a symbolic institution representing unity and tradition. However, many Britons believe the Monarchy should be abolished or reformed, deeming it outdated in modern society.

King Charles III now serves as a ceremonial head of state, performing public duties, supporting charities, and representing Britain globally, without political power. This role preserves continuity and national identity.

One of the monarchy’s most controversial figures is Prince Andrew, Queen Elizabeth II's second son. Once respected as the Duke of York for his naval career and charity work, his reputation was tarnished.

His ties to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, convicted of serious crimes, led to allegations of misconduct against Andrew. This caused public trust in him — and the royal family — to collapse.

“I’ve always been told I was extremely well-behaved as a kid.” — Prince Andrew

A Tarnished Royal Legacy

 

In 2019, Prince Andrew gave a BBC interview to explain himself, but instead worsened public opinion. He was forced to step back from royal duties, ceasing public representation of the royal family and losing many military titles. Despite denying wrongdoing, his reputation has suffered greatly, leaving the royal family struggling to recover its carefully managed image.

In 1917, the Duke of Cumberland lost his "prince" title for siding with Germany during World War I. Similarly, Mountbatten Windsor’s title revocation mirrors actions seen as betraying family and country.

The monarchy relies on a pristine image. Mountbatten Windsor’s actions, viewed as tarnishing its reputation, forced the king to act decisively.

Walter Bagehot, a 19th-century constitutional scholar, described the monarchy as the "dignified" part of government, symbolizing moral virtue. King Charles appears committed to upholding these principles.

History shows the monarchy addresses controversies quickly, as seen with Edward VIII’s 1936 abdication to marry Wallis Simpson, reshaping its future.

The late queen allowed Mountbatten Windsor to address his Epstein ties, but his defense backfired. In a 2019 interview with Newsnight, he expressed no remorse, claiming he was "too honourable" to cut ties sooner. The backlash forced his withdrawal from royal duties.

Despite his reduced role, Mountbatten Windsor attended key events, including the late queen's funeral and King Charles' coronation, while residing at Royal Lodge.

The situation worsened when evidence of a prolonged Epstein association surfaced, contradicting his claims. Allegedly, emails showed him writing to Epstein, “Let's play some more soon!”

Although denying wrongdoing, his reputation has suffered greatly, leaving the royal family struggling to repair its image.

This raises questions about responsibility, privilege, and accountability . Should royals adhere to the same standards as others? Has trust in the monarchy been permanently damaged, or could transparency and reform restore its integrity?

" Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse." - The Royal Palace

VOCABULARY.

True or False Questions

 

  1. The British monarch makes new laws for the country.

  2. Prince Andrew once held the title Duke of York.

  3. The scandal improved Prince Andrew’s public image.

  4. Stepping back from royal duties means no longer appearing publicly for the monarchy.

  5. The British monarchy today still holds direct political power.

The use of the Present Perfect

 

✅ Form:
have / has + past participle (e.g., have visited, has lost)

✅ Use:
We use the Present Perfect to talk about past actions that have a connection to the present.

  1. I have visited London twice.
     (It happened before now, and it’s still relevant to the present.)

  2. Andrew has lost his titles
     (He  lost them sometime in the unspecified  recent past — and he still doesn’t have them now unless the King gives them back... Qué no és improbable, és impossible...)

Now you try. Fill in the gaps

 

  1. Prince Andrew __________ (lose) many of his royal titles.

  2. The monarchy __________ (face) several scandals over the last decade.

  3. Public opinion __________ (change) since the BBC interview.

  4. The royal family __________ (try) to rebuild its image.

  5. Many people __________ (question) the future of the monarchy.

 

🔤 Synonym Match- choose the correct match

   responsibility /refuse to admit / special right  / famous /fallen apart 

  1. symbolic → 

  2. collapsed →

  3. deny → 

  4. privilege → 

  5. accountability →

 

🧩 Unjumble the letters to form words from the article

 

  1. YDUT    D_______

  2. TISNUTITNOI    I_______

  3. GATALLEOITN    A____G____N

  4. EGELIVIRP  P________

  5. YCTONIUTINT  C________Y

 

Open-Ended Discussion Questions. See possible responses in the Answer Key below

 

  1. Do you think the monarchy is still important in modern Britain? Why or why not? Per què encara existeixen?

  2. Should royal family members face the same consequences as ordinary citizens. Són realment especials. Com, per què? 

  3. How can public figures rebuild trust after a scandal? De quina manera poden resusita confiança?

  4. Has media coverage helped or harmed the image of the royal family? La premsa, a double edged sword for the royals depending on reporting

  5. What lessons can younger generations learn from Prince Andrew’s case? Hi ha alguna lliçóns que la generació més jove dels "mimats" puguin aprendre dels errors de l'Andrew?

 

Choose this topic for your next class and receive feedback on your pronunciation, learn new vocabulary  and use of  the PRESENT PERFECT while expressing your opinion.

Answer Key

 

Spelling

1) duty, 2) institution, 3) allegation, 4) privilege, 5) continuity

Present Perfect

    1. has lost → connects a past event to its current result (no titles now).

    2. has faced → continuing impact.

    3. has changed → past action affecting today.

    4. has tried → effort that continues.

    5. have questioned → started in the past, still relevant now.

    True or False

    1. The British monarch makes new laws for the country.       False-Only Parliament makes the laws.

    2. Prince Andrew once held the title Duke of York. True

    3. The scandal improved Prince Andrew’s public image. Absolutely false.

    4. Stepping back from royal duties means no longer appearing publicly for the monarchy. True- He no longer represents the Royals in any form.

    5. The British monarchy today still holds direct political power. False-They don't have any political say.

    Discussion Questions

    1. Do you think the monarchy is still important in modern Britain? Why or why not?

    Some people think the monarchy is still important because it represents tradition, culture, and national identity. It also attracts many tourists and brings money to the country.
    However, others believe it is less relevant today, because Britain is a democracy and everyone should be equal.

    Useful vocabulary:

    • tradition -   something done the same way for many years

    • identity -   who or what someone or a country is

    • relevant  -  important or connected to today

    2. Should royal family members face the same consequences as ordinary citizens?

    Many people believe that everyone should be equal before the law. If a royal family member breaks the law, they should face the same punishment as anyone else.
    But in reality, royals often receive special treatment, and this can make the public lose trust in them.

    Useful vocabulary:

    • equal before the law  - treated the same as everyone

    • punishment - what happens if you break the law

    • trust -  belief that someone is honest or fair

    3. How can public figures rebuild trust after a scandal?

    To rebuild trust, public figures need to be honest and take responsibility for their actions. They should apologise sincerely and show good behaviour over time.
    Actions are more important than words — people believe change when they can see it.

    Useful vocabulary:

    • public figure - famous person (for example, politician or royal)

    • scandal  - an event that shocks the public

    • take responsibility - accept your mistakes

    4. Has media coverage helped or harmed the image of the royal family?

    The media has helped the royal family by making them more visible and interesting to the public.
    But it has also harmed their image, because journalists sometimes focus too much on their private lives or make stories sound worse than they are.

    Useful vocabulary:

    • media coverage -  how newspapers, TV, and social media talk about something

    • visible - easy for people to see or know about

    • private life -  personal life, not for the public

    5. What lessons can younger generations learn from Prince Andrew’s case?

    Young people can learn that even powerful people must act responsibly. Our actions have consequences, and reputation is difficult to rebuild once it is damaged.
    The case shows the importance of honesty, respect, and good judgment.

    Useful vocabulary:

    • reputation - what people think of you

    • consequences  - results of your actions

    • judgment -  making good or bad decisions

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