ONLY in the digital age could the week’s biggest story turn out to be no story at all.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The hysteria that gripped Australia last Thursday following news from London that the queen’s personal staff had been called to Buckingham Palace for a special meeting was a lesson in “fake news”.
News of the meeting was interpreted as a sign that a significant announcement was imminent and soon the speculation was that the Duke of Edinburgh had died.
That was followed by rumours that the queen was about to abdicate and, of course, that led to speculation over whether Charles or William would next take the throne.
Even after the palace issued an early morning (London time) statement that the meeting was no cause for concern, social media – and even mainstream media – kept preparing for the worst.
So when the truth was finally revealed – that Prince Philip would be stepping down from official royal duties – there was an overwhelming sense of anti-climax.
The fact a 95-year-old man was effectively entering retirement should barely have created a ripple on the world stage, let alone a tsunami.
But that is the reality of the information age, an age where information and speculation are two sides of the same coin.
News can spread across the globe more quickly than ever, but so can idle gossip and misinformation.
What Thursday’s kerfuffle did show, though, is that while many believe it’s only a matter of time until Australia becomes a republic, the nation remains in the thrall of the royals.
Australia’s desperation to get to the bottom of a staff meeting at Buckingham Palace revealed a country that still holds great affection, and great respect, for the royals.
Queen Elizabeth II has been on the throne longer than most Australians have been alive and has been a rare constant in a world that is changing at an alarming rate.
And if reports of Prince Philip’s death were greatly exaggerated on Thursday then perhaps, too, have reports of the death of the monarchy.
It may be the case that the queen’s death will not clear the way for an Australian republic, as previously thought, but instead prompt a strengthening of our country’s regard for the monarchy.
And then it will just be a question of whether Twitter anoints Charles or William to become our head of state.