Princely Philippic

The name of the game is constitutional monarchy. By its unwritten rules, Britain's sovereign loyally refrains from controversial statements, especially when dealing with her outer domains, for whom she is the symbol of unity with Britain itself. Not so confined is Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, who regularly sparks debates over the nation's "cuppas" by his talent for what he calls dontopedalogy--opening his mouth and putting his foot in it. Last week Philip kicked up a storm in kingdom and Commonwealth as well.

Discussing Commonwealth relations with 300 students at the University of Edinburgh, Philip announced that he was going to say nothing about Rhodesia, since it is a touchy topic nowadays. Rhodesia's white Prime Minister, Ian Smith, has been threatening to break the remaining ties with Britain and declare independence if necessary to preserve its racist policies, while black Africa's Commonwealth leaders have been clamoring for Britain to force Smith to hold biracial elections for a new constitution within the next three months. Philip, however, did not say nothing. "I recognize," he remarked, "the impressions of many Africans about Rhodesia. But I think that it is better to spin out the solution of these difficulties with patience, and with a bit of luck get a peaceful result rather than risk a bloodbath by forcing the pace."

Sour Reaction. Labor M.P. Hugh Jenkins promptly tabled a motion in the House of Commons, signed by 32 other Laborites, which acidly affirmed that "it is a condition of constitutional monarchy that royalty should not give public expression to contentious political opinions." Snapped one M.P.: "Philip is a very highly paid civil servant [at $120,000 a year] who is expected to keep his nose out of politics." Worried Lord Brockway, chairman of the Movement for Colonial Freedom: "The Duke has unhappily given encouragement to Mr. Smith, whose whole strategy is to seek delay."

Reaction to the princely philippic from Black Africa was equally sour. Murmured Kenya's External Affairs Minister Joseph Murumbi: "It is hard to imagine how the Duke of Edinburgh, who has never been exposed to the hard realities of colonialism, could speak authoritatively on Rhodesia." Added the East African Standard, for good measure: "Who does Prince Philip think he is--Prince Albert?"

Fact was, millions of Britons shared the Duke's view of the Rhodesian problem, which until recently was also official policy of Harold Wilson's government. And few really wanted to muzzle the royal consort. "Over a period of years, he has succeeded in being pungent, constructive, and to the point on an exceptionally wide range of topics," commented the London Times. "The nation would be the loser if any serious attempt were made to impose some constitutional silence upon the Duke."

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