Maybe if you were party to a series of private conversations in which he could, without fear of his words being shared, explain his actions, you would have a better understanding.The Queen used her discretion in a similar way to induct Margaret Thatcher into the Order of Merit and make her a Lady Companion of the Order of the Garter - the first female non-royal to be so rewarded. This was pre-social media so there was no pile-on and petition set up to tell her that she was wrong that time even though it was controversial. I think, as with Tony Blair, she knows that successful politicians will also be divisive ones but gives these awards on the basis of the service these people have given to their country. I'm not particularly a royalist but given the good judgement this woman has displayed throughout being our longest ever serving head of state I would hesitate to question her and have some respect for her decisions.
Alan Fairchild ● 1306d