DURING the Queen’s lifetime she witnessed numerous highs and lows – but she stated that one year stood out for her for being one of the worst.
The 12 months were so terrible that the monarch declared it her. “annus horribilis”Literally, it means “meaning”. “horrible year”There were many factors that led to her upset.
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What was the Queen’s Annus Horribilis?
In a speech to Guildhall to commemorate her 40th anniversary on the throne, Queen Elizabeth II referred to 1992 in her speech of November 24, 2012. “annus horribilis”.
She said: “1992 is not a year on which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure.
“In the words of one of my more sympathetic correspondents, it has turned out to be an ‘Annus Horribilis’.”
What was the result of the annus horribilis
The year began badly — and kept on getting worse for the royal family.
Sandringham in January saw the Queen told by Prince Andrew and his beloved wife that their marriage was almost over.
Sarah Ferguson later wrote: “She asked me to reconsider, to be strong and go forward.”
The couple agreed to postpone any decision for six more months.
Later that month, photos of the Duchess and her Texan playboy love Steve Wyatt were published. This led to a legal separation.
And things weren’t rosy with the Queen’s firstborn son and his wife either.
Charles and Diana lived separate lives until the mid-1980s, while trying to maintain a sense of public togetherness. But cracks were beginning to appear.
In April, Princess Anne’s divorce from Mark Phillips was formalised.
Royal editor Ingrid Seward wrote: “She [the Queen]The Duke of Edinburgh experienced the change in the air during a February trip to Australia. Their reception was only lukewarm.
“The wife of the Australian prime minister even refused to curtsey.
“Philip, ever the guardian of family affairs, told Diana, in the nicest possible terms, and Sarah more bluntly, that their behaviour was damaging the monarchy.”
In June, Andrew Morton published his bombshell biography, Diana: Her True Story, and no detail of the agony going on inside Charles and Diana’s marriage was spared.
The Queen was on holiday at Balmoral the following month when photos were published showing a topless Duchess from York sitting by a swimming pool. “financial adviser”John Bryan was a sucking machine for her toes.
On November 13, extracts from an illegal recording of a telephone call, the so called Camillagate Tape were published.
Although only a few lines were shown, they were sufficient to confirm Charles’ adulterous relationship and affection with Camilla Parker Bowles.
Windsor Castle was destroyed by flames later that month. It took five years to rebuild.
Four days after the fire, Queen Elizabeth delivered her speech hailing the new year “annus horribilis”.
However, the monarch wasn’t done yet.
John Major, who was present in the Commons on December 9, said: “It is announced from Buckingham Palace that, with regret, the Prince and Princess of Wales have decided to separate.”
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