Buckingham Palace uses PinkNews article to claim Queen didn’t oppose same-sex marriage
Buckingham Palace sources have cited a PinkNews story to journalists in order to push back against claims the Queen opposed same-sex marriage.
The Queen, who maintains political neutrality as Head of State, gave Royal Assent to the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act in 2013, allowing it to become law.
The Mail broke with royal protocol by publishing comments purportedly from a friend of the Queen, suggesting the Monarch expressed āfrustrationā with same-sex marriage but opting to maintain her politically-neutral role.
However, sources at Buckingham Palace are pushing back against the claims.
A palace source told The Daily Beast: āWeāre not going to get into a did she/didnāt she [on the issue]ā, adding that the story was āspurious and unsubstantiatedā.
The source added: āIt seems unlikely that one of her friends would pass on her thoughts to The Mail.ā
The outlet adds that one palace source responded to a request for comment by linking to a PinkNews story from last year, reporting actor Stephen Fryās claims that the Queen thinks is equal marriage is āwonderfulā.
In the article, Mr Fry recounted the āapocryphalā tale of the Queen remarking that same-sex marriage is āwonderfulā.
He said: āIt was only last summer that Her Majesty The Queen gave the Royal Assent.
āI donāt know whether this is true, but thereās an Italian sayingā¦ if itās not true, itās well founded.
āWhen the Queen signed the Royal Assent for the equal marriages act, allowing gay people to marry for the first time, she put it down and said āWell, whoād have thought 62 years ago when I came to the throne, Iād be signing something like this? Isnāt it wonderful?’ā
Many poked holes in his story ā as Fry suggests the law was physically signed by the Monarch, which does not routinely happen.
Though the palace source did not openly endorse Mr Fryās point of view, the very fact they are linking to it may suggest an element of truth.
The Royal Family has maintained a long-held silence on LGBT rights in general ā with Prince William becoming the first future Monarch to explicitly condemn homophobia last year.
The Duke of Cambridge took part in an LGBT anti-bullying session for the Diana Award, in honour of his mother ā in which he spoke out against homophobia and posed infront of pride flags.
