When the British Queen's husband Prince Philip was seen leaving the hospital in London on Tuesday, where he was cared for for almost a month, it was one of the few good news for Buckingham Palace.
In the current pandemic, Britons seek the royal house as a unifying national symbol.
Instead, the royal family is shaken by its worst crisis in decades.
That with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's shocking Oprah Winfrey interview which, if you excuse the expression, is the crowning achievement.
- It is a betrayal in a time of crisis.
I think it's destructive, says Angela Levin, who wrote Prince Harry's biography, in this week's Foreign Office.
Compare with Sweden
The story of "Megxit", ie Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's sortie from the role of working members of the British monarchy, has been characterized both by scathing criticism of the British press and by information about disagreements within the family.
But the controversy surrounding Buckingham Palace is not just superficial gossip.
The Royal Family contributes to British "soft power" globally, generates large revenues and is an important symbol.
The story may seem childish but has become a game with high stakes, according to Financial Times writer Camilla Cavendish.
"The whole saga could have been avoided if the British royal family had not embarked on a different path than most other European monarchies," she writes in an opinion piece.
"The Spaniards, Swedes, Danes and Dutch have shrunk their hooves, and most children now have regular jobs outside the public eye."
Unexpected effect?
Last year, the Swedish court announced that Prince Carl Philips and Princess Madeleine's children will no longer belong to the royal family and it has been reported for years that Prince Charles wants to see a slim British royal family.
The British turbulence has damaged the monarchy in the short term, says James Savage, founder of the news site The Local.
At the same time, it can help Prince Charles get what he wants at least on one point.
- To slim down the monarchy, to get rid of all these cousins, brothers and nephews, says Savage.
- That it should only be the Queen, Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince George.
This week, the Foreign Office dives deep into "Megxit" and the controversies surrounding the British royal family. Watch here on SVT Play or 22.00 on Tuesday in SVT2.