Sir Edward Grey was a fairly typical member of the British ruling class. He went to Winchester and Oxford. He graduated with a third-class degree, but did become Varsity champion in real tennis.
He spoke no foreign languages. Still, in 1905 he became foreign secretary. Even then he avoided travelling abroad. During the “July crisis” of 1914, he continued to take long country weekends. Three days before first world war broke out, he was still dithering about whether Britain should fight. He scarcely bothered discussing the matter in cabinet. Finally Britain drifted into a disastrous war. Andrew Adonis, the writer and Labour peer, calls him “arguably the most incompetent foreign secretary of all time”, although the 1930s appeaser Lord Halifax and 1960s drunk George Brown provide stiff competition.
Admittedly, not all ruling Brits have been incompetent. Still, the selection process, which excluded almost everyone except Oxbridge-educated British males, was limiting. That is now being rectified. The UK has begun recruiting its rulers abroad, chiefly in former white colonies. The government just appointed the New Zealand judge Lowell Goddard to investigate historical child abuse in the UK. Every nation grumbles about its ruling class. Britain is actually doing something about it.