Americans, Proudly Independent: Why Care About The Royals?

[Smith1942]

The wedding of Kate and William and the birth of their son, plus coverage of the other royal events of the last couple of years has dominated the American media during those events, and also the general conversation.

It seems we have a lot of royalists on PS, but in real life most Americans I've met aren't that interested, or tell me how anachronistic the royals are, and how Americans work hard and value rewards that are earned, over anything else.

Americans are hugely proud of their independence from Britain. The Fourth of July, the fireworks, the proud adherence to Webster's dictionary with its American spellings, the horror of socialised medicine....as a nation, you are proudly, staunchly American, with all that that means: being a citizen not a subject, working hard, social mobility accessible to all, and absolutely no un-earned, un-deserved, inherited honours.

So given that Americans are so happy to be free of Britain, why care about the British royal family so much - why all the media coverage over here of something that isn't of your own country and something which was indeed renounced a long time ago?

The warmth about royalty on PS doesn't match my real-life experiences....however, could it be that some of those people are a little put off by my English accent? I've been told that I sound like Hermione from Harry Potter (although I'm not bossy like she is) and that is my natural speech since I come from the south-east of England and lived there until I was 32, so I won't be changing at this stage. To me, of course, I am completely accentless!

So I'm confused about two things: why America covers Britain so much, the master it fought to get away from, and why my real-life experiences don't match the royalist enthusiasm I find on PS. Regarding the latter, I've actually had some pretty nasty reactions to my Englishness, although not often, thank goodness. I was once called a "British snob" by my mentor for not liking the physical taste of PB&J, as an example.

 

[justginger]

Re: Americans, Proudly Independent: Why Care About The Royal

I suppose everyone has a variety of reactions due to their nationality and location in the world. For the most part, I have found Americans to be extremely fascinated with all different cultures (with the requirement that the foreign person not feel like a threat, in any way). My husband was adored the very instant my friends at home met him, simply because he is Australian - fascinating to a small town American who may never leave the country in their lifetimes. We had people inviting us EVERYWHERE, chatting him up about Australian life, asking him to repeat certain words over and over again. Having gone to uni with a relatively large number of international students, I'd say that reaction by my townspeople was fairly average, and happened to the Brits, Spaniards, Greeks. I'm sure the Africans didn't fare quite as brilliantly, but honestly, I still never saw something I would consider untoward - their being foreign was still enough of a cool anomaly that known racists thought they were awesome. Figure THAT one out...

Those experiences were what I observed in a small town, for whatever it's worth. It is clearly not the kind of reactions you are used to receiving, which is sad but I can identify with you. Being an American abroad while GWB was president was HARD. Especially in a country that had leaders who sacrificed up its troops, against the wishes of the majority of citizens. My crowning drama movie-like moment (thankfully there was only one in 8 years) was when a large drunk man at the train station asked about my accent, then proceeded to spit in my face and sneer that he hoped "all your f'ing worthless troops get slaughtered over there."

I suspect PSers are more educated and relatively accepting than the average American. They can see the royal family for the historical and cultural import it carries. It doesn't mean we want one of our own, just that we can appreciate what it offers the Commonwealth (they're technically my royal family now, too ).

And, well, we love gems. And wherever you find a Queen, you find some awesome gems!

PS - American culture still worships "royalty" - they're just relatively new families. The Rockefellers, the Carnegies, the Waltons, the Hiltons. All families that have grandchildren, etc who have done absolutely NOTHING to earn their families' massive amounts of wealth.

 

[SB621]

Re: Americans, Proudly Independent: Why Care About The Royal

I don't really think we do care except it has been 30 years since the last royal wedding and birth. So it is in the news now but will probably be forgotten in a few more years. In America I'm pretty much under the assumption that Hollywood celebrities are royalty. I hate to say it but Kim K's baby has probably gotten almost the same about of air time in the US as the little prince (and I'm not saying that proudly ). I think we are interested because the idea of royalty is a new and different concept to us.

 

[amc80]

Re: Americans, Proudly Independent: Why Care About The Royal

I don't know anyone who isn't at least mildy interested in the royals. Even my husband wanted to watch the wedding. I've definitely never heard anyone say they disliked them.

Personally, I think it's fascinating. The traditions go back so far, and that's just something we don't have here. I mean our roots aren't even 250 years old.

I also think it's a good idea to have separate heads of state and government. The head of state can do the hand shaking and waving and the head of government can focus on running the country.

 

[Snicklefritz]

Re: Americans, Proudly Independent: Why Care About The Royal

Hmm, seems like you've come across a lot of stuffy Americans, Smith. While I'm happy to be an American and appreciate the struggles of my forefathers who traveled to America to live their dreams, I can also appreciate the history, tradition, and importance of the royal family and what they represent. I honestly didn't watch the wedding and just found out yesterday evening that the baby was a boy, but I was aware of all of the goings on and still find it "cool".

Furthermore, while Americans have all of our words like self-made, liberty, independence, etc, what we don't have is the romantic fairytale that comes with having a royal family. I'm in my late 20's, and can remember when Prince William was on the cover of every teen magazine. Sure, there were plenty of other hearthrobs, but they weren't princes! I'll admit, I pictured myself as his princess on a few occasions


Edited for grammar

 

[iheartscience]

Re: Americans, Proudly Independent: Why Care About The Royal

I don't know a ton of people who truly do care about the royals, beyond mild curiosity. I don't particularly care myself. I'm also not that into celebs and have little to no interest in their lives/babies/gossip/etc. I think it's a fun diversion for some people. I do like seeing the jewelry in the royal thread here.

 

[Smith1942]

Re: Americans, Proudly Independent: Why Care About The Royal

Ginger: That is terrible about a man spitting in your face. Absolutely terrible. You poor thing - you must have been so upset! What a boor. I'm shocked - I'm really shocked! What a coward. I doubt he would have done that to a man his own size. I hope you treated yourself to something nice afterwards. I do that when something bad happens to me, even if it's just a nice meal out somewhere or some chocolates.

Some replies have mentioned about the history and traditions of the royals, and yes - that's why I would have thought Americans might be interested - the age of the institution and all its complexities. However, when I've suggested this value to Americans in real life, I've been a bit sneered at. They've openly dismissed those things as meaning nothing.

Snicklefritz - you say I seem to have met a lot of stuffy Americans. Well, I do live in central Boston! I've noticed that some people round here - not most, but some, just a small handful - like to think of themselves as being very posh Bostonians. When I come along, I seem to un-nerve them a bit. Perhaps they think I'm going to out-posh them, especially with the way I speak! Maybe that's why they criticise the RF to me. Take me down a peg or two!

I should tell any stuck-up Bostonians that I'm the Honourable Smith and invite them to visit the Smith Jewels!

 

[OreoRosies86]

Re: Americans, Proudly Independent: Why Care About The Royal

I don't know that I've seen any over the top rapture over the royals, it's more of a novelty for Americans. Novelties really tend to dominate our media in my opinion, I think Americans do like a side of fluff with their hard news. The royal family provides that.

 

[Smith1942]

Re: Americans, Proudly Independent: Why Care About The Royal

I'm sure the royals would love to be described as a side of fluff! ROFL!!

 

[madelise]

Re: Americans, Proudly Independent: Why Care About The Royal

Cus we don't have our own monarchy. And watching the Kardashians is lame.

 

[JulieN]

Re: Americans, Proudly Independent: Why Care About The Royal

I like the clothes the royal men wear much better than the celebs over here. Scott Disick is the only man in the Kardashian clan that dresses worth a damn.

 

[VRBeauty]

Re: Americans, Proudly Independent: Why Care About The Royal

Entertainment value.

 

[kenny]

Re: Americans, Proudly Independent: Why Care About The Royal

Entertainment value.

I get plenty of that from America's politicians.

Have you heard the latest about the peter-tweeter?

After house representative Weiner got thrown out of Congress for texting women naughty pics of himself he is now running for NYC mayor.
But he just got caught AGAIN texting pics of his weiner to women who ain't his wife.
He can't even remember how many women he's sexted too.

This is better than toe-sucking royals.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/07/25/weiner-estimates-he-sexted-three-women-after-resigning/?hpt=hp_t1

 

[zoebartlett]

Re: Americans, Proudly Independent: Why Care About The Royal

I only have a passing interest, and generally only when there are big events such as royal weddings. I love the formality and pomp involved in royal celebrations. It's all so, well, regal, beautiful, and so over the top. We don't have anything that comes close to the royal family here in the US, so it's fun to get a glimpse into the lives of the royals in GB.

 

[zoebartlett]

Re: Americans, Proudly Independent: Why Care About The Royal

Cus we don't have our own monarchy. And watching the Kardashians is lame.

 

[Smith1942]

Re: Americans, Proudly Independent: Why Care About The Royal

I only have a passing interest, and generally only when there are big events such as royal weddings. I love the formality and pomp involved in royal celebrations. It's all so, well, regal, beautiful, and so over the top. We don't have anything that comes close to the royal family here in the US, so it's fun to get a glimpse into the lives of the royals in GB.

Agree. Although I feel that royals are archaic in this day and age, I do like the pageantry of it all, and the regal aspects, like you say. I thought that Kate and William's wedding was really beautiful and I got quite caught up in the occasion, even though I'm not a monarchist.

 

[distracts]

Re: Americans, Proudly Independent: Why Care About The Royal

Why care about Kim Kardashian, or Heidi and Spencer, or Paris Hilton, or any other celebrity famous for nothing in particular? If you see someone in the news and pay any attention to them, they get famous. The British royals are going to be in the news because of their position, but since they don't actually DO much, they just sort of develop the same reasonless celebrity. Personally I never really cared much for the royals until Kate got in the spotlight - I love her seemingly effortless sense of style, her pretty pretty hair, her shoes, etc. So do many other people, and the media knows it sells. (Almost my entire friend group was "meh" on the royal family until Kate. Everyone loves Kate.) Oh, plus the Charles/Diana/Camilla drama. Everyone loves scandals/drama involving famous people.

I'm sure the Africans didn't fare quite as brilliantly, but honestly, I still never saw something I would consider untoward - their being foreign was still enough of a cool anomaly that known racists thought they were awesome. Figure THAT one out...

Black people not from America don't share American Black culture, therefore they aren't "black" to many people. Same with half-whites like Barack Obama and Halle Berry. Plenty of racists have views slightly more nuanced than just the skin color.

I'm in my late 20's, and can remember when Prince William was on the cover of every teen magazine. Sure, there were plenty of other hearthrobs, but they weren't princes!

Prince William peaked early. Every since he was about 18/19 he started looking jankety.

 

[zoebartlett]

Re: Americans, Proudly Independent: Why Care About The Royal

I don't understand comparing the Kardashians, Hiltons, and other celebrity families to the Royal family. They're completely different, in my book.

 

[FrekeChild]

Re: Americans, Proudly Independent: Why Care About The Royal

I think that the Kennedys and the Rockefellers were probably about as royal as we get over here in the USA.

Think about it - it's in a vast majority of households. Even if it's not in a household, it has permeated those not exposed's psyches. They are in every book store, big box store and across millions of other shelves. Millions of children clamor with excitement and beg for the experience....fairy tales but more importantly Disney princesses.

Sure, we don't have our own princesses and queens, but we sure like the idea of them.

(Kate with her effortless beauty and style, Diana with her beauty, and the evil mistress Camilla have all totally played into the fairy tale btw.)

 

[soxfan]

Re: Americans, Proudly Independent: Why Care About The Royal

I'm obsessed. I freaked out because we were driving home from Florida on the day of Kate and Williams wedding and I missed it. I listened on the radio. When they brought the baby out, I got goosebumps. I've read all the Andrew Norton books, and I watched the coverage of Diana's death non-stop too...

 

[JewelFreak]

Re: Americans, Proudly Independent: Why Care About The Royal

Americans have become extreme celebrity-worshippers. Also, the RF has real glamour, not the tinselly tantrum-throwing, hotel-room-trashing type in Hollywood.

For me, it's the jewels; it's always the jewels. Kate frustrates me no end in that she barely wears them. (Don't get me started on Princess Charlene in that regard! ) I loved Diana's clothing too. I hope once Queen Elizabeth is gone (perish the thought; she's a marvelous girl), that Charles & then William don't make the monarchy too "normal." What fun is it if the royal family is just like us, but in a bigger house? I can see that looking at any of my neighbors, or in a mirror!

We did not admire the British for a very long time. Things began to thaw around the 1880s when American heiresses married & supported titles, but the "special relationship" didn't develop until some time pre-WWI. I read a lot of Civil War history and was astounded at the vitriol & hatred expressed by Americans toward Britain. Most of it stemmed from the War of 1812 when they torched Washington -- amazing how long that anger lasted.

--- Laurie

P.S. My husband is Dutch. There has never been any major fascination about Holland when people meet him. I don't think it has the pizzazz that Britain does; we also learn less about its history in school than about Britain's, so their ignorance about Holland is fairly complete.

 

[soxfan]

Re: Americans, Proudly Independent: Why Care About The Royal

Americans have become extreme celebrity-worshippers. Also, the RF has real glamour, not the tinselly tantrum-throwing, hotel-room-trashing type in Hollywood.

YES! This is why I am also obsessed with the Kennedy's! I always wear gigantic sunglasses and before I buy an article of clothing, I always say to myself "is this something Jackie would wear?"

 

[Smith1942]

Re: Americans, Proudly Independent: Why Care About The Royal

Yes, the jewels are amazing, aren't they? I saw the Crown Jewels on a day out to the Tower of London a couple of years ago. They were absolutely jaw-dropping.

 

[JewelFreak]

Re: Americans, Proudly Independent: Why Care About The Royal

I saw them too -- beautiful, aren't they? Wish I could have seen the Queen's Diamonds exhibit. I used to be in Britain about one week every month, for 5 yrs, when we lived in Amsterdam. Bit of a longer trip from the US now.

--- Laurie

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Re: Americans, Proudly Independent: Why Care About The Royal

I think it is the celebrity aspect, and at least some of the royals act with class rather as opposed to some of the celebrities here. I think William and Kate are a beautiful young couple and will attract attention partly because it is somewhat of a fairy tale (unless it falls apart like Charles and Diana). But I am pulling for them and hope they make it! I definitely watched the wedding and thought Kate was one of the most beautiful brides ever, and actually, I think she is one of the most beautiful women, period.

Plus, from a historical aspect, many of us have roots in England, and I certainly am interested in that!

 

[rosetta]

Re: Americans, Proudly Independent: Why Care About The Royal

I saw them too -- beautiful, aren't they? Wish I could have seen the Queen's Diamonds exhibit. I used to be in Britain about one week every month, for 5 yrs, when we lived in Amsterdam. Bit of a longer trip from the US now.

--- Laurie

I saw this exhibit. Words can't describe it. This was my face for about an hour ----->

My husband couldn't get me out of the room. The Cullinan diamonds were out of this world.

 

[justginger]

Re: Americans, Proudly Independent: Why Care About The Royal

I saw them too -- beautiful, aren't they? Wish I could have seen the Queen's Diamonds exhibit. I used to be in Britain about one week every month, for 5 yrs, when we lived in Amsterdam. Bit of a longer trip from the US now.

--- Laurie

I saw this exhibit. Words can't describe it. This was my face for about an hour ----->

My husband couldn't get me out of the room. The Cullinan diamonds were out of this world.

So sad I missed this. It was at the TOP of my list of things to do when we were in London last summer -- but we happened to be there on the actual Jubilee weekend, so everything was locked up, tight as a drum.

We DID see Charles and Camilla though, so that was an unexpected treat!

 

[SB621]

Re: Americans, Proudly Independent: Why Care About The Royal

Sorry I think i'm the one that started the comparison between the Royal Family and the Kardashins (sp?). I didn't mean to draw a direct comparison but she was the first person who popped into my head that the US news has gone crazy over due to the baby- heck I even think there was a thread here on Hangout about her baby's name. But the point I was trying to make is that most Americans have ADD. It is interesting one moment and then we see the next shiney thing....oh shiney!!!!

 

[AGBF]

Re: Americans, Proudly Independent: Why Care About The Royal

P.S. My husband is Dutch.

I never knew that. That explains so much. I have wondered about your amazing linguistic abilities and the time you spent living in Belgium and the Netherlands. It was both, was it not? Many Americans with linguistic ability seem to learn some French or Italian or German, but learning Dutch/Flemish is rare. I happen to have an acquaintance who is Dutch. One of my closest friends, someone I speak of here all the time (the mother of my godson), is very close to her. I have learned a lot about the Netherlands from her. Boy, can she drink! She is a gorgeous redhead of about my age who can drink any man I know under the table.

Deb/AGBF

 

[JewelFreak]

Re: Americans, Proudly Independent: Why Care About The Royal

Ha! I used to be able to do that too, till I couldn't.

We lived only in A'dam but I traveled all over the Continent for my work. Made some wonderful friends, got to do regular people-things with customers, like going home for dinner w/their families, watching their kids' soccer matches, even helped one Finnish guy clean out his summer cabin an hour outside Helsinki to get it ready for winter. Had to learn Dutch, of course, though I enjoyed not being able to talk to my MIL, who was a silly & stupid creature. Studied French from 6th grade through college, so spoke it pretty well. 4 yrs of Italian, a few of Spanish, both easy once you get the Romance language logic. Dutch is kind of like a simpler version of German. Languages are a door into other worlds, which is why I've always loved learning them.

DH still reads the Dutch papers online & we still have very close friends there, plus his bro & sister. He has no interest in the Dutch RF, though, so I give him news on that (which he thinks is a snooze) -- once I made him see their magnificent jewels online & he did admit they were spectacular, big concession from him.

--- Laurie