Royal Overexposure?

     On Thursday, February 27th, Princess Beatrice had her Twitter account formally verified (@yorkiebea), making her the second known member of the Royal family to establish a personal account on the social media site.

The Princess's Twitter account ballooned from just under 2,000 followers to over 10,000 in the five days since it was verified on February 27th.

     She follows in the footsteps of her father, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, who took to Twitter in April 2013 (@TheDukeofYork), as well as her mother Sarah (@SarahTheDuchess). In addition, Buckingham Palace has its own page representing the Queen and the Royal family in general (@BritishMonarchy), and Clarence House created a page for Prince Charles, Camilla, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince Harry (@ClarenceHouse).

     All of these pages - alongside sister accounts with Facebook, YouTube, Flickr, etc. - are usually for the posting of official activities and to keep followers informed on how the monarchy works, as well as on what the Royal family is doing and to give "shout-outs" to people, charities, and organizations they support. It is however, extremely rare for a member of the family to write a personal tweet - Andrew usually sign's such tweets with "AY" at the end for Andrew York - and in the case of Princess Beatrice, one has to believe that her account had to be cleared by the Palace in some way, and (perhaps) that she has been given guidance on using Twitter, given her status. The Princess is after all, sixth in line to the 16 Commonwealth thrones (including the United Kingdom).

     Nonetheless, this embrace of social media has not been received well by everybody. Naturally, republicans and cynics will roll their eyes and claim that the royal family is attempting to control the message that we receive about them (which is not new, because message control and PR have been going on centuries - including from republicans themselves), and even people with positive opinions on the monarchy have expressed concerns about the social media strategy. On Twitter, Victoria Arbiter - a royal contributor for CNN and CTV News - remarked on February 27th:

     "Am clearly stuck in the last century, but royals tweeting doesn't seem like a good idea! Survival is down to maintaining an air of mystery."

     This sentiment was further echoed by Victoria Coren Mitchell, writing for the Observer on Saturday, March 1st. In response to the reports that Prince George may be getting a full-time nanny after all, she poured water on the idea of royalty (or anyone else of high social status) "pretending" to be ordinary, and offered a warning that "if the new generation actually succeeds in becoming 'just like the rest of us' then republicans will not be placated and royalists might just stop caring."

     These beliefs uttered by Arbiter and Mitchell are not new; they have been echoed through the generations within, and outside of, royal circles - most famously and succinctly by the 19th Century constitutional commentator Walter Bagehot, who said: “We must not let in daylight upon magic.”

     The implication is that the danger going forward is not scandal or the appearance of being aloof and out-of-touch; it is that by becoming increasingly accessible to the people - and acting in ways that appear ordinary - the monarchy risks becoming irrelevant by losing its mystic qualities, which requires that Royal family place a veil between themselves and the people, and that their lives must reflect their status. To do any less would at best, be a dereliction of duty and at worst, be seen as patronizing and insulting to real ordinary folk who know that the royal family cannot possibly relate to them.

     In other words, if you are going to be royal, act royal, with the nannies, protocol, pomp and circumstance, and the like. That's what you are are paid to do.

     However, I believe it is false to espouse that the monarchy and members of the royal family cannot enjoy the best of both worlds: to be extraordinary and ordinary, as well as to be more accessible without letting everything hang out in the open. (Indeed, I would caution against anyone claiming to know everything about the monarchy, for there is much that we do not know, and should never know).

The Queen has deftly managed the transition of the monarchy into the new media age. Her's is reign that has witness the rise of various forms of media - from radio and television to the Internet and social media.

     It is a balancing act that must be delicately maintained. Members of the Royal family must place themselves above the people, but not become so high-minded that they appear look down on them with contempt and confirm the worst stereotypes of hereditary power and social status. At the same time, it does not hurt to become relatable in ways that are helpful, such as Princess Beatrice discussing her issues with dyslexia, and lending her support to charities that assist others with the same condition. Making personal connections with ordinary people is just as important as displaying a difference between them.

     Indeed, the story of monarchy in Britain for the past 1,500 years has been the story of a dialogue between Crown and People, which has, in the words of David Starkey, shaped the country's "social and political life to this day." Contact and interaction are necessary, especially in the present age. The question is: How much?

     Over the last century and up to the present, the balancing act has been executed well by the Queen, who - along with her advisers - has shrewdly seen the need to open up the Palace and bring it closer to the masses, but only so much. As time goes on, the pressures of the new media landscape and the voracious appetite for all things royal will challenge to monarchy to break down more barriers. 

     However with Prince William's protective attitude towards his family - born out of the chaos of his parents marriage - we should expect the balance to be healthily observed in a way that serves the interests of both Crown and People.

The World Meets Baby Cambridge

It was as though time had stood still. 

The world waited and anticipated for this moment - the moment when it got its first look at the future King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (United Kingdom, UK, Great Britain, or Britain for short).

     Throughout the day, is wasn't at all clear if the Cambridges were leaving yesterday or today. But the official celebrations of the birth continued with the traditional 62-gun salute at the Tower of London (21 for a normal salute, 20 for taking place at a royal palace, and 21 marking the loyalty of London to the monarchy), 41-gun salute by the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery in Green Park (21 for a normal salute, 20 for taking place in a royal park), and the peeling of bells at Westminster Abbey. The Band of the Scots Guards also played the song "Congratulations" during the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace. Similar gun salutes and tributes occurred in Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and other realms and territories.

Carole and Michael Middleton leaving the hospital upon visiting their daughter and baby grandson.

It was the Prince of Wales who may have inadvertently let it slip that the Cambridges and the baby were coming out soon.

     Eventually, events started to pick up pace at St. Mary's Hospital. First, Kate's parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, arrived at the hospital in a taxicab. They visited for a few minutes and later chatted with the media before leaving the area. Later, Prince Charles and Camilla paid their own visit (having flown in by helicopter after completing engagements in Yorkshire), after which the Prince told the public that they would see the baby soon. Kensington Palace then released a statement stating that the William, Kate, and their boy would in fact be departing the hospital later that evening. For the next few hours, cameras were trained directly on the door of the hospital, with crowds expressing cheers and then disappointment whenever the doors opened, only to reveal people other than William, Kate, and the baby.

     Finally, with the hospital staff lined up by the railings, it was clear the moment was soon coming. A few minutes later, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge came outside of hospital, with Kate holding the baby. As they did so, a huge roar went up, and the couple legitimately appeared to be overwhelmed by enormous crowds that had gathered there. As they made their way down the steps, the new prince raised his hands, appearing to wave. Kate then handed him over to William, and they walked across the street to give their remarks and to take some questions from the media, which is another example of breaking new ground for the monarchy. Among other things, William teased the press about their long wait, stated that he and Kate were still working on the boys name, and the remarked that the baby had more hair than him. Kate talked about the experience they had which was shared by other new parents around the nation and world. The two of them also bantered with each other about changing diapers and over from whom the baby took his looks. 

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with the newest member of the royal family

     The couple headed back inside the hospital for a brief period before emerging again with William carrying the baby in a carrier/car seat. He placed the child in the back seat of a Land Rover with Kate, and then he himself (with a royal protection officer in the passenger seat) got into the driver's seat and drove off to the small cottage in which he and Kate live on the grounds of Kensington Palace, another break with protocol and an attempt to show William and Kate as a modern royal couple.

     All in all, it was an exciting day with tradition and modernity mixing neatly together. Now is time for the new family to have their time alone. William has two weeks of official paternity leave before he returns to his RAF search and rescue base in Wales, and since renovations to their 21 room apartment in Kensington Palace (formerly occupied by the Queen's sister, Princess Margaret) are not yet complete, it appears likely Kate and William will spend some time at her parent's home in Bucklebury, Berkshire. It is equally likely that this baby will not have another formal appearance until his christening, which may not be until September or October when the Queen returns from her annual summer holiday (vacation, as we call it in the States) in Scotland. Today, the Queen did pay a half-hour visit to Kensington Palace to see her third great-grandchild and third generation heir to the throne (and soon afterward, Kate and William headed to Bucklebury to visit her parents).

      When the Queen met him, she must have taken some comfort in knowing that the monarchy is secure for the rest of this century and possibly into the next. Of course, the boy will be reign for several decades, but that doesn't seem to matter. His birth alone has delighted the people of the UK, the Commonwealth, and world. Only the most cynical could not find something to be happy about with the arrival of this child who will one day preside over one of the oldest and most storied institutions of the world. 

     Let us all wish him a happy and long life.

Photo Credit: Christopher Neve via Photopin cc, Steve Rhodes via Photopin cc

The Time Has Finally Come!

Crowds of well-wishers and tourists lining up at the gates of Buckingham Palace and the Victoria Memorial in anticipation of the birth of the future King or Queen of the United Kingdom.

   

     And now, the blessed day has arrived. After weeks of waiting, speculating, and rumor-milling throughout the United Kingdom and the world, the Duchess of Cambridge has gone into labor with her first child and is safely within the confines of the Lindo Wing of St. Mary's Hospital in London.

     Since the initial announcement by Kensington Palace at around 7:00 AM British Summer Time (1:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time on the US Eastern Seaboard), the media and public frenzy has gone into hyper-drive. Crowds have built up along the gates of Buckingham Palace, waiting anxiously for the moment when the announcement of the birth is made. The media, long-suffering after over three weeks of camping outside of the hospital during one of the longest heatwaves in British history, has now focused it's attention to the hospital doors, waiting for somebody of importance to come out. Indeed, now that it has been over 12 hours since Kate was admitted with William at her side, the media has found it difficult to discuss anything, because there's hardly any news to be discussed (but it doesn't stop them from coming on air and babbling about something connected to the royal birth). Up in the city of York, Price Charles has revealed that he too knows nothing more than anyone else does at the moment.

     The reality is that there will be no news and nothing much to be said until the delivery actual occurs. Depending on what time it occurs, the Queen and other members of the royal family will be the first to know of the birth, followed by the Middleton family. Further phone calls will be placed to UK Prime Minister David Cameron, the heads of the regional governments of Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales as well as the governors-general and prime ministers of the Queen's 15 overseas realms (Canada, Australia, Jamaica, etc.), the heads of government of the British Overseas Territories (Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, etc.), the governments of the Crown Dependencies (Isle of Mann and Channel Islands), as well as the Archbishop of Canterbury (who will likely christen the baby) and other high-ranking officials. 

     At around the same time, a Palace official will be handed a piece of paper that is signed by the appropriate doctors and hospital staff, which contains information on the baby's gender, weight, and time of birth. This official will then drive from the hospital to Buckingham Palace (if he manages to get through the crowds) to have the paper framed and placed on an easel, which will then be displayed just behind the palace gates so that the world can get its first bit of actual "news" about the child. It is expected that there will be live statements from members of both families as well as a photo-op at the doors of the hospital when the Duke and Duchess, along with their child, prepare to go home.

     It is interesting that the Duchess was admitted to the hospital at around the same time as Diana, Princess of Wales was admitted when she had William in 1982 - just before 6:00 AM BST. Diana gave birth at 9:03 PM that day. This is not to say the Kate will do the same, but one expert in the field of obstetrics has said that first-time mother's are on average in labor for about 12 hours, give or take a few. 

     What is certain is that Kate will not have to worry about a government official standing around waiting for the moment to occur. It used to be a custom that royal births had to be supervised by government ministers to prevent an imposter baby from being smuggled in. Probably the most famous occurrence of this custom happened in 1688, during the birth of James Francis Edward Stuart, the son of King James VII of Scotland & II of England and Ireland with his second wife, Mary of Modena. There were rumors that Mary was not actually pregnant, and that the supposed royal baby would be smuggled in via a warming pan. So King James invited 70 officials in high office to crowd into the bedchamber to witness the birth, but even that didn't stop some Protestants from using the "warming pan story" as an excuse to invite the Dutch prince, William of Orange, to depose James, the last Catholic king in Britain, during the Glorious Revolution of 1688-89. Eventually, the job of supervising royal births fell to one government minster, the Home Secretary (who among other things is also responsible for immigration, citizenship, security, and law and order). The last time this occurred was when the Queen's cousin, Princess Alexandra, was born in 1936. In the lead-up to Prince Charles's birth in 1948, King George VI deemed it unnecessary to continue this tradition.

     So now the world waits for the all-important announcement. Throughout the UK, many people tend to say that they don't care about the birth. But once it occurs, expect them to tune in to witness the announcement of the birth of their future monarch. The Brits tend to be low-key and cynical, but when national events of celebration are happening, patriotism tends to flow out in a big way. Indeed, it is expected that sales of royal baby memorabilia will be in excess of £ 240 million (about $369 million), which could be a small boost to the British economy.

     Yet aside from all of this, it must be remembered that although this is an event of international significance, it is also a private family affair. There ought to be ample time for the families to have their moment of solitude before the glare of camera's changes everything.


Photo Credit: David Holt via photopin cc

Right-Royal Media Circus

     I am a monarchist, and proud to be one. I am excited about the first child of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and looking forward to its forthcoming arrival in this world.

     While the wait is becoming unbearable, I find myself more frustrated by the media than the “overdue” baby. Since December, the UK and international media has hyped up this story, although this was expected since we are talking about the future King or Queen of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (as well as 15 other countries). The Monarchy of the United Kingdom is an ancient institution with global influence and popularity, and it was inevitable that people would want to know as much as possible about the baby who will likely carry it into the 22^nd Century. They want to know the baby’s gender, where it will live, who its godparents it will be, the progression of the Duchess’s pregnancy, where she will give birth, etc.

     The result is that the media goes to extremes to pacify the public in its thirst for knowledge. With regard to the royal baby, the Duchess’s every move and word has been scrutinized, her wardrobe questioned, and her “bump” endlessly photographed.  This also means that for the past 2-3 weeks, news organizations have staked out their positions in front of St. Mary’s Hospital to catch the first glimpse of William and Kate, either when they enter the Lindo Wing or come out with the baby.

     But now that Kate has passed her alleged due date (reported by the Daily Mail as being July 13), the media and public are becoming restless. Even the Queen has signaled that she’s ready for this to be over. But the Palace has never released a due date, and it only confirmed Kate’s slip of the tongue about the baby arriving in “mid-July.” However, the Palace did promise that it would inform the media as to when the Duchess was in the hospital and in labor. On these two points alone, the press ought to have waited until the Palace announcement was made, after which they would have had ample time to set themselves up in front of the hospital for the big moment.

     “But wait,” say the news organizations and paparazzi, “for we must get that shot of Kate entering the hospital.” Sorry to say, but it’s unlikely that any of us are going to watch Kate waddling into the Lindo Wing. As I understand it, there are low-key entrances that will allow the Duchess to enter without being seen by the media. She’s already fooled them at least once in the last week by showing up for an appointment and leaving without a hitch, and the only reason the press got a hold of it was because another patient happened to see Kate and informed them about the escapade.

     All of this points to that fact that we live in a media landscape that is vastly different from the time of Prince Williams birth. With 24-7 news channels, newspapers, tabloids, social media, internet websites and blogs dedicated to all things royal, and information that instantly flows through our fingers, we have become an impatient society. We want news immediately, and don’t like to wait. The media responds to our demand in part by over-hyping the information we receive, which then makes us want to come back for more in a never-ending cycle.

     After reporting the unsubstantiated due date of July 13^th, the media speculated that the Duchess of Cambridge may follow in the footsteps of her late grandmother-in-law, Diana, by giving birth before the anticipated due date. Such speculation may have led some media outlets to stake out their spots in late June, believing that the birth would take place during the first week in July. Yours truly got a little exuberant, and hoped for the child to be born on the date of American independence. But the first week came and went.

     So have the second and third weeks with nothing much happening, aside from the sideshow of royal fans and look-alike's making their way around area. Now there is more speculation regarding the place of birth. William and Kate are reportedly staying at her parent’s house in Bucklebury, Berkshire (pronounced “Barkshire” with a British accent), about an hour away from London, which has some in the media believing that the Duchess will attempt pull a fast one and give birth at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, just down the road from her parents. Indeed, contingency plans have been made in case issues arise in which the hour-long ride to St. Mary’s would be too risky. However, the Palace has maintained that it is Kate’s intention to give birth at the London hospital where Prince William and Prince Harry were born. But never fear, for the media is also getting ready for a possible change of venue. So far, I know that NBC has sent one correspondent to Royal Berkshire, while another holds down the networks spot outside of the Lindo Wing.

     What’s interesting is that the Windsor’s and Middleton’s themselves appear to be calm and relaxed about the affair while the rest of the world (or at least the press) goes crazy. It may very well be that they know when the due date is, and have no reason to fret over it. The Daily Telegraph is now reporting that the due date may be today (July 19^th), which may explain why William and Kate are at her parent’s house while he is on leave from RAF duties, and why William played two days of polo for charity last weekend (when most in the press thought the baby was due then).

     In the end, the baby has its own plans that are not conformed to the news cycle. It will come when it’s ready, and all of us – the press included – must respect that.