AMERICANS AND THE MONARCHY

 

Since the death of Queen Elizabeth II, I have had numerous conversations with other Americans, and with non-Americans, alike, about why it is that the monarchy has maintained such an enduring hold upon the American imagination.

The United States, it almost goes without saying, has a long, complicated history with the monarchy, and not just the British monarchy, either. It is the British crown which seems to have gotten under our skin, however. Although present day US territory has found itself under the French, Spanish, Mexican, Russian, Hawaiian, and even Danish crowns, it tends to be our relationship with the British monarchy upon which Americans tend to focus.

This has everything to do, of course, with the historical drama of the American Revolution and the subsequent War of 1812. During the Revolution, American colonials, against all odds, defeated the overwhelming forces of the vast British Empire (with oodles of help from the French and others), sent the king’s men packing, and founded a republic. The War of 1812 saw our infant republic pitted against our old nemesis, King George, once again, in a conflict during which the ‘redcoats’ burned down the newly completed White House.

None of our relationships with any of those other monarchies which once reigned over American lands packs quite the emotional punch as our rocky relationship with the Crown of England, and King George III, as the musical Hamilton will attest to, remains the villain we Americans all love to hate. In fact, we don't even hate King George, at this point; he's become a cherished sinister icon of a sort (like Frankenstein or Count Dracula). There is a reason why George's songs from that musical are the only ones we know all the words to by heart. 

Our love-hate relationship with Britain, itself, however, over time, transformed into a “special relationship”, as we know, cemented particularly during World War II.

It may surprise many Britons and Americans, alike, to learn that there is a room named in honor of their beloved queen (The Queen’s Bedroom) on the second floor of the very same White House which British troops once set fire to. The White House, for that matter, even boasted a “Prince of Wales Room” once upon a time (today the president’s private second floor dining room).

America’s warming up to the British crown began long before World War II, however. It wasn’t long after the War of 1812, in fact, that we all began to let bygones be bygones, and much of it, admittedly, on account of pride and prejudice, if you please. 

As the 19^th century progressed, populistic notions of Jeffersonian and Jacksonian democracy began to fade, and America’s upper class and elite families among the East Coast establishment, both north and south, couldn’t quite resist the urge to emulate, mimic, and ultimately marry themselves into the British aristocracy.

To American families of means, a British title was the ultimate status symbol. Conversely, for many British aristocratic noblemen who found themselves titled and pedigreed but cash poor, American brides with large doweries enabled them to go on living in the manner to which they had for centuries become accustomed.

America’s first big “crush” on the British monarchy, as such, however, occurred in 1860, the year before the Civil War broke out, when Albert Edward, prince of Wales, the eldest son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, embarked upon an American tour de force. Arriving in the states in July of that year, the young prince captured the attention and the hearts of Americans across the country. His trip to the United States would last until November.

It would be a later prince of Wales, the future King Edward VIII, who would reignite an American fascination with the monarchy by forming a relationship with an American divorcee, Wallis Warfield Simpson. Although that relationship would ultimately lead to Edward’s undoing, Americans found themselves tantalized by the prospect of an American becoming queen of England.

After the Second World War, America’s bond with the United Kingdom became fairly indestructible, although it would be the glittering 1953 televised coronation of Queen Elizabeth II by which the monarchy would irrevocably captivate the attention of so many Americans (and, indeed, the whole world).

Americans began to follow the new queen and her young family with a maintained interest which came to a crescendo in 1981 when then-Prince Charles married Lady Diana Spencer at St. Paul’s Cathedral in what was surely the most breathtaking royal wedding of all time. The wedding of Charles and Diana was really the moment when American interest in the British royal family took off like a rocket, and that rocket has never really landed.

While it was a fascination with Diana which carried America’s interest through to the time of her tragic death in 1997 and beyond, it was Queen Elizabeth II, herself, who would become the focal point for American interest in the monarchy, thereafter. We all seemed to find ourselves with a deep sense of admiration for this grandmotherly figure with a quiet and abiding sense of duty. In an increasingly volatile world, Elizabeth’s steady, stately presence was noticed and genuinely appreciated by the inhabitants of the republic which had once upon a time overthrown one of her ancestors.

And then came “The Crown”, of course.

So, how should Britons best wrap their heads around the curiosity of America’s improbable love affair with the British monarchy?

Perhaps a Q&A based upon conversations which this particular American has had with Brits and Canadians through the years might offer at least one perspective on the topic:

Q: “Why are all Americans obsessed with our royal family?”

A: They aren’t, that’s overstating matters. It is more accurate to say that a large number of Americans have either an occasional or abiding casual curiosity about the monarchy. Just as many could care less about the topic of the British royal family, however, and only a small number of Americans have a level of interest in the monarchy which approaches “obsession”. 

Many of those Americans in the last category tend either to find themselves obsessed with celebrity, in a general sense, or to be Anglophiles, often with deep British roots, and have a fondness for the programming on BBC America and PBS.
   
Q: “But why even the level of interest you describe? You’re a republic and you are all so fond of prating on about ‘democracy’, ‘liberty’, and ‘freedom’? Why would any of you care about royalty at all?”

A: Opposites attract, I suppose. It amounts to a fascination with something you have which we don’t. Compare it to the way so many of your countrymen, despite being the inheritors to a millennium of history and culture, can’t get enough of Hollywood and American television.

Q: “Why does a republic like the US seem to have so much respect for the queen?”

A: It has something to do with the magic of royalty but it has much more to do with Elizabeth II, herself, as a person, I think (or at least the way she is perceived; nobody over here really knows much about her, of course). Many Americans have observed and have respected her sense of duty and her dignified demeanor, which often starkly contrasted with the undignified demeanor of our own self-serving elected officials, with whom Americans (erroneously) tend to compare European royalty.

Q: “Why does American fascination with British royalty not seem to extend to other European royalty, since there are, after all, historical connections between the US and those monarchies?”

A: It will perhaps come as no shock to anyone to learn that knowledge and awareness of the world beyond America’s borders is not exactly the strong suit of the average American, by any means. 

Few Americans realize that there are any other monarchies besides the British monarchy. Many Americans would be shocked, in fact, to learn that Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Japan, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Tonga, Thailand, the Bahamas, and various other countries still have kings, queens, emperors, princes, and grand dukes reigning over them. 

Many Americans, for that matter (embarrassed as I am to say it) are likely unaware of the existence of several of the countries I have just listed.

Q: “Do Americans ever give a thought to having monarchy restored in America?”

A: No. Well…if we were turn to that “obsessed” minority mentioned earlier for an answer to that question, I’m sure some of them would blather some nonsense to the contrary. The vast majority of Americans who admire the British monarchy, however, are content to admire it from a distance. The fact is that the question never arises over here. America isn’t like France or Italy or Romania in that respect; our experience with monarchy is too distant for any nostalgia for it to be present.

Were we to ask Americans a more sensible question having to do with the adoption of a non-partisan ceremonial president as head of state, a truly interesting conversation might take place, but the days of kings and queens is well and truly over in this country.

Q: “What, in America, takes the place of a monarch as the focal point of unity and patriotism?”

A: In the United States, the people are sovereign, and the most celebrated emblem of the American people through the years has been the American flag. In the past, before the US became so hopelessly divided, it was the American flag which served as the common focal point for American unity and patriotism. 

As with your monarch, there are numerous protocols concerning the flag of the United States which are taken quite seriously. The flag is saluted with hand over heart, for example. It must never be dipped. It may never touch the ground. The flag may not be flown at night without proper illumination. It must be placed to the left of all other flags, and so on and so forth. 

There may, in fact, be as much etiquette surrounding the United States flag as there is surrounding the British monarch.

Q: “Do Americans support Harry and Meghan?”

A: That’s a subject which will likely divide Americans with anything in particular to say about it along both political and racial lines. Our former president seemed to have a peculiar obsession with the couple’s presence in the US, and his views will be parroted by his supporters, if asked, I suppose.  

Among Americans who think for themselves, however (saving those obsessed by royalty and celebrity), very few, I believe, will find much interest in the topic of Harry and Meghan at all. They certainly don't captivate our attention the way Diana did for so long. 

Q: “Do Americans think well or ill of the new king?”

A: Americans will tend not to give him very much thought at all, to be honest. Whereas many Americans openly admired Queen Elizabeth II, a recent poll found that about 61% of Americans described themselves as “indifferent” to the topic of King Charles III. It seems fairly safe to say, then, that the majority of Americans will not think well or ill of the king.

His Majesty needn’t be very dismayed by his American polling numbers, however. For cheering up, he need only conduct a poll of his own asking Americans to rate, on a scale of one to ten, how aware they are of the existence of King Carl XVI Gustaf.

The Kingdom of Great Hanover . 2022