Royal theatricality of British sort

The heir to the throne Prince Charles has been leading the circus during his visits to Scotland and Canada as part of the royal family’s tours to the members of the British Commonwealth.

BBC Scotland viewers were shocked on May 10 when news presenter Sally Magnusson introduced Charles live on air as the weather forecaster with the words, “Over to you, Your Royal highness.”

Then came a de facto weather forecast by Charles and his wife Camilla who were visiting the BBC studios in Pacific Quay, Glasgow.

Charles made another go at getting down from the royal high horse in Canada, appearing out of context acting as a DJ during a tour of an employment skills workshop in Toronto.

Charles nodding his regal features to the beat and scratching and fading as a DJ ran diametrically opposed to the institutionalized image of monarchy in the public’s mind and even risked a moment of the future king presenting himself as a laughing matter though nothing of the sort happened.

Charles did seem to toe the line between being respected and laughed at, yet the public stunt was one of very rare set of gestures that could suggest royals are not detached from the public.

However, he rather raised further questions about what he meant by the public relation stunts including the weather forecast, than answering any.

The questions remain hanging in the air with reports that the Queen herself is to act in the next James Bond film as part of her Diamond Jubilee agenda.

The Queen is reportedly set to become the first ever British monarch to take a role in a film by acting as herself bestowing knighthood to Daniel Craig, who plays the role of the 007 agent.

Queen Elizabeth has already had her image set in everything from paint to plasticine and bronze but what the role gives her – as the moves by her heir also suggest – is bringing her ever more into the public eye.

However, while the Queen seems to be pursuing other methods of appearing in a humanized mould as a member of the public than Charles, the core issue of apparent breaking of the royal mould as a stuffy institution remains in place.

The Queen is also to make a guest appearance as a cartoon character in the successful children’s show Peppa Pig where she again acts as herself, offering a reward at Buckingham Palace to Peppa’s friend for hard work, the same story set for the James Bond movie.

As the Bond character’s acceptance of knighthood by the Queen represents his submission to her authority, Peppa Pig, according to its producer Phil Davies, “pays tribute to the Queen.”

Now, one is left wondering whether the Queen — and the royals by extension – are trying to tell the public that the jubilee celebrations are also for you, that the royals are easygoing Britons with their own knacks for an everyday outing with “da club kids” or a go at a serious job as a presenter or that the royals are sociable and kindly individuals respected by children, youth and older adults.

There are also other questions hanging in the air including whether the British monarchy wants to present itself as increasingly relevant as a “modern monarchy” loved by the public during an era when such an old institution is seen by many as irrelevant.

AMR/PKH/HE

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