The Royal Family Are A Global Brand

The British Royals are more international than just British. This is partly due to their historic role in the world. But you can’t deny the Windsors have a lot of appeal to many different people. So, no wonder the world’s press is so obsessed with them.

As a result of this, the world has shared in their joys and mourned their misfortunes.

Why is the Royal Family fascinating abroad?

There are fewer and fewer crowned kings and queens in the world. In contrast, the British Royal Family continue to attract an unprecedented level of attention from all corners of the globe.

The Queen had over 900 million views for her Olympic Bond entrance. The wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton had a million viewers across 180 countries. Whilst the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markel had a reported 29 million viewers.

Who else can attract this kind of audience? Not even the Kardashians. Can you imagine the monarchs of Thailand or Norway getting the same level of media attention?

Queen as International Sovereign

She’s not only the Queen of the United Kingdom. She’s the monarch of another 15 realms and the head of the Commonwealth of Nations.  If that’s not enough, she has four annual racing events in her name.  There is also “Queen Elizabeth Land” in Antarctica. The Queen Elizabeth II September 11th Garden in Lower Manhattan, and a statue in Brisbane.

Royal-Mania

The appetite for all things related to the royal family doesn’t stop in the real world. It’s crossed over into popular culture with shows like ‘Downtown Abbey’ and ‘The Crown’. These both have impressive viewing figures across the globe. According to rumor, even the Queen watches ‘The Crown’.

Why do we love to watch them?

They represent glamour and decorum, tradition with celebrity. They’re relatable yet untouchable.

Think back to recent highlights: Harry and Meghan’s list to Australia. William, Kate and baby George’s visit to Australia. The Royal Weddings.The births of Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.The celebration of the Diamond Jubilee in 2012. And we can’t forget the buzz surrounding the first baby Sussex that is due in April 2019.

Who can forget how adorable Prince George and Princess Charlotte were in Canada with their Parents?

The fact is, the world can’t get enough of Royal pomp and pageantry. Why? One reason is their familiarity.

Older generations have never forgotten the young Queen Elizabeth and what she did during the war. In the last decade, the Royal Family has dramatically modernized. This has attracted a whole new generation of royal watchers

Everyone loves a Royal Wedding

And who doesn’t love a  Royal Wedding – even if you are a cynic?

When Prince Harry married the TV star Meghan Markle at Windsor Castle it was a union of royalty and celebrity, and held the attention of the media of the world for months. The marriage of Prince William to Kate Middleton in April 2011 saw an extra 600,000 people visit London. 40% were from overseas according to a twitter post by the UK’s Association of Leading Visitor Attractions.

Royal weddings generate lots of global press.  It’s difficult to avoid.  There’s constant speculation about what the bride will wear or who will attend the VIP reception. It’s no surprise that Royal weddings are TV rating gold.

A royal wedding is the epitome of a fairy tale. Who can resist the romance?  Or the fanfare of dignitaries and royals gathering to welcome a new union? It’s even more exciting when it’s one of ‘us’ joining this esteemed family like Meghan Markle.

Everyone loves a wedding dress

This fascination with the royal wedding isn’t an exclusive phenomenon of the 22nd century. In the 19th century, the world was clamoring to find out details about Queen Victoria’s wedding dress.

Deep down, it’s a connection with history

But glamour and expensive dresses aside, the Royal family represents something more rooted in our own identities. For many Australians this is part of our heritage.

They represent history and tradition dating back hundreds and hundreds of years. For many non-Brits, whose ancestors may have once belonged to the British shores, this is a unique connection to their own (far-flung) history. Scottish political theorist Tom Nairn calls it the “glamour of backwardness.”

Even if you have no great interest in the Royal Family, I’ll bet you have visited Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle when you were in England.

Whether you love them or hate them, it’s unlikely they’re going anywhere soon. Particularly, with a coronation and more royal babies expected over the next decade!