Jessica Schmessica...We got a royal wedding to look forward to!

[BluPhire]

Quick question, but this was inspired by my suit guy when buying a suit.

Americans, why are you so enthralled with royalty?

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by BluPhire

Quick question, but this was inspired by my suit guy when buying a suit.

Americans, why are you so enthralled with royalty?

Because we don't have an equivalent.

[BluPhire]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

Because we don't have an equivalent.

That was his joke, but he was serious about it.

His complete quote was, "Look for America to have fought so hard against the monarchy, we are so enthralled by them. Think about that when buying your suit and tie, and the particular occasion it is for, and what type of image you want to project when you walk into the room."

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by BluPhire

Quick question, but this was inspired by my suit guy when buying a suit.

Americans, why are you so enthralled with royalty?

Listen, I would take QEII over Obama any day. Charles, well....there would be discussion first.

[BluPhire]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

Listen, I would take QEII over Obama any day. Charles, well....there would be discussion first.

I care less about your politics, but if it is political reasons, I'll put you in the category of loving to be ruled by bloodline.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by BluPhire

Quick question, but this was inspired by my suit guy when buying a suit.

Americans, why are you so enthralled with royalty?

Why are Americans enthralled with celebrities generally? I think it's a specialized form of our celebrity-enthrallment, fed, as k_s says, by our not having an equivalent.

There's also the British-American connection involved -- it's really only British royalty we're so enthralled with. I mean, Quick! Someone name the heir to the Dutch or Swedish throne without looking it up.

Then there's the pageantry. We may not want all that to-do here, but there's no denying it can be fun to watch them do it; they do it better than anyone.

And finally, for some of us there are the historical connections and implications as well. I mean, they've been doing this for 1000+ years.

ETA:

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

Listen, I would take QEII over Obama any day. Charles, well....there would be discussion first.

Apples to oranges, though. She's a Head of State without being a Head of Government. An American president is both. You might feel differently if she was pushing a political agenda instead of having to stay above politics.

And as I type I think that may be another factor in American fascination with the British royalty. I think to a greater or lesser degree, many of us envy the idea of a nationally unifying figure (in theory at least; I know there are certainly those in Britain who'd prefer to abolish the monarchy) who is above politics. That's what we don't have. I've often thought that in some ways, the flag is the closest equivalent we have in that regard.

[BluPhire]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Why are Americans enthralled with celebrities generally? I think it's a specialized form of our celebrity-enthrallment, fed, as k_s says, by our not having an equivalent.

There's also the British-American connection involved -- it's really only British royalty we're so enthralled with. I mean, Quick! Someone name the heir to the Dutch or Swedish throne without looking it up.

Then there's the pageantry. We may not want all that to-do here, but there's no denying it can be fun to watch them do it; they do it better than anyone.

And finally, for some of us there are the historical connections and implications as well. I mean, they've been doing this for 1000+ years.

That's one of the things I was explaining to my wife.

At one time Britain had their hand in everything in the world. They are better marketers.

I'm glad you brought up the star gazing, I wonder is it psychological. We don't have Kings and Queens but we have Hollywood and Camelot.

[Tulip86]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Someone name the heir to the Dutch or Swedish throne without looking it up.

Queen Beatrix van Oranje-Nassau is the current queen, Willem -alexander (to be named Wilhelm) is expected to take over in a few years. He'll be the first King in a century. He's married to Maxima Zorreguita (Argentinian) and has 3 young daughters: Amalia, Alexia and Ariane


Heir to the Swedish throne is newlywed Victoria (who is Amalia's godmother)



But I live in Europe

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by Tulip86

Queen Beatrix van Oranje-Nassau is the current queen, Willem -alexander (to be named Wilhelm) is expected to take over in a few years. He'll be the first King in a century. He's married to Maxima Zorreguita (Argentinian) and has 3 young daughters: Amalia, Alexia and Ariane


Heir to the Swedish throne is newlywed Victoria (who is Amalia's godmother)



But I live in Europe

I actually knew the Dutch Queen because she's on the back of the Dutch Euro!

[agzg]

Originally Posted by Tulip86

Heir to the Swedish throne is newlywed Victoria (who is Amalia's godmother)

Whose dress was about 7,000 degrees of gorgeous.