The British monarchy is one of the oldest in the world and therefore stands out due to its historical and traditional values. Although it seems that voices are often raised against the monarchical institution favouring the process of Europeanisation and the implementation of republicanism, opinion polls indicate that the British population and the citizens of the Commonwealth are in favour of a constitutional monarchy. This approval is apparent from mediatised public royal events as well as the reporting on royal matters. The
public responds quite lively to such occasions, which indicates that the interest in the British monarchy still dominates the minds of the British and a worldwide population.
The fame of the British monarchy is mainly due to a politically
conservative British media system, which unreservedly supports the status quo and determinedly speaks out against arising tendencies of republicanism or trade unions (cf. Blain and O’Donnell 2003: 3). This behaviour of the British media has become both beneficial and disadvantageous for its subjects throughout the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, as the lives of the Royal Family’s members have been extensively depicted
in positive as well as in negative ways, which has led to an increased accessibility of a social circle whose private life is otherwise shielded from the public’s attention. Therefore, it may be argued that the British monarchy and the media maintain a beneficial relationship, which is, however, rendered controversial if the unpleasant incidents in which the British media were involved are taken into account. As consumption is a characteristic of a postmodern society and culture, the media’s targeted audience and its hunger for news of any kind is difficult to satisfy and is further prevented by a growing media industry (cf. Blain and O’Donnell 2003: 19), which
“’serves a need’ by spending so much time on, and devoting so much space to, royal phenomena” (Blain and O’Donnell 2003: 60). [...]
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Mediating a Royal Household: Theoretical and Methodological Considerations
2.1 Public Relations
2.2 Social Networks
2.3 Mass Media Images
3. A Brief History of the British Royal Family Since 1917
4. The Windsors in Mass Media
4.1 The Official Website of the British Monarchy
4.2 The British Monarchy on Facebook and Twitter
4.3 Mass Media Representations of British Royalty in Newspapers
5. Mass Media Events Within the British Monarchy Since 1997
5.1 The Death of Diana, Princess of Wales
5.2 The Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton
5.3 The Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II
6. Conclusion: The Constant Struggle Between Public Life and Privacy
7. Works Cited
Objectives & Core Themes
This work examines the evolving relationship between the British monarchy and the mass media, focusing on how the Royal Family utilizes public relations, social media, and traditional press interactions to maintain their image and popularity since 1997.
- The impact of public relations strategies on the perception of the British monarchy.
- The transition of the Royal Family into a modern, accessible institution resembling a corporate entity or 'firm'.
- The influence of social networking platforms (Facebook and Twitter) on public engagement.
- The role of tabloid journalism in shaping public opinion and the "tabloidisation" of news.
- Key media events, including the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and the Diamond Jubilee.
Excerpt from the Book
1. Introduction
The British monarchy is one of the oldest in the world and therefore stands out due to its historical and traditional values. Although it seems that voices are often raised against the monarchical institution favouring the process of Europeanisation and the implementation of republicanism, opinion polls indicate that the British population and the citizens of the Commonwealth are in favour of a constitutional monarchy. This approval is apparent from mediatised public royal events as well as the reporting on royal matters. The public responds quite lively to such occasions, which indicates that the interest in the British monarchy still dominates the minds of the British and a worldwide population.
The fame of the British monarchy is mainly due to a politically conservative British media system, which unreservedly supports the status quo and determinedly speaks out against arising tendencies of republicanism or trade unions (cf. Blain and O’Donnell 2003: 3). This behaviour of the British media has become both beneficial and disadvantageous for its subjects throughout the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, as the lives of the Royal Family’s members have been extensively depicted in positive as well as in negative ways, which has led to an increased accessibility of a social circle whose private life is otherwise shielded from the public’s attention.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter provides an overview of the enduring relevance of the British monarchy and introduces the complex, often conflicting relationship between the institution and the modern media landscape.
2. Mediating a Royal Household: Theoretical and Methodological Considerations: This section establishes the theoretical framework, analyzing public relations strategies, social media dynamics, and media-psychological approaches to how audiences perceive royal narratives.
3. A Brief History of the British Royal Family Since 1917: This chapter contextualizes the monarchy's adaptation to media pressure by tracing historical developments from the name change to Windsor in 1917 through the reigns of various monarchs.
4. The Windsors in Mass Media: This section investigates the practical implementation of modern media strategies, specifically the official website, social media presence, and the depiction of the Royal Family in tabloids.
5. Mass Media Events Within the British Monarchy Since 1997: This chapter analyzes three significant media events—the death of Princess Diana, the royal wedding in 2011, and the Diamond Jubilee—to highlight the intersection of public spectacle and media representation.
6. Conclusion: The Constant Struggle Between Public Life and Privacy: This concluding chapter synthesizes the main findings, emphasizing the ongoing tension between the monarchy's need for transparency and its desire for privacy in the digital age.
7. Works Cited: A comprehensive list of academic literature, media reports, and digital resources used throughout the study.
Keywords
British Monarchy, Media Strategy, Public Relations, Royal Family, Social Media, Facebook, Twitter, Tabloid Press, Princess Diana, Queen Elizabeth II, Diamond Jubilee, Reputation Management, Celebrity Culture, Digital Marketing, Constitutional Monarchy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper explores how the British monarchy has adapted its media presence since 1997 to remain popular and relevant in a post-modern, media-saturated environment.
What are the primary thematic areas explored?
The study centers on three key pillars: public relations initiatives (official website), the use of social networks (Facebook and Twitter), and the representation of royals within the tabloid press.
What is the primary research goal?
The objective is to analyze the "mediatisation" of the Royal Family and determine how they manage their image while navigating the conflicting demands for public visibility and private integrity.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The author uses a qualitative approach, combining historical context, media-psychological theories (such as the "uses and gratifications" approach), and a practical analysis of digital media and tabloid archives.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body examines historical milestones of royal media adaptation and performs a practical investigation of modern media tools, concluding with a deep dive into three major "media events" since 1997.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
The work is defined by concepts such as "mediatisation," "reputation management," "corporate monarchy," and "public relations" in the context of the British Royal Family.
How has the monarchy's relationship with the press changed since 1917?
The relationship shifted from a position of relative distance and secrecy to an active, marketing-oriented strategy where the institution consciously manages its public image, often mirroring corporate public relations.
What role did the death of Princess Diana play in this development?
Her death marked a turning point in 1997, forcing the monarchy to reconsider its media policies and communication style due to the overwhelming public, emotional response that was significantly amplified by the media.
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- Philipp Ditter (Autor:in), 2013, Mediating the Royal Family, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/288264
