The Ever-Present Obsession With The Royals

Since modern celebrity gossip and news engulfed Americans, it seems we just can’t get enough of the Royal Family. Whether it’s the obsession with Princess Diana and her tragic death, or the current craze over Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s engagement, it seems the Royal Family is just as much a part of American culture as it is UK’s. But why is it that Americans are so enthralled with this particular foreign affair?

According to psychologists, one reason has a lot to do with the idea of fairy tales that permeate our culture. Since we are born, we are taught through movies and books that fairy tales exist. Most little kids grow up wanting to be princesses, and even dress the part frequently. Kid’s movies, like Disney films, perpetuate the idea that Prince Charming swoops in and saves the damsel.

Another theory psychologists have studied is the strength of women in the royal family. Whether it’s Queen Elizabeth II, or Princess Diana, or the present day Kate Middleton Duchess of Cambridge and now Meghan Markle, women have a large role to play in the Royal Family tree. The feminist movement in the U.S. has taken a huge leap forward in the last few years, but before that, women weren’t as high society in the U.S. as men. Perhaps women saw the Queen as a role model for female power and success.

Lastly, physiologists say it could very well be that admiring the Royal Family could just be an escape from a mundane life. Watching the grace, power and beauty of the royals is a way for Americans to detach from their norm and fantasize of a royal and elitist life.