Royalty...First Impressions

The House of Lords

Katie and I spent Friday evening at our B&B where the owner (Annie) cooked us an amazing dinner.  Annie’s boyfriend (Ian) also joined us and the four of us spent the evening eating, drinking wine, discussing cultural differences, etc.  One of the interesting things they were telling us is how large masses of land throughout England are still technically owned by decedents of Lords, who were appointed by the King hundreds of years ago.  These properties were passed down from one generation to another following the death of a Lord.  The new Lord, typically the eldest son in succession, was then the new owner and sovereign ruler of that land.  This process has continued and carries on today….minus of course being the “ruler of the land.”  Interestingly, although a Lord hasn’t had any real political power for a very long time, the distinction actually allowed you to legitimately sit in the House of Lords (the upper house of Parliament) until only a few years ago.

Her Majesty

It was also fascinating to hear their take on the Royal family and the role it currently plays in this country.  Not surprisingly there has been a generational shift away from the blind following of the Queen.  Annie’s children are in their 30’s now and it all seems very unimportant to them.  As Annie put it, “My mother was a pure Royalist, but my son could care less.”  From an economic point of view it seems to be understood that the family, along with all of its lavish castles, Buckingham Palace, etc., is really more of a tourist attraction these days.  “I think they probably pay for themselves,” as Annie stated. 

All of this being said, the royal family continues to host leaders and dignitaries from all over the world, so their role in foreign relations is clearly still one of importance.  I get the sense that the people here continue to look to the Royal family as a source of cultural preservation. Their place is more of tradition than anything else. At the end of the day, no matter where you stand on the issue, you have to appreciate the care that’s gone into preserving the institution.  No matter what role the Royal family plays, their place is the history of this country is undeniable.  In my opinion any institution that was formed around the fall of the Roman Empire but has continued to retain its cultural relevance, at least deserves our respect.