The members of the British royal family are some of the most recognizable people in the world. From Queen Elizabeth I in the 1500s to today’s Prince George, everyone knows who the royal family is, even Americans. Media coverage, shows and movies give the international public a glimpse into their lives. But how much should the public get to know about these famous dukes and duchesses?
One of the most famous shows depicting the royal family is the Netflix show “The Crown.” The show, first launched in 2016, follows the royal family starting with Queen Elizabeth’s reign going all the way up to the era of Princess Diana. The show is highly popular for putting events of the royal family into visuals, sometimes with a dramatized twist.
Caroline Hutchins(12) says that as a self-proclaimed history nerd, “The Crown “ gives her an interesting insight into the royal family, and a look at famous historical events from different points of view.
“It’s super cool to learn about a lot of the royal family’s history especially since the majority of the more infamous things happened a long time ago. the characters in the show display the royal family well, and it really does depict their lives and everything that they have done positively for their country and all of the hardships they had to face to get there,” Hutchins said.
While keeping up with the royal family can be fun and entertaining, it sometimes has detrimental effects. One of the most infamous examples of the negative effects of media on the royal family is the tragic death of Princess Diana. Princess Diana was one of the most loved members of the royal family by the public, even being nicknamed the “People’s Princess.” On August 31, 1997, Diana died in a car crash while being chased leaving a hotel in Paris, France. Her death not only shocked England, but the entire world. The circumstances surrounding her death started to raise questions about the media’s role in the royal family’s life and how it affects them.
According to TIME magazine, after Diana’s death many people held the British media responsible for her death and that it had a major effect on the whole country.
“A Gallup poll conducted in 1997 found that 43% of the U.K. public held photographers “extremely” responsible for the fatal smash… Rodgers, who was working for the BBC at the time of Diana’s death, described the public displays of emotion at her funeral as ‘incredible’,” TIME said.
In recent years, members of the royal family have attempted to shy away from the spotlight like, Megan Markel and Prince Harry. After facing frustration and criticisms from British and international media, Harry, the son of Princess Diana and newly-crowned King Charles, and his wife Megan stepped down as senior royals in 2020. With recent health scares from Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, and King Charles, the public’s “need to know” can at times get a little too personal.
Micah Kennedy (12) says that he feels like Harry and Megan had every right to leave the royal family and that the family’s privacy should be respected.
“I think that Harry made the right decision for him and his family. If he feels as if the pressure was getting too much for him then he has every right to leave,” Kennedy said.
