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WinkyDink

(51,311 posts)

69. I believe your last question is the answer. Personally, I have a very early memory of reading about

Mon Jul 22, 2013, 05:13 PM

Jul 2013

Richard Lionheart; I was either six or seven, and I've never "looked back," as it were. When the Beatles led the British Invasion of music, movies, and fashion, I fervently wished I were British (more than just having ancestors from Land's End). It has informed my entire life.

I've taught Brit Lit and visited the UK at least 10 times; I collect Wedgwood, Edward VIII memorabilia, Agatha Christie and "Lovejoy" books, and other sundry England-y objects.

I love the pageantry, which no other nation surpasses. I love the history, the popular culture, the architecture, the ancient monuments, castles, cathedrals, ....well, as the Bard once wrote:

This royal throne of kings, this sceptered isle,
This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars,
This other Eden, demi-paradise,
This fortress built by Nature for herself
Against infection and the hand of war,
This happy breed of men, this little world,
This precious stone set in the silver sea
Which serves it in the office of a wall,
Or as a moat defensive to a house,
Against the envy of less happier lands,
This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England.
-- Richard II, II, i, 40.

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Why are Americans so fascinated by the UK Royal Family? [View all] Nye Bevan Jul 2013 OP

That is an excellent question. I suspect that most people really don't give a damn about the ... spin Jul 2013 #1

Right on! S.A.M Jul 2013 #2

Same here life long demo Jul 2013 #53

well, I think it is of passing interest, esp. since the UK abandoned its sexist policy of royal CTyankee Jul 2013 #3

I'm sure she was expecting them to look like Cinderella and Prince Charming. Nye Bevan Jul 2013 #4

of course. CTyankee Jul 2013 #9

Why are Americans so fascinated by Kim Kardashian? edbermac Jul 2013 #5

+ 1000! n/t Spazito Jul 2013 #8

A lot of us AREN'T theHandpuppet Jul 2013 #55

I think its the hats. JoePhilly Jul 2013 #6

Don't they call those hats "strange attractors," or is MineralMan Jul 2013 #18

They're called 'fascinators'. HappyMe Jul 2013 #19

Yah. I knew that. I was just playing word games. MineralMan Jul 2013 #22

... Arugula Latte Jul 2013 #52

The one on the right almost seems like a joke treestar Jul 2013 #57

It was a protest in fact flamingdem Jul 2013 #70

Said a DUer, fascinated enough by a Briton to use one as an avatar. nt Dreamer Tatum Jul 2013 #7

Americans are not, at least the ones I know. tsuki Jul 2013 #10

Any silver ballon that increases readership or folks tuning in..just another Ballon Boy moment HipChick Jul 2013 #12

Because thoughtful people like you posted a thread on it? MineralMan Jul 2013 #11

And moreover, respected DUers like yourself choose to contribute to those threads. Nye Bevan Jul 2013 #15

But, you see, I don't care if people post threads on the baby. MineralMan Jul 2013 #17

I never consider time spent on DU as time "wasted". Nye Bevan Jul 2013 #20

It is in our nature (damn you evolution) AngryAmish Jul 2013 #13

I agree with what you have said. laundry_queen Jul 2013 #60

Same reason for interest in the Kardashians LittleBlue Jul 2013 #14

"Golden ticks," as Doug Stanhope put it. Lizzie Poppet Jul 2013 #16

Because we don't have an "official" American Royal Family. MicaelS Jul 2013 #21

the laws of power warrprayer Jul 2013 #23

We have a direct and historical connection to them. It is fun for some people. NCTraveler Jul 2013 #24

A fondness for the memory of Diana, a love of history, but mostly a break from incessant BAD NEWS! Rowdyboy Jul 2013 #25

I agree. HappyMe Jul 2013 #26

Exactly This RobinA Jul 2013 #27

In our own way, we do the same thing with our First Family. CTyankee Jul 2013 #35

BS n-t Logical Jul 2013 #37

Yeah, that's a lot of it I think. TDale313 Jul 2013 #54

Maybe because Wealth, Power, and Authority comprise the institutionalized Holy Trinity of Zorra Jul 2013 #28

Personally, it's because I'm a Monarchist to the core Glorfindel Jul 2013 #29

IMO the Kardashians and royal family are just as important. n-t Logical Jul 2013 #40

Can't think of anyone I'd rather been descended from.... Rowdyboy Jul 2013 #50

Henry II and pipi_k Jul 2013 #65

No, I got it years ago from three of my great-aunts who were born in the 1870's & 80's Glorfindel Jul 2013 #68

I'll tell you why I am ..... oldhippie Jul 2013 #30

Hmmmm, I don't get it. n-t Logical Jul 2013 #39

I'm sorry .... oldhippie Jul 2013 #43

I don't think I will ever get it. n-t Logical Jul 2013 #44

I would say... pipi_k Jul 2013 #66

I have never seen 10 posts in one day about quilting. n-t Logical Jul 2013 #67

It's what fairy tales are made of. William769 Jul 2013 #31

In a sea of depressing news it is nice to have a joyful piece as a break. nt Mojorabbit Jul 2013 #32

I'm not. It's just a perverse form of our incessant celebrity worship. Comrade Grumpy Jul 2013 #33

Good question. I sure don't give a damn about them. N/T GreenStormCloud Jul 2013 #34

Why are Americans and DU members facinated by reality TV? n-t Logical Jul 2013 #36

I can't stand it. Except for Honey Boo Boo, of course (nt) Nye Bevan Jul 2013 #38

beats me. maybe it's the connection to history cali Jul 2013 #41

Why is AMERICAN MEDIA so fascinated? They are, after all, editors of what we see. Auggie Jul 2013 #42

It shows a surprisingly strong link to the country muriel_volestrangler Jul 2013 #45

We're bored and depressed. bravenak Jul 2013 #46

Let's be real for a minute Savannahmann Jul 2013 #47

Like flies to a bug zapper. n/t L0oniX Jul 2013 #48

It's not that anyone is fascinated with royal births,it's that sufrommich Jul 2013 #49

The elites in the media are into the UK Royal Family, not the average American Sanity Claws Jul 2013 #51

It's just "Oooh Shiney!" shit that keeps us from paying attention to the man behind the curtain. Populist_Prole Jul 2013 #56

Some of us can actually pay attention to both. I'm more than cognizant of the elites, the WinkyDink Jul 2013 #71

England is the land of our forefathers in many cases. It's just culturally interesting. kestrel91316 Jul 2013 #58

Regis envy JHB Jul 2013 #59

Because in an alternate universe it's still our royal family, too? eShirl Jul 2013 #61

For that matter, why are Americans so fascinating with the stupid Super Bowl? Arugula Latte Jul 2013 #62

For me, a more interesting question is, ZombieHorde Jul 2013 #63

Without the Archbishop and the Prime Minister in the room, it may all be a fraud. FarCenter Jul 2013 #64

I believe your last question is the answer. Personally, I have a very early memory of reading about WinkyDink Jul 2013 #69