The Queen’s death is bound to prompt Britain’s reflection on its past, its present and its future
This article by Laura Clancy, Lancaster University originally appeared on the Conversation and is published here with permission
When Elizabeth II succeeded the throne, the last vestiges of the British Empire were still intact. India had been granted independence in 1947, and other countries soon followed throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Although it existed from 1926, the current Commonwealth was constituted in the London Declaration 1949, making member states “free and equal”.
The royal image has always been mediated, from the monarch’s profile on coins, to portraiture. For Elizabeth II this involved radical development: from the emergence of television, through tabloid newspapers and paparazzi, to social media and citizen journalism . Because of this, we now have more access to monarchy than ever before.
“Royal confessionals”, modelled on celebrity culture and notions of intimacy and disclosure, have haunted the monarchy over the past few decades. Diana’s Panorama interview in 1995 was iconic, where she told interviewer Martin Bashir about royal adultery, palace plots against her, and her deteriorating mental and physical health.
Social media has given the monarchy access to new audiences: a younger generation who are more likely to scroll royal photographs on phone apps than read newspapers. How will this generation respond to the death of the monarch?The Queen succeeded to the throne during a period of radical political transformation. The Labour Party’s Clement Atlee had won office in 1945 in a sensational, landslide election which seemed to signal voters desire for change.
By the time of Tony Blair’s “Cool Britannia” years at the turn of the new millennium, the Queen was an older woman. Princess Diana was famously the “people’s princess” of the age, as her new brand of intimacy and “authenticity” threatened to expose an “out of touch” monarchy.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
The Queen To Remain Under Medical Supervision, Doctors ‘Concerned For Her Health’The Queen is continuing to rest following doctors' orders. Her Majesty, 96, pulled out of a virtual Privy Council meeting on Wednesday after she had 'a full day' on Tuesday, appointing the new U.K. prime minister Liz Truss at Balmoral Castle. https://twitter.com/RoyalFamily/status/1567123856816496640 [readmore label='READ MORE: ' link='https://etcanada.com/news/919836/the-queens-signature-has-been-featured-on-a-coin-for-the-first-time/'] Buckingham Palace said in a statement on Thursday:…
Read more »
Burnaby MLAs react to death of Queen Elizabeth IIQueen Elizabeth II took the throne in 1952 at the age of 25.
Read more »
People Online Are Loving These 30 Rarely Seen Shots Of Queen Elizabeth II As A Young WomanPeople Online Are Loving These 30 Rarely Seen Shots Of Queen Elizabeth II As A Young Woman QueenElizabeth vintage
Read more »
Prince George City Hall flags lowered in remembrance of Queen ElizabethQueen Elizabeth II died at the age of 96
Read more »
King Charles III, in first address, vows 'lifelong service'King Charles III vowed in his first speech to the nation as monarch Friday to carry on Queen Elizabeth II's “lifelong service,” as Britain entered a new age under a new sovereign.
Read more »