Prince William and Kate Middleton got married today and I don’t even know how to feel about it.
On the one hand, Britain’s royalty is an heirloom (read cherished keepsake) of British and, subsequently, our past. On the other hand, Britain’s royalty is an heirloom (read trinket) from a time of widespread inequality and injustice.
It’s kind of a double-edged sword. On the one hand, the thing that makes them so special and unique also ties them to a thankfully extinct way of life. On the other, the thing that makes them dubious icons also ties them to our roots (political roots, if not cultural).
A quick history of European royals…
The fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century A.D. left a power vacuum in Europe. After the Romans retreated, warlords took their place. Eventually the feudal system arose—landholders (warlords) gave land to hired soldiers (knights) in return for military service.
As long as the warlords had someone to fight (each other mostly, but also the Vikings and the Ottomans), they could keep their soldiers occupied. But when they didn’t have someone to fight, the soldiers turned on the defenseless populace…raping, killing, whatever they wanted (they were basically hired thugs).
At the end of the 10th century, a movement began to counteract all the violence. Pacific leaders told the warlords they should stop fighting each other all the time and protect the people, not abuse them. This became the Chivalric Code.
Over time, some of these warlords grew strong enough to create (i.e., conquer) whole nations (France, Germany…England). Warlords and soldiers became lords and knights. Royalty was born.
Back to Will and Kate…
Maybe it’s not all that important, but as Americans it’s confusing. Our entire culture (in its purest, best form) is anti-caste, accepting and equal.
(At least that’s the idea—I’m not trying to open a debate on our own culture’s inequalities and hypocrisies. And some of us aren’t so accepting…read this if you want a laugh: When Does Social Networking Become Absurd?).
Anyway, the royals are simply the descendants of the warlords that controlled Medieval Europe. In the beginning, they were all just commoners. There’s really no such thing as royal blood.
So today the royals are both cherished living history and withering symbol of past inequalities. Again, maybe it’s not that important, and it totally depends on how you view it.
What’s a little easier and way less serious is the fact that Will married a normal girl. Basically—she’s not a royal, anyway. And there are literally millions of girls across the globe going nuts over that right now. Normal girl marries a prince. It’s every little girl’s dream.
What’s also not in debate is how nuts the coverage of this thing is. It’s everywhere over the Internet, TV and radio. The BBC has its entire home page covered by it.
Communications technology is just bananas these days. How bananas? The wedding vows were already on YouTube like five hours ago. Enjoy…
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