As first published by The Sunday Times in September 2023. If you still doubted that the British monarchy was adrift a year on from Queen Elizabeth II’s death, two incidents in the past week highlighted the problem. First, there was an illustration of how knotty and unresolved the role of Prince Andrew remains when theContinue reading “One year after the Queen’s death, the royals are in a rut”
Author Archives: Ed Owens
Demise of the Crown
Two remarkable weeks on, here are some initial reflections on a 24-hour period (Thursday 8th to Friday 9th September) which saw a masterful royal public relations strategy ease the transition from the reign of Queen Elizabeth II to that of King Charles III. At lunchtime on Thursday 8th September, it was announced that Elizabeth IIContinue reading “Demise of the Crown”
Forget the family reunion: this jubilee is about keeping the monarchy going
Until now, the overwhelming focus of the media coverage of the queen’s Platinum jubilee has been the human drama of an aged monarch trying to bring her family back together in order to put on a united front one last time. British tabloids have been particularly interested in the roles Harry, Meghan and Andrew will play as part of the jubilee events. The queen’s attempt to healContinue reading “Forget the family reunion: this jubilee is about keeping the monarchy going”
Expect to see more of Prince Charles. This is a slow-motion abdication
As first published by The Guardian in May 2022 This moment was always going to come. Due to her failing health, Queen Elizabeth II was not present at yesterday’s state opening of parliament – arguably her most important ceremonial performance in the calendar year. Last night’s palace press release explaining that Prince Charles would stand in forContinue reading “Expect to see more of Prince Charles. This is a slow-motion abdication”
Why Elizabeth II’s message on the 70th anniversary of her accession matters
Elizabeth II’s message to her people, published to coincide with the 70th anniversary of her accession, is remarkable for a number of reasons. First of all, it bears all of the hallmarks of the royal public language carefully crafted by Archbishop of Canterbury Cosmo Lang and Clive Wigram, private secretary to George V, back in the mid-1930s. With its emphasisContinue reading “Why Elizabeth II’s message on the 70th anniversary of her accession matters”
William, Harry and the myth of Princess Diana
The unveiling of the Diana statue was the most recent ceremonial act in the mythologization of the Princess of Wales. Her sons, Princes William and Harry, are the ‘high priests’ who have given power to her myth since her death in 1997. Simply by being her bereaved children, William and Harry, aged 15 and 12 respectively at the timeContinue reading “William, Harry and the myth of Princess Diana”
About this blog
Below you will find my most recent writings on the British royal family, as well as some of the articles I’ve written about the House of Windsor over the last couple of years. I am also using this blog to keep readers updated on developments with my new research project, which focuses on the symbolicContinue reading “About this blog”
What next for the monarchy?
A lot of overheated media commentary at the time of Prince Philip’s death insisted that his passing marked the end of an era. Certainly, he was the last British royal to have meaningful connections to a wider network of royal families – a result of a culture of European dynastic intermarriage that persisted through the firstContinue reading “What next for the monarchy?”
A royal love story that might never have happened
As first published by Talking Humanities in April 2021. Prince Philip, who was one of the most popular and long-serving members of the House of Windsor, has died aged 99. Dr Ed Owens, historian, royal commentator, and author of The Family Firm: Monarchy, Mass Media and the British Public, 1932-53, looks back at a royal love story.Continue reading “A royal love story that might never have happened”
Another annus horribilis? ‘The Family Firm’ one year on…
As first published by Talking Humanities in November 2020. In a speech marking the 40th year since her accession to the throne, Elizabeth II described 1992 as her annus horribilis. In the 12 months prior to this, three of her children’s marriages broke down in full sight of the public and a fire tore through Windsor Castle,Continue reading “Another annus horribilis? ‘The Family Firm’ one year on…”
Dr Ed Owens 