Crisis and capitalism: discourses of British royal celebrity in the 21st century

Abstract

Royals are often considered the first kind of celebrity. However, the ceremonial powers of the institution, their generational wealth, and the elevated status based on birth privileges alone separate them from now-traditional modes of celebrity. The British royal family, amidst deaths, accusations of racism, and legal cases, can be considered in crisis after thewave of positive public attention during Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s royal wedding in 2018. After their exit from the royal family, having found themselves cut off from royal funding, the couple turned to traditional forms of celebrity labour. In mainstream UK media reactions, these activities are often considered as causing or contributing towards the current crisis of the UK monarchy. This press coverage does not only express criticisms of the couple, but also reveals the expectations of royal celebrity: royals are meant to be everything traditional celebrities are not. Drawing on key public appearances and media work, media coverage and the biography Spare (2023), this article explores the ways in which royal celebrity is conceptualised in the 21st century. Media reactions demonstrate an unease with the synergy of royal status and capitalism, while simultaneously shining an accidental light on the funding of the royal family through taxpayer money, and the exploitation of other people’s labour.