The Digital Crown: How Social Media Reshaped Modern Monarchies
Throughout history, monarchies and the lives of royal families have always been shrouded in mystery. However, the privacy screen has begun to chip away ever since 1952, when, for the first time, a coronation—the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II—was broadcast live on the BBC. Millions of people from across the country were afforded first-class access to the coronation, and some viewers likely had better views than some paying guests. With the advent of the digital age, these royal institutions have been compelled to adapt to social media to remain relevant. At the beginning of the 20th century, it was widely accepted that there was no divine right of the king. The 10 monarchies that still exist today are no longer seen as vessels of God but as instruments of government. The loss of divine right has diminished both monarchical ideology and its power. Nearly all monarchies (the Vatican being the exception) that have managed to survive to the present day have been forced to relinquish some control to become parliamentary monarchies, in which the monarch is no longer absolute. These royal institutions now understand that their continued presence in government depends on public support, as without it, they have no legitimacy.
Monarchies Enter the Online World
The British royal family was the first to make its digital debut with the launch of its YouTube channel in 2007. They were followed shortly thereafter by the Spanish, Dutch, and Norwegians, all of whom created Instagram or Facebook accounts in the early 2010s. The Spanish monarchy first established their social platforms immediately following the abdication of Juan Carlos I, who had been tied to various political scandals. His son, King Felipe VI, sought to regain public trust through transparency by disclosing his personal net worth and establishing a social media presence. This show of honesty and insight was highly effective, raising the monarchies’ approval ratings from 21% to 83% in just over a year. Royal families have had to adapt to their loss of privacy in the digital age. With their existence now hinging on public support and often on tax revenue, the public feels they are owed something in return. Royal birthdays are now celebrated online, and royal deaths are grieved through posts, and nearly every aspect of a royal’s duties is on public display. For instance, Catherine, Princess of Wales, was expected to present her children and heirs to the public on the hospital steps. Just seven hours after she gave birth, she had her hair and makeup professionally done and walked out of the hospital in a dress with her newborn in her hands.
Public Connection and the Future of Monarchies
All royal institutions of Europe currently maintain social media accounts. However, their use of these platforms and the amount of information they disclose on their pages are limited and are often controlled by social media managers. The increase in posts over the years helps give the royals a sense of relatability and added accessibility to connect with the public. The most popular royal account is the Prince and Princess of Wales’s Instagram, which, at the time of writing, has 17 million followers. Their following count surpasses even the official Instagram accounts of the King and Queen of Great Britain, which have only 13.2 million followers. The second-largest monarchy in Europe, Spain, shows a similar trend. The heir apparent, Leonor, Princess of Astoria, has almost 57,000 followers, which is 7,000 more than her father, King Felipe VI. There is an emerging trend among the public that younger heirs are more popular than current rulers. It has become clear at the turn of the 21st century that digital visibility can not only strengthen royal institutions, but it may be the only path towards staying relevant. As belief of divine right has eroded it has brought the curiosity of a monarchies right to exist especially when confronted with the rising popularity of democracy and the increased costs of living. As the world has modernized, royal families have been forced to adapt lest they lose the support of the public a cease to exist as an institution altogether. Will these remaining monarchies be willing to forgo their tightly held protocols and privacy to meet the new expectations of the digital age or will the loss of their traditions be the cause of their ultimate downfall.
References:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/royals/article-13890369/BBC-denied-access-Queens-Coronation.html