# Why are Americans (and other foreign types) fascinated by the British Royal Family? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 10, 2005, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-americans-and-other-foreign-types-fascinated-by-the-british-royal-family/289399 "2005-02-10T15:18:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-americans-and-other-foreign-types-fascinated-by-the-british-royal-family/289399/61 "2005-02-13T11:14:13Z")
Well said **Case Sensitive**. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-americans-and-other-foreign-types-fascinated-by-the-british-royal-family/289399/62 "2005-02-13T11:31:53Z")
> [@calm kiwi](#): > > Well said **Case Sensitive**. Thank you. I’m not a monarchist in the sense that most people use the word, and I couldn’t give a damn about the whole royal circus, but the system as a whole works, more or less, so why change it? Besides, the thought of Helen “Oh, look, a camera!” Clark becoming President gives me the heebie-jeebies. ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-americans-and-other-foreign-types-fascinated-by-the-british-royal-family/289399/63 "2005-02-13T11:46:51Z")
Jeez Helen is the last person to worry about…she still has a job! I worry about President Banks, or President Peters (it scares me how he NEVER leaves the poll for PM!). God save the Queen and all that. As long as they stay over there and don’t butt in they are more then fine by me. I’m not a “Monarchist” either I just don’t want to see more fucking politicians fucking up things when Liz does the job perfectly well ie: she says nothing and we don’t have to vote for some ex-MP. Ok so I am a Monarchist in the sense that I can’t see a more appealing option. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-americans-and-other-foreign-types-fascinated-by-the-british-royal-family/289399/64 "2005-02-13T16:02:45Z")
> [@](#): > > The American system is actually quite an aberation, given that your Head of State has executive authority as the head of government: in most parliamentary democracies the two roles are quite separate, and for a very good reason - the avoidance of tyranny. This is why only Congress has the power to declare war; the President has no power to do so. It is not a wonderful development that the President has sort of taken over this job in some of the last few wars. I do think the ancient traditions have a lot to do with American interest in royals. For someone from California, for example, anything over 100 years old is unthinkably ancient. We can’t quite believe that anything can stick around for that long. The idea of a tradition hundreds of years old that still goes on boggles our minds. Does anyone want to explain to me what an **OC** is? 'Cause that one lost me. ---
**Author:** ![ZombiesAteMyBrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b4bc9f/32.png) [@ZombiesAteMyBrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZombiesAteMyBrain)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-americans-and-other-foreign-types-fascinated-by-the-british-royal-family/289399/65 "2005-02-13T16:08:56Z")
I don’t care about the Royals \*\*at all \*\* - have never bothered to go and see them when they deign to come here. On the other hand, one of my earliest memories is having a little flag stuck in my hand as a toddler, and being taken to see the parade celebrating Liz’s coronation. All the kids were given ‘coronation’ mugs and a little tin of celebratory chocolate - the chocolate is probably why I remember it. Who could forget free chocolate, and the empty tin was kicking round in my toybox for years afterwards? ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-americans-and-other-foreign-types-fascinated-by-the-british-royal-family/289399/66 "2005-02-13T19:54:14Z")
> [@dangermom](#): > > … > > Does anyone want to explain to me what an **OC** is? 'Cause that one lost me. [The OC.](http://www.fox.com/oc/home.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Kantalooppi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a5b964/32.png) [@Kantalooppi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kantalooppi)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-americans-and-other-foreign-types-fascinated-by-the-british-royal-family/289399/67 "2005-02-13T20:41:19Z")
Well, see, the Royal Family is the ultimate paradox. On the other hand, they don’t give a crap, but on the other hand, they are very careful and precise. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-americans-and-other-foreign-types-fascinated-by-the-british-royal-family/289399.md?page=3)