What was the biggest news in the world this week, no not one year of Covid pandemic . It was interview of British Royalty- Meghan Markle, Prince Harry.
Race debates became dinner table talks, even friends’ WhatsApp groups were all about who ‘the obnoxious royal could be”. Some believed Markle and others who never saw her as ‘royal enough’ didn’t . Our very own ‘scorn queen’ Kangana Ranaut said it was ‘one sided’ - well.
Anyways getting back to this obsession .
Yes the world is obsessed and so am I, right , wrong , should or shouldn’t doesn’t matter.
It started young teenager with non other than Princess Diana. When she got married and the world went into a tizzy, I was a toddler a preschooler-so no idea.
By 1992 when they separated, I was old enough. My Information source was India Today which never failed to update. Diana with her short hair , sparkling eyes was splashed . Others were relative - queen, the evil saas , Charles was the ugly jealous cheating husband and rest unimportant . When news of her affairs trickled I didn’t believe- my middle class Indian sensitivities were not attuned. The world wasn’t kind I told myself. My obsession continues, I have not just binge watched the crown, I have watched even the most lousy documentaries.
So why are they relevant. The ordinary in their lives make ours sound better may be.
My dad who taught history in college, had told me about the 1969 Execution of Charles I when I was young.
From 1642, Charles was defeated in a civil war with English and Scottish parliaments. He was arrested , convicted, and executed for high treason. The monarchy was abolished and the Commonwealth of England became republic. This however did not last monarchy was restored to, Charles II, in 1660.
Royal watchers say as King, Charles I was disastrous; as a man, he faced his death with courage and dignity that cries to restore monarchy started on day of his execution. So obsession is centuries old, don’t blame yourself.