NEW YORK BOSTON |#Popular: Irish Celebrity Gossip Irish in US Politics Irish Festivals Irish Roots Irish Entertainment Offbeat Irish

Home Page > Blogs > News blogs > Periscope > Royal wedding of William and Kate a fitting circus for a fading empire

Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

Royal wedding of William and Kate a fitting circus for a fading empire

Posted on Tuesday, November 16, 2010 at 03:22 PM

Larger Text

E-mail

53 Comments

RSS

Archives

The "heir and the spare" is how Princess Diana once referred to her two sons, Prince William and Harry, neatly capturing what all this royal business is about.

Kate Middleton will not be judged on her looks, her accomplishments or even her middle class as against bluebood ancestral lines.

No, like a good stud mare, she will be judged by whether she produces preferably a few young colts to make sure the blood lines continue.

Prince William after all is a product of what Warren Buffet has memorably called the "lucky sperm club," the inheritor of wealth, class and title, none of which he earned for himself.

His main job is to ensure that he passes on the royal bloodlines, created in his case, through his grandmother Elizabeth who became queen only after the male-in-line, Edward, began to show Nazi sympathies then ran off with an American divorcee who shared his Aryan philosophy.

Prince Harry recently paid nice homage to his ancestor by dressing up as a Nazi at a party.

Of such events are great dynasties born.The past is all elided over and the future comes packaged in a box called hype and hyperbole.

We will learn all there is to know about the prince and his bride-to-be. Sadly, he exists mainly to fulfill the fantasies of a nation. she now exists to reproduce.

He has no real power, except to attract tourists in their millions every year to a grown-up version of Disneyland.

I passed by Buckingham Palace on a recent visit to London and was astounded by the waiting thousands there for the changing of the guard.

Like so much in Britain these days, it is all about symbolism and play acting, not the real thing.The days of imperial power are long gone but the fantasy machine will be greatly enhanced by this royal wedding.

As for the average Briton, he and she will continue to struggle in these harsh economic times, but many will be happily distracted by the circus around the royal wedding of the future king.

When the confetti is swept away however, the harsh realities will resume. It will take far more than a royal wedding to halt the decline of the most famous empire.

E-mail

53 comments

Next Previous Page 2 of 4 pages

Lorcan31 | Nov 18, 2010, 08:51 AM EST

Why is everybody getting worked up over a bunch of ugly inbred creatures ? This article is totally right , it is a fitting circus for a fading empire . Great Britan cowers behind America these days anyhow , America says jump and the brits say how high ...

Report abuse

lovestruck | Nov 18, 2010, 07:21 AM EST

Niall, what is it like to be a lepracauhn? The christian brothers taught you well.Bend over boy, while I get my fly down!

Report abuse

Towngate | Nov 18, 2010, 04:48 AM EST

Sir Niall saw the thousands at Buckingham Palace and called the Changing of the Guard 'playacting'.If he tried to get past them he'd soon learn the 'symbolism' of being riddled by automatic gunfire or the 'fantasy' of being cut to ribbons by a razor-sharp ceremonial swords! No sir! Nothing 'Mickey Mouse' about it,I promise you! ............@SeamusMor.Wonderful idea. I am wondering,though,were the O'Briens among those who marched to do battle with Henry II - and didn't turn up!? And Brian 'Boru' who deposed Malachy so he could have a go at the Norsemen? He drove them away.He got killed, Malachy sat back in his Chair, the Norsemen came back. Squabbling amongst ourselves is what left the door open for all our invaders. And Niall, it's never too late to do the decent thing and apologise to the young lady on behalf of your Irish readers. Noblesse Oblige kinda works both ways. Go on! Make yer Mammy proud!

Report abuse

DennisQ | Nov 18, 2010, 03:39 AM EST

That's a really dull family - Elizabeth, Philip, Charles, Anne . . . basically the whole lot of them. Maybe Diana's sons are more lively, because Diana sure brought some life into the palace.

Kate's a pretty girl who looks like she has some sense in her head. Maybe she doesn't deserve the breaks she's gotten in life, but nobody does. Me? I still have my hair and my brothers don't. But I never gloat, because I didn't get some of the things they did.

Report abuse

SeamusMor | Nov 18, 2010, 01:27 AM EST

"I passed by Buckingham Palace on a recent visit to London and was astounded by the waiting thousands there for the changing of the guard." FAST FORWARD TO DUBLIN IN 2014 "I passed by Dublin Castle on a recent visit to Dublin and was astounded by the waiting thousands there for the changing of the guard." DOES ANYBODY GET IT? If Ireland elected Conor "The O'Brien" President of Ireland then the golden thread of ancient Irish royalty could be woven into the fabric of the modern Irish Presidency. The millions of people flying past and over Ireland for a bit of old fashioned pageantry on that island to the east, could just as easily be adding the Emerald Isle to their itineraries. With Conor "The O'Brien" as "Prince-President of Ireland you might envision a troop of horse dressed as Lord Clare's Yellow Dragoons with their brightly polished hooves clicking in unison over the cobblestones of Dublin Castle's courtyard. Cameras clicking away, euros rolling in, there will be good times ahead in Ireland. The major parties should make a joint announcement to the effect that to save money on a contested election for a purely ceremonial office, we have agreed to nominate Conor "The O'Brien" of Thomond House, Dromoland as the next President of Ireland. That would mean that the premier direct descendant of High King Brian Boru, and Chief of the 700,000 strong O'Brien Clan would be presiding over commemorations of the millennium of the Battle of Clontarf and death of High King Brian Boru, in 2014, which will be the cause of the largest international gathering in Irish history. Millions of visitors means billions of euros.

Report abuse

JOHNTOBIN | Nov 18, 2010, 01:07 AM EST

Mr.O'Dowd is another Irish-American that knows little about modern day Ireland.Britain has been a safety valve for many generations of Irish immigrants.And,yes,I support my own country Australia becoming a republic.

Report abuse

hancock | Nov 17, 2010, 10:28 PM EST

Nonsense. Noblese Oblige? Trying not to faint? Cut yo engines? R

Report abuse

DanOLoingsigh | Nov 17, 2010, 05:39 PM EST

Seanomelbourne – Why do you feel the need to insult the heads of state, and by extension, the people of Belgium, Denmark, Holland, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Japan, Jordan and everywhere else that choose to have a constitutional monarchy, rather than a republic? They’re choice, and they seem to be happy with it, otherwise they would change things. These countries seem to be more stable and secure than most republics in their ‘hoods.

Report abuse

barragan316 | Nov 17, 2010, 05:36 PM EST

Totally uncalled for and in bad taste. They are the face of a Nation and stand for all England was and is. Respect is due.

Report abuse

seanomelbourne | Nov 17, 2010, 05:12 PM EST

Royal families everywhere living off the state(taxpayers)Diderot had a cure for royalty.

Report abuse

Realist | Nov 17, 2010, 04:49 PM EST

ancavker: Well, like most people, I find bad manners and unprovoked low rent remarks repugnant. This 'article' was totally uncalled for, its only apparent purposes being to rubbish a young woman's wedding announcement, pour scorn on another country's tradition, and solicit maximum offense. IrishCentral's finest hour? You decide.

Report abuse

Sparklet | Nov 17, 2010, 03:45 PM EST

Hate royalty. Especially hate Charles. But William seems OK for a royal, and I think Kate's more to him than the mother of the next in line to the throne. She seems lovely, and he takes after his mother more than he does the wannabe tampax.

Report abuse

Towngate | Nov 17, 2010, 02:39 PM EST

Dear Anc. My jets are quite cool, thank you. ( I thought it was "Cut yo' Engines an' cool yo' WINGS!") I was just disappointed,my friend,in your seeming desire to ape of Niall's desire to destroy or demean anything you don't like or even understand. Nobody is going to make you bow!You don't seem the bowing type! Neither am I - by a long way, but I will share this with you and the site: I unexpectedly bumped into The Queen as she came out of a train station in London. Tiny five foot woman. Our eyes met. She smiled. She got in her car and left. I stood glued to the spot - trying not to faint! A perfect example of:- NOBLESSE OBLIGE - the Obligation of those of High Rank to be Honorable and Generous. Duty, Obligation, Responsibility - "Every Right implies a Responsibility; every Opportunity, an Obligation; every Possession, a Duty" - John D.Rockefeller Jr(!)

Report abuse

DanOLoingsigh | Nov 17, 2010, 02:37 PM EST

ancavker - Belgium, Denmark, Holland, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Japan, Jordan …..I’d say on balance these countries are as well governed as any in their neighborhood, and better than many, despite being monarchies. Spain reverted to a monarchy after their experience of dictatorship. Why not learn a little bit about the history of these countries before you let your repugnance cloud your judgement. After that you may want to revise your ‘nonsense and a relic’ insult to the peoples of these countries, who see this alternative to ‘Head of State’ elections as right for them?

Report abuse

ancavker | Nov 17, 2010, 01:50 PM EST

realist: I have nothing against this young women. I simply agree with Mr. O'Dowd that her one and only function is to provide a male heir. I am sure the English tabloids will say far worse. Sorry, but royalty any royalty is a concept that I find repugnant, be it the Queen of England, the King of Spain, or any of the other few asorted relics that are still in existence.

Report abuse

Next Previous Page 2 of 4 pages