Upon hearing that Barbara Walters was airing a special on the inner workings of the royal family, I was automatically intrigued.
I have always wondered how they operate.
After all, I haven't grown up in a monarchy.
All my life I have always known democracy.
I have known what its like to have a president, but definitely not a queen.
I remember when I was taught about monarchy by my government teacher in high school, that the whole thing really amazed me.
If, I thought, there is a prime minister, what purpose does the royal family serve? Are they just an outdated tradition? In the past, I recalled that queens and kings were symbols of inspiration, supposedly descended from the gods.
Hasn't our new age ushered out the need for symbols? These are some of the things I was still pondering when I sat down to watch the special.
I didn't expect to have all these questions answered, after all, this is a Barbara Walters Special on the "inner workings" of the family, not a Barbara Walters special on the answers to all my questions.
It was mind opening.
I have to say, first of all, their queen is one feisty little female.
You have to give her props for that.
From the minute she wakes up to the minute shoe goes to bed she is constantly in a state of movement (be it her mind or body).
I hope I have half as much spunk in my eighties.
Think about it, she has been queen for a very long time.
Our presidents last in office under a decade each.
Because she has been queen for such a very long time, she has to adjust to each decade accordingly.
Apparently, she has done very well (or at least that's what everyone says).
I think one of the most fascinating facets of the Queen is her ability to see people day in and day out and still act interested and gracious towards them all.
It takes great will and strength of will to do so.
It's like England is from a different time and place..
...
well, definitely a different place.
What also was absolutely stunning to me was the huge dinners they put on.
They were beautiful, but quite old fashioned.
Being in the royal family and presenting a dinner, they naturally have to be very formal.
It is expected of them.
It must take so much hard work to organize events for officials.
It also works the other way around.
When a dinner was given for the Queen at the White House, you can see how much hard work it must take just to be able to have a dinner that meets up to the Queen's standards.
Especially for George Bush who doesn't care much for dressing up.
It is rather unfair that I have been jabbering on about the Queen, I think it is time to talk about some of the other parts of the Royal Family.
It is obvious from this documentary that as each generation is born they are getting more and more relaxed (I am talking about their personalities).
Prince William and Prince Harry are a much more relaxed pair than the rest of the family.
But, they are also as personal as their relations before them.
Both are heavily involved in their charities and part of the country's military, although they are more adapted to the newer age than Prince Charles or the Queen.
It could be because of their youth and energy.
In any case they could end up changing the monarchy into what they are..
..
a little more relaxed.
As I watched the special on the monarchy, I realized some of my questions had been answered, but it is all what you make of it.
The monarchy seemed to be the way to stay in touch with the public.
It seems that they make the public feel in touch with the government, make them a little more approachable.
Maybe the monarchy doesn't serve a big purpose, but they represent tradition.
I have to admit that the monarchy is sucking up a lot of money to keep going though..
..
maybe it does need to be abolished.
I don't know what it is like to live over there so I can't rightly say.
I just will always remember how when I was a little girl, England was always the land where queens and princesses lived.
I mean, Peter Pan flew there and that's where fairy tales took place.
Would England still be England without a monarchy? Maybe we will soon see..
...
or maybe England will remain the land of queens and kings.
Either way England will always be the land of fairies to me.