1. Once upon a time …
We often dealt with queens and kings, princesses and princes during our childhood. “Here in Germany, we know kings and queens primarily from fairy tales,” says Christian Handel, author and fairy tale expert, adding that “we’ve imbibed them with our mother’s milk.” Whether through the fairy tales of the Grimm brothers or in film adaptations by the U.S. Disney corporation, queens and kings are shining figures who are larger than life and fascinating in their power and beauty, says Handel. Their fictional palaces are a pleasure to stay in, their balls are so much more splendid than any real-life celebration, and a happy ending is guaranteed.
“That’s probably where our fascination with the royals comes from,” Handel tells DW. “From our longing for the fairytale-like, the magic in everyday life.”
2. Gossip, royal babies and real scandals
But the British royal family also fascinates grown-ups: the private lives of the royals provide fodder for rumor, gossip and rumblings. According to the Bayerischer Rundfunk, half of all Germans are interested, at least in principle, in the gossip surrounding the royal family.
The spectrum ranges from harmless speculation — how royal children will be named — to tangible scandals. Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, for example, bid farewell to all royal…
