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Ironically, it took a global isolation period to make the royals appear as vulnerable, and thus some would say likable as they ever have, as ordinary and human as they ever have.
The Royals Are Used To Living Their Lives In Public But Nothing Could Prepare Them For Coronavirus
Perhaps the biggest sign that the royals are mere mortals is that the Prince of Wales himself, the heir to the throne, the future king of England, contracted Covid-19. Here was proof that no one was safe, that everyone was at risk for falling victim to the earth’s latest scourge.
At the same time, this disabling experience seemed to make Charles more relatable. In his first video talking about his experience he described a “strange, frustrating and often distressing experience.” In fact, he has gone on record as saying the illness has brought out his compassionate side.
The video itself was strangely comforting, Charles appearing in his home, amid family photos, bookshelves, and even a teddy bear in the room. Something had changed, the Charles who mainly nattered on about saving the planet was now talking in a warm and personal way about something that every single person listening was also confronting.
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Charles’s post-COVID video showed a much different side of himself to the public who thought they knew him
Charles was not the only royal to speak from home, most did as well, and in so doing we saw a whole different side to William, Kate, Queen Elizabeth, and the rest. While there was no bedhead hair nor stained sweat-shirts present, they still seemed different.
And that’s because in part their look was decidedly different, not just because they were at home instead of at a factory, hospital or a ribbon-cutting ceremony—they were largely unvarnished, no professional camera crew, no hair, and makeup people.
What Effect Did Zoom And Video Calls Have On The Royal Family’s Image?
What we have seen was real-life, especially with parents William and Kate who have joked about their struggles with homeschooling and gaining weight during a lockdown. You’ve got to love finding out that William is ready to tear his hair out playing teacher, and worrying about eating too much chocolate!
There is another, less jolly appearance to talk about however, that of Queen Elizabeth on her official birthday. Instead of the usual pomp and circumstance, hordes of family members surrounding her, and an adoring public feeding her, she was all alone.
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She sat by herself in a small tent, watching the small improvised parade that had to make do this year because of coronavirus. Is this more somber image also an indication of how coronavirus has shaped the royals, for better or worse?
Some think that Her Majesty will never again appear in public to carry out her royal duties as she once did, due to her age and the restrictions in place because of COVID-19.
If that’s the case, coronavirus has changed the royals like it has the rest of us, for better and for worse.