Global Royal Wedding Viewership

A Colonial Experience Imon Syracuse University

RQ1: Were the large global viewership numbers of the Royal Wedding due to Britain’s colonial past?

RQ2: What are the differences in online news coverage between Commonwealth and Non- Commonwealth countries?

RQ3: What were the emerging themes of online news coverage from the Royal Wedding?

Research Questions

The Royal Wedding• Prince William & Catherine Middleton

• Friday 29 April 2011 at Westminster Abbey

• Speculated 2 Billion Viewers

• 180 Countries tuned in

• 8,500 Journalist

"the sun never sets on the British Empire"

• Hegemony

• Colonized vs. Colonizer

• Culture

• Religion

Theory

• Exploratory Study

• Textual Analysis

• Online News Websites

• Commonwealth: Canada’s National Post, India’s Hindustan Times, Kenya’s Daily Nation and Australia’s Daily Age.

• The Non – Commonwealth: Al Jazeera, the China

Daily and the New York Times.

Methods

Findings• Commonwealth Articles had a sense of nostalgia,

adoration and spent more time explaining the particular traditions of the monarchy.

• While, many Non- Commonwealth sites discussed viewership and the relevance in today’s political climate.

• All had two things in common…Consumerism and Celebrity!

Relevancy• “The explanation is rooted in history. The British ruling dynasty

represents a reassuring symbol of continuity in an ever-changing world…(“Royal Wedding: All the World Loves a Show,” 2011)

- Australia, The Age

• “For one thing, the monarchy’s survival is being questioned in a way it was not when Charles wed Diana. Among many in Britain, Friday’s ceremony, more than a rite of renewal, is

viewed as a step toward saving the monarchy

(Burns, 2011).”

- United States, New York Times

Ceremony

• “I only hope that our wedding etiquette can now move to 21st century standards, (“Etiquette Lessons from Royal Wedding,” 2011) ”

- Kenya, Daily Nation

Consumerism• “Retail analysts estimate up to £620 million ($957 million) may

be spent in Britain in direct response to the wedding as people celebrate the nuptials, and extra public holiday, with street parties and community events (“The Best and Worst Royal Wedding Souvenirs,” 2011).”- Australia, The Age

• "I would like to wear a white fluffy dress. It will make me feel like an elegant princess, just like Kate

Middleton, the wife of Prince William,"

(“From Cheongsam to Western

Wedding Gown, 2011”) - China, The China Daily

Celebrity • Reportedly, the hair stylist for Kate has said that the new fashion

icon has decided to walk the aisle with her hair let loose on her big day. So in a clear departure from the stiff bridal hairstyle Kate will not be seen in chignons… (Kate's letting the hair down...literally, 2011)”

-or-

• “…while the younger royals enjoy a pint from time to time, neither Kate nor William is a big beer drinker so they decided to leave it off the menu (Will-Kat slap ‘ban on beer’ for reception, 2011).”

- India, Hindustan Times

Final Thoughts…

Global Royal Wedding Viewership:A Colonial Experience

Imon Edmonson iimon@syr.edu

Syracuse University, S.I. Newhouse School Of Public Communications