4 Ways the Royal Family Have Engaged with the Entertainment Industry
Let's start by saying that the Royal Family has a complicated relationship with the media.
The entertainment industry is a different story, with many of the royal family actively getting involved. It's the paparazzi and the press they historically don't like.
Below, we'll look at four ways the royal family has engaged with the entertainment industry.
The Royal Variety Performance
The Royal Variety Performance is one of the oldest entertainment links involving the monarchy.
Beginning in 1912, it was originally created to provide relief funds for struggling entertainers. With time, it has gradually transformed into a spectacular event with VIP tables and numerous stars, from comedians to singers, performing.
The members of the Royal Family joined the event, showing the Crown's endorsement of the arts and charitable work. Monarchs like Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles regularly attended alongside different members of the royal family, making the Royal Variety Performance popular across the UK.
Prince Edward's Foray into Television Production
Prince Edward is the son of the late Elizabeth II.
Prince Edward took a big step into the entertainment business in 1993 by setting up his own production company, Edward and Ardent Productions Limited.
The company sought to exploit documentaries on royal history, but the angle was to popularise these stories.
His move into television received mixed results. The Grand Knockout Tournament, Ardent's biggest project, involved light play of games by royals and celebrities but was poorly received and even attracted negative reviews.
Meghan Markle's Hollywood Journey
Can we include this one now? Probably not, but we'll do it anyway.
Meghan Markle's marriage to Harry allowed her to bring a different perspective to the royal family, having worked as a Hollywood actress. Prior to joining the Windsor dynasty, Meghan was already well established in the entertainment industry through her role in the television series Suits.
After severing ties as senior royals, the couple moved to America and shifted into the new normal, where they had deals with Netflix, Spotify, and other companies, creating documentaries and other films under the new venture Archewell Productions.
You could say it's the royal connection with entertainment going through a transformation. Still, there's no denying that Harry and Meghan are now so far from the royal family that you almost can't associate the two.
Princess Diana's Global Media Presence
Princess Diana has a massive presence in the media. Yes, it wasn't always positive and we don't agree with how the media treated her, but it's her interest in the entertainment industry that we want to focus on.
It was partly because of her association with the media and the global image she created for herself and the rest of the family that she earned herself an honorary title of her people's favourite princess. The magazines and newspapers featured Diana so often that it became somewhat normal to think she might be a part of countless covers and interviews.
She had, through her royal engagements and interviews that included the world-renowned 1995 BBC panorama interview, commenced the trend of mixing her royal engagements with her celebrity life.
Diana will always remain an important figure for many, no matter how many years go by.
The royal family and the entertainment industry have always had a very interesting relationship, one that has shown how the family, along with the people, has evolved. The royals, through their nonconventional performances, individual efforts, Hollywood projects, and other media dealings, have shown that they are correctly invested in entertainment for the right reasons and that they are in the arena for the long run.