As a former colony, and arguably the younger cousin, of the United Kingdom, the United States has a special bond with Great Britain and its citizens. The United States and the United Kingdom share many cultural norms, history, and naturally, a common language. Many Americans “claim” pre-1776 British history and view certain British customs and institutions very positively. Prior to Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee, a small study was undertaken to see if the American public includes the monarchy, specifically Queen Elizabeth II, as part of those respected British traditions. Since Her Majesty’s recent death, the poll will be discussed to honor her.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II became the first British monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years of service to the people of the United Kingdom, the Realms, and the Commonwealth. The Queen, who became monarch in 1952, surpassed Queen Victoria to claim the title of the United Kingdom’s longest-reigning monarch. Coincidentally, she was also the longest-serving female head of state in the history of any country.
Naturally, this milestone is cause for celebration in the United Kingdom as well as the other realms where the Queen is head of state. Here in the United States, however, there is no monarch, and the President may not serve for more than eight years in total. There is certainly no pomp and circumstance when American leaders reach the eight-year mark.
In May of 2022, the authors of this article commissioned a small survey to see what the American perception of Queen Elizabeth II is. The goal was to see what typical Americans, with no connection to the crown, think. One hundred people were asked: Are you from the United States?; Did you grow up in the United States?; When the term “The Queen” is mentioned during a conversation, I assume it is referring to: the Queen of Denmark, the Queen of Spain, the Queen of the United Kingdom, the Queen of Norway, or none; If given an opportunity, I would have lunch with: the Queen of Denmark, the Queen of Spain, the Queen of the United Kingdom, the Queen of Norway, or none; and Do you think the Americans have “unofficially adopted” the British Royal Family?
Ninety-one percent of respondents stated if the term “the Queen” was mentioned during a conversation, without any other context, they assume it was about Queen Elizabeth II. Fifty percent of respondents said that if given an opportunity, they would like to have lunch with Queen Elizabeth II while 28 percent chose “none”, and fifty-two percent of respondents, a slight majority, feel that Americans have “unofficially adopted” the British Royal family as part of American culture. These numbers are in line with a 2007 CNN poll which found that 8 in 10 Americans have a favorable view of the British monarch.
Regardless of polling, it should be no surprise that many Americans held the Queen in high regard. A street in Washington, D.C. is named in honor of her. In 1991, Queen Elizabeth II visited the home of Alice Frazier on Drake Place in the Marshall Heights Community. Mrs. Frazier welcomed the Queen into her house by giving her a spontaneous and affectionate hug, stunning the accompanying officials and surprising the Queen. For many, the hug proved to be the most memorable moment of the trip. Not long after the Queen’s visit, Drake Place was renamed Queen’s Stroll.
Americans are interested in the other members of the royal family as well. According to Reuters, 33 million Americans watched Princess Diana’s funeral, 23 million watched Prince William’s wedding, and almost 30 million tuned in for Prince Harry’s wedding.
While the United States is not part of the Commonwealth Realm, it may safely be assumed that many Americans felt a connection with Queen Elizabeth II and the royal family. Former U.S. President Barack Obama acknowledged this when then Prince Charles visited the White House in 2015. “The American people are quite fond of the royal family,” the President said to Charles. “They like them much better than their own politicians.” Part of the allure is the pageantry and centuries-old tradition, which is unlike anything the United States has. Another part of the allure is the tradition of British monarchs to specifically steer clear of politics. Queen Elizabeth II was an apolitical head of state with no electoral mandate who served as a unifying figure and a voice for shared principles of the country as a whole. That is refreshing to many Americans whose leaders are never apolitical. Her Majesty has led and inspired her people with dignity and grace for the past 70 years. That has not gone un-noticed to her “cousins across the pond”. She will be missed.
