ABSTRACT
Often elaborate, highly ritualised and steeped in tradition, royal events are strategically designed to reinforce the role of royalty within social and political structures. In the past, absolute monarchies utilised them to demonstrate their power, majesty and legitimacy over competing claimants. In modern constitutional monarchies, these events are designed to promote national identity and inclusiveness, symbolising and disseminating national narratives. Paradoxically, the emphasis on seemingly archaic ceremonies may disguise that these traditions are invented, revived or undergoing major changes. In this chapter, we introduce the concept and consider some of the key concepts relevant to this book. These include the institutional dynamism of royalty, the invention of tradition, the ritual structure of events, the role of the media and the influence of individual tastemakers.
