ABSTRACT
This chapter explores both implicit and explicit relationships between royalty and tourism in contemporary and historic UK and some international contexts. It focuses on the hitherto neglected subject of 'royal tourism.' The chapter presents the peculiar attraction of royalty for tourism and considers an enduring and persistent touristic focus on the monarchy, particularly in the UK. It re-investigates the concept of 'royal tourism' as a specific form of popular culture tourism and considers how royal tourism may be employed not solely for economic gain and commercial exploitation but also as a political and socio-cultural tool and context. It also considers royal tourism as a socially constructed concept, whereby the entering into and playing out of roles and reciprocal actions by members of society as tourists are institutionalized. Royal families are literally extraordinary people and institutions. The pomp, pageantry and ceremonial performances that are associated with royalty provide exceptional and unique as well as predictable and scheduled events for tourist attention.
