Hannah Haney | Echo
When Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, gave birth to a baby boy on July 22, Buckingham Palace swarmed not only with the media, but plenty of locals and tourists.
The London Eye, the city's giant ferris wheel, was illuminated with the color of the British flag. Fireworks sparkled across the skyline.
The city was buzzing over the event.
And the next day, news of the baby's birth covered the cover of every magazine and newspaper.
But in the midst of the hubbub, one question lingered. Why was everyone so excited about the baby prince? Here in the States, we went into a frenzy because we love the idea of a monarchy, (though we wouldn't want one for ourselves.) But why are the Brits so crazy about it? After all, the monarchy is set to receive 31.6 million pounds for 2013/14, which is equivalent to about about 55,532,630 US dollars.
While that sum evens out to about 66 pence per person (about 1.10 US dollars), thats a lot to pay for a system of rule that doesn't pack much political punch. As a local bus driver pointed out, many people in the UK are very annoyed with the monarchy, and would like to see it go. So again, why the excitement over the little prince?
The answer is twofold. There are only a few monarchies left in the world, and of those few, Britain is one of the last to have the monarchy remain in the family.
"We're very proud of it (the monarchy)," commented Ashley Outlaw, a local Londoner.
Some Brits view the monarchy as a vital part of their heritage. The UK is often defined by the monarchy, especially with the crown acting as a big pull for the thousands of tourists that pour into London. It seems almost impossible to imagine the UK without a king or queen on the throne.
And Baby George provides a continuation of the magnificent legacy of the British monarchy.
Another reason for the revelry is that this baby has provided an opportunity for reconciliation between the British monarchy and the people. Following the scandal of Prince Charles's divorce from Lady Diana in 1996, the monarchy was placed in an awkward position, especially after Diana's death.
The Royal Family appeared cold and remote, and the public, who adored Diana, found the crown's behavior unacceptable.
It's sixteen years later and those wounds still haven't quite healed. However, the relationship between Will and Kate is similar to that of Charles and Di. Both Di and Kate were commoners, though Di came from an aristocratic background. Even the first picture of Kate, Will and the new prince echos the first picture of Will with his parents.
To sum it up, Will, Kate and the baby represent a perfect royal family: one that represents new beginnings and the opportunity for healing.
