The royal family's influence: perpetuating inequality

THE recent hype about Meghan Markle's past association with Prince Andrew and the Soho club has become a global concern. The royal family, in fact, has always managed to attract publicity, both negative and positive, but their influence remains global.

- DR SHEETAL BHOOLA Bhoola is a lecturer and researcher at the University of Zululand, and director at StellarMaths (Sunningdale).

Many of us question what makes these individuals unique or rather different to the rest of us, and the truth holds - there is nothing other than their ability to access a privileged lifestyle, fame and association with the world's global elite and leaders.

People often follow their lifestyle, their public presentation, and some question their value to society. It is only in recent years that the accountability and unaccountability of lifestyle expenses have become public knowledge.

We recently were privy to Prince Andrew being removed from the royal residence permanently, but prior to that we were unaware of the exact cost of their lifestyles, which they automatically have inherited at birth.

This system is autonomous, undemocratic and exclusive. A system which perpetuates inequalities of colonial history, patriarchy, class divisions and a way of life that maintains hierarchical structures and regimes of the past.

It is fascinating to note that the British monarchy can hold its prominence and position in a world which is becoming increasingly expressive through the multiple social media platforms and traditional mass media platforms. Young British people choose not to support the monarchy, and it has been recorded that the young 40-year-olds in Britain do not support the monarchy, most likely because they have personal values that are associated with equality and the development of an equal, accountable and transparent political structure.

The recent coronation of Prince Charles was watched by only half of Britain's population, which indicates their declining popularity, yet globally people are concerned about the past lifestyle of Meghan Markle, their daughter-in-law.