The history of London is so full of incredible personalities and political and social controversy and intrigue that it is as fascinating an aspect of the city for tourists as is the contemporary culture. The Showtime television series The Tudors has gained wide audiences and the majority of these are not English history buffs. Of course the show does not provide a literal history of the royal family and a lot of the plot is fictional, but the main point is that it is based on real life people and the circumstances of the show are not that far removed from the reality of daily life during the Tudor dynasty. Just look at the ongoing controversy that follows the royal family through the decades. This is due largely to their position in the spotlight and the fact they have the world’s eye. Every perceived misstep, which most people would never even acknowledge in their own lives, becomes front page world news. And information on royal weddings and official unions continues to gain major attention and world interest, even though the fate of a particular country may no longer be dependent on a specific marriage.
So, what is it about the English royal family that continues to captivate, particularly Americans, so completely? There are many contributing factors. Americans are in love with the idea of princes and princesses as well as queens and kings. That’s a romantic fantasy notion for many Americans. Meanwhile historically, they have dominated so much of the world politics that it was essential to know what was going on at court and in the royal family. Landmarks and buildings in London continue to demonstrate the historic importance of England and the impact of the royal family. Tourists who visit the city and stay in a London hotel are eager to explore places like the Tower of London and other intriguing historic buildings. Parliament and Westminster Abbey are other popular landmarks and tourists love to see first hand where British royalty like King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth the First spent their days and conducted their business. The fate of the world may no longer depend on the whims of the royal family, but the imagination and interest of it certainly does.