With the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the accession of King Charles, Britain has entered a new era — and questions about the future of the monarchy have become more pressing. Does it have a long-term role to play in modern Britain, or is it an anachronism whose days are numbered?
In this episode, George Miller talks to Laura Clancy, lecturer in media at Lancaster University and author of the new book What is the Monarchy For?, about the questions she think we should be asking about the monarchy in 21st-century Britain. Their conversation explores the monarchy’s part in perpetuating inequality, its use of soft power, the influence it exerts over media narratives, and whether the institution can keep re-inventing itself while essentially remaining the same.
‘The monarchy is doing important work ideologically,’ Laura argues, ‘upholding systems of inequality – even if it’s not authoritarian, even if it seems passive. It’s part of a structure that still shapes who has power and who doesn’t in Britain.’
Laura Clancy is a lecturer in media in the sociology department, Lancaster University. Her research focuses on issues of inequality, particularly 'the elites' and the monarchy.
Find out more about the book at: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/trade/what-is-the-monarchy-for
The transcript is available here: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2025/05/02/podcast-challenging-the-monarchy-britain-after-elizabeth-ii/
Timestamps:
02:11 - What sort of attitude did your family have towards the royals?
05:49 - What approach did you take to the question of what is the monarchy for, and why?
14:10 - Do you think other countries are better for not having a monarchy?
16:16 - Did the death of Queen Elizabeth II change the book?
23:11 - What are the main motivators for becoming a republic?
32:57 - What eye-opening discoveries came from interviewing royal correspondents?
39:47 - What do you think about the countervailing force of British exceptionalism?
Intro music:
Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax
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