Edexcel History Part B Royal Family

Do you agree with the view that the main effect of increasing media coverage of the royal family from the 1970s onwards was to damage the image of the monarchy? There is evidence to suggest that the main effect of increasing media coverage of the royal family from the 1970s onwards was to damage the image of the monarchy. However there is also a case to argue that increasing media coverage of the royal family had other significant effects. Source 15 supports the view that the main effect of increasing media coverage of the royal family from the 1970s onwards was to damage the image of the monarchy when it says the slapstick gameshow 'It's a Royal Knockout', which many members of the royal family took part in 'seriously dented their dignity: the nation was not amused', which suggests the people of Britain lost respect for the royal family as a result of media coverage. This is supported in source 16 when it says 'We hope the Windsors and their advisors are watching the mood on the streets and learning from it', which implies that the royal family should be careful how they act so they do not lose any further respect from the public. Source 17 also supports the view the main effect of increasing media coverage of the royal family from the 1970s onwards was to damage the image of the monarchy when it talks about a 'time of uncertainty'. This suggests that due to the influence of the media, people were uncertain of how to view the royal family, as they were beginning to be portrayed as less high up in society, and therefore commanding less respect. This is supported in source 15, which says 'their magic began to wane'. This implies that although a certain amount of respect remained for the royal family, they were beginning to be seen as less remarkable to the British public. Events such as 'It's a Knockout' were aattempts at modernising the relationship between the royal family and the people of Britain, but they reduced the mystique of the family and eroded