The Royal Representative

Archive for the ‘British-American’ Category

To all who have served in America, Britain, and beyond. We thank you more than words can express.

We are leaving for our English honeymoon immediately after the wedding. I still can’t believe it! I am so excited.

As a British royal historian, it’s nice that I actually get to visit the UK after ten years in the business. Being able to physically encounter the sights and sounds of the country will make my studies and presentations to my audience far richer. I hope what I experience makes the site and the blog even better than before. Of course, all photos will be posted here for your enjoyment… or just for your curiosity.

As wedding preparations continue (and as work picks up) I will not be able to post here as much. I will be happy to give a few updates once in a while though, especially if there is something in royal news that makes me want to rant, debate, discuss, or all of the above.

Wedding countdown: 5 weeks

In an earlier post, I mentioned the American Friends of British Art. They are an organization that raises funds to help ongoing restoration projects across Great Britain - over 2,000 historic castles, manors and other structures are being preserved through the efforts of AFBA. It’s a wonderful group.

Now I have discovered that the AFBA isn’t the only one with solid Anglo-American ties. The V & A has a sister organization called the American Friends of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

From the website:
“The AFV&A works to strengthen the Museum’s international presence and encourage the American public to engage with this leading cultural institution.”

So be sure to check out both of these wonderful cultural organizations and donate your money or your time (maybe even your life?). It is extremely worthwhile!

I had to laugh when I saw Gareth Robson in Part 2. He’s from Republic.org.uk. Gareth was so adamant in his dislike of the monarchy and his explanation was so absolutely hilarious, that I had to post something about it. Don’t mistake my mirth for a dismissal of the facts though.

“If you talk to any of the Americans in the Mall - there’s loads of them - they all say the same thing: ‘Oh Gee, we love your Queen’, but if you ask them, ‘Would you like to take her back with you?’ they always say, ‘No, no thanks! We’re happy the way we are, but we just think she’s great, she belongs over there with you quaint folks.’

That’s the crunch point for me. We’re not quaint folks, we’re not a quaint country, Britain is an incredibly impressive country, but held back by the nonsense from the past that we’ve allowed to dominate our cultural face that we present to the world. It’s ridiculous.”

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The British American Store at CafePress has merged with Sovereign Goods, my royal shop. You will find many of the same items in Sovereign Goods, as it is also offered by CafePress. There is simply a more royal theme to the shop now.

If you were subscribed to the British American Store’s newsletter, please be advised that the shop has closed and you will have to sign up again to receive the newsletter from Sovereign Goods.

URL: http://www.cafepress.com/sovereign_goods

Thank you!

Mandy

AWARD-WINNING PLAY BLACK WATCH MAKES AMERICAN DEBUT
Themes of Conflict and International Dialogue Highlighted, Dissected

Hurtling from a pool room in Fife to an armored wagon in Iraq, Black Watch is based on recent interviews conducted by acclaimed Scottish playwright Gregory Burke with former soldiers who served in Iraq. Viewed through the eyes of those on the ground, Black Watch reveals what it means to be part of the legendary Scottish regiment, what it means to be part of “the war on terror” and what it means to make the journey home again.

For more, see: National Theatre of Scotland OR The British Council (USA)

The wedding date’s been set, the cozy German Protestant church has been chosen, and now we need to find a venue for the reception. After that, it’s time to start looking at dresses!

This summer will be filled with wedding planning, but not only that, it will have a good dose of historical research going on, too. What better way to prepare for a wedding than take a look at the history of the families being joined? I would also like to document our families so that I can join the Daughters of the American Revolution and Aaron can join The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.

Sounds ironic for a supporter of the British Royal Family, doesn’t it?

Americans and Britons share a common history. Indeed, most of the country is - in some way - British. There are millions of Americans who proudly claim English, Scottish, Irish, and Welsh ancestry, so we are all British-American brothers and sisters. America and Great Britain, though not on good terms back in the 1700s, are now regarded as close friends and “cousins”.

The fact that we fought each other is a part of world history, a fact that is celebrated as a search for freedom and democracy. It should also be celebrated that we had a successful restoration of peace and harmony between us later on, for which we can be thankful.

Our Personal Ties

My fiance Aaron is related to the American Revolution patriot Nathan Hale, whose famous quote was “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country”. I am related to Ute Warren Perkins, who helped settle Southern Nevada. He was a great-grandson of a Revolutionary war patriot, also named Ute.

It is also through the Perkins family that I am related to Eli Whitney, the inventor of the cotton gin. The start of our Whitney line begins with John Whitney and his wife Ruth Reynolds, who had several children. Two of their sons, Joseph and Nathaniel, each married and had their own families. I am descended from Joseph, while Eli Whitney is descended from Nathaniel.

I find genealogy so fascinating. You never know who you’re related to! It was all discovered on the LDS Church’s FamilySearch.org website.