The members of our research hub includes researchers from universities, museums, galleries and heritage sites interested in the history of modern monarchy and its global impact.
If you are conducting research into modern monarchies, including exploration of the ways in which imperialism, colonialism and/or decolonisation transformed monarchies in both colonising and colonised countries, we would love to hear from you. To contact us, please email Cindy McCreery.
Research Hub Research Themes
Our members conduct research across a wide range of themes, summarised (but not restricted to) the below:
Modern and Ancient Monarchy: a comparative perspective
Inventing and remembering the ancient monarch/emperor/tyrant; iconography and material culture; loyalty vs. resistance to authority; ancient rulers as models for modern monarchs.
Modern Monarchy
Law, politics and the monarchy – the exercise of constitutional/absolute powers and political interventions by modern monarchs and members of royal families; abdication and succession to the throne; resistance to monarchical rule; revolution and rebellion.
Monarchy and Religion
Monarchs as spiritual/ecclesiastical leaders; leadership cults.
Sub-national Monarchies
Chieftains, elders, traditional rulers and non-reigning monarchs and their influence in various societies (especially in Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia); responses to colonialism and decolonisation.
Court and Material Culture
The evolution of court culture (protocol, ceremonies, receptions, dress, orders and decorations, etc.) and how dynasties have influenced each other internationally; museums, exhibitions and material culture – how royalty displays itself in its environment (palaces, royal transport); royal heritage tourism.
Gender and Monarchy
Including: female ‘kings’; changes in legislation to end male primogeniture in some Western European countries and the debate about doing so in some Asian nations; the primacy of male rulers in the Islamic world; differences in rule and public perceptions of male and female monarchs.
Monarchy and Celebrity
Monarchs and other royals as celebrities.
Celebrity cults of royalty in television, film, the internet and social media.
Monarchical Legacies
Memories of past dynasties, memorialisation and attempts at royalist restoration – including activities of royal ‘pretenders to the throne’ and their families