King Charles Beaten by Unlikely Celeb for Top Spot in UK's Soft Power Amid Andrew Fallout
Author claims J.K. Rowling has overtaken King Charles as Britain's biggest source of soft power thanks to the global success of Harry Potter.
The British monarchy has long been seen as one of the country’s biggest global influences, but that popularity might be faltering. King Charles relentlessly attends one royal trip after another at the age of 77, amid his cancer treatment, but all that might still not be working with the public. A royal author recently argued that a celebrity has topped the ranks when it comes to British soft power.
According to Ysenda Maxtone Graham, J.K. Rowling now has more global influence than King Charles thanks to the massive success of the Harry Potter books, which she believes have introduced millions of readers to Britain and its culture. She wrote in The Telegraph, saying, “With the Royal Family's global image suffering from the tarnishing effects of the money-making Sussexes and the sleazy Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Rowling's role is more important than ever.”
She explained that for millions of children around the world, Harry Potter was their first introduction to Britain. Instead of seeing the country through history books or documentaries, they imagined a magical boarding school inside a castle, with grand halls and its own one-of-a-kind sport. “In a world of faceless skyscrapers and AI, Rowling's passionate evocation of humanity and eccentricity is something to cling to as a vivid expression of Britishness,” Graham said.
The author also pointed out that much of the scenery readers imagine while reading the books is inspired by Scotland, where Hogwarts and Hogsmeade are set. Because of that, she believes Rowling has almost single-handedly become one of Britain's biggest sources of soft power. She previously wrote in 2019 (via Scottish Daily Express), “Storytelling has been central to national identity since the tales of King Arthur, but Rowling has arguably put more cash into the British treasury than anyone in history.”
Rowling's ‘soft power’ has also been credited with extending beyond the world of books. During the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, her £1 million donation to the Better Together campaign and public support were widely seen as helping Scotland remain part of the United Kingdom. Newspaper columnist Suzanne Moore wrote in her Substack, “Rowling's soft power feels pretty damn solid and yes, of course it's to do with money. But it is also to do with her steel.”
The Royal Family has faced its fair share of controversies in recent years. The constant scrutiny surrounding disgraced former Prince Andrew and questions over private spending appear to have taken a hit on public support. A recent Ipsos poll found that backing for the monarchy has dropped to 55%, the lowest level in 33 years.
Moreover, just 33% of people aged 18 to 34 support the monarchy, compared with 74% of those over 55. Even so, Charles still holds a 60% approval rating, and 60% believe the monarchy will continue to play an important role in Britain's future.
