The world can feel like an utter and complete garbage fire at times, and our news cycle is both faster and more chaotic than ever before. Just logging on to social media in the morning can send me into a panicked state before I’ve even brushed my teeth—and I know I’m not alone in this. But everybody deserves a reprieve from time to time, and I’ve finally settled into mine: royals content.
Now, I’m no newcomer to British royal family fandom. As a kid, I followed along with the ups and downs of Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s relationship via my mom’s People magazine subscription. I know exactly where I was when news of Diana’s fatal car crash broke. And until he got serious with Meghan Markle, I used to joke that Prince Harry was my longest (fictional) relationship. Although my dream of him marrying a slightly older American woman didn’t pan out exactly as I had planned, I am very happy for them.
I have devoured every episode of The Crown, The Tudors, and even the CW’s Reign. I’ve oohed and awwed over Prince George and his siblings like a faraway aunt they’ll never meet. But, recently, there’s been a shift in my focus—and my intensity. Given the sheer number of official royal handles, royals reporters, and Instagram fan accounts, I have quite literally altered my feeds’ algorithms.
In other words, I wake up to each morning to an onslaught of imagery and tweets that don’t make me want to crawl back under the covers. It’s a delight, this royal Xanax.
Part of it, of course, are the beautiful clothes, great blowouts, messy buns, newlywed heart-emoji eyes, and adorable little children. But there’s something else that I find so incredibly calming about knowing every last in and out of the royal schedules and protocols.
Dr. Donna Rockwell, Psy.D., a clinical psychologist specializing in the area of celebrity and fame, says that the feeling can be akin to a child finding peace in structure and boundaries, even when they don’t realize that’s what they need. And what’s more structured and filled with rules than a monarchy?
“It’s comforting to see a structure where that structure seems to create a semblance of order,” she told me. “So in the same way, I think that when an adult is feeling a sense of inner chaos, it’s comforting, even neurologically speaking, to be able to observe something of structure. We see structure, and we feel comforted. So it’s actually a neurological response of relaxation that occurs in us in seeing the queen, and the [grand]daughters-in-law, and the line [of heirs].”
“The universe is profoundly chaotic,” Rockwell continued. “So whenever we can anchor ourselves into a sense of order and safety, really, we tend to relax. And that generates the reward center of the brain. Ahhhh, is the reaction.”
Ding, ding, ding. I love when science backs up the pop-culture obsessions I use for self-care: I’m craving structure in the form of royal protocol and a steadfast monarch (and her family) who seems unflappable, even more so compared to the most erratic leader we’ve seen in some time in D.C.
Rockwell also referenced Queen Elizabeth II’s meeting with President Trump earlier this summer. “She was gracious, and it was lovely to see. And maybe here’s the other piece as we’re so polarized in this country right now: graciousness. To see it witnessed right there where some of us, perhaps, are pulling our hair out and we’re at our wit’s end—we see the monarch, the monarchy, exhibiting graciousness to what we see as confusion and upset.”
Listen, I’ll take the serenity anywhere I can get it these days—and you should, too. Even if that means learning completely useless-IRL information about whether somebody you’ll never meet has to curtsy in front of her sister-in-law or whether or not panty hose are required at the Royal Ascot.
Your brain, after all, might just might need it to de-stress.
My favorite royal follows:
@Scobie
Omid Scobie is one of the top royal journalists in the game. He often travels with the family on tours and can offer historical context to protocols and history that are quite foreign to we Americans. He also co-hosts a great royals podcast called “On Heir” with another fantastic royal reporter, Emily Andrews (@byemilyandrews).
@KensingtonRoyal on Instagram and Twitter
These are the official handles of William, Kate, Harry, and Meghan—anything that claims to be otherwise is a fake. But the young royals’ social staff is pretty on point with live coverage of events and first looks at photos from the big wedding or Prince Louis’ christening (William even tweeted via this handle during the World Cup).
@TheElegantDuchess
An account dedicated to all things Kate? Sign me up. You’ll find everything you need to know about the Duchess of Cambridge’s fashion. Plus, if you’re new to royal fandom, there are tons of old photos and fun facts dating all the way back to her university days at St. Andrews, where she met her future husband.
@MeghansMirror
Of course, the newest member of the royal family has become an international fashion icon. If you want to find out what brands she’s wearing immediately, Meghan’s Mirror should be your first follow. They get the details fast and have even more fashion and beauty content inspired by the Duchess of Sussex on their site.
@RoyalDickie
Dickie Arbiter is the royal correspondent for the BBC. Plus, he used to work for the Queen as a press spokesman until 2000, so you know his insights are the real deal. He tweets about all the members of the family which is great when you need some dish on Princess Anne, one of my low-key faves.
@RoyalAddicted2
For those of you who want to obsess over more than just the British royals, this is the account for you. And if you aren’t already a fan of Queen Letizia of Spain, you soon will be: Her Majesty is chic.
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