U.K. Royals Get Tech-Savvy
The British Royal Family is enveloped by pomp and circumstance, steeped in tradition and history, and often thought of as a bit antiquated — but they're more tech-savvy than you might imagine.
Earlier this year, the Royals decided to update and re-launch their Monarchy Web site simply because, "we had a call for it and it's what the people wanted." How times change.
"It helps her keep track of course, helps her plan business meetings," one person close to Her Majesty told me.
Head of communications for the Royal Palace Kate Goody won't talk about how advanced the Queen is in use of the gadget, or surfing the Web, but a source close to Her Majesty says "she embraces it, and knows that in order to connect with young people she has to know what it's all about."
The source added that Queen Elizabeth II, "is not planning to join Twitter or Facebook," but does value technology which enables her to stay in touch if, say, she is stuck up in the wilds of the Royal estate in Balmoral, Scotland.
Charles pushed hard to see the launch of his own official Prince Of Wales site, and he insists that transcripts of all his speeches are posted promptly, along with his other public thoughts and musings.
But the future head-of-state is also a keen businessman, and has used the Internet to publicize and sell his Duchy Originals line of organic foods to great success. More than 50 percent of Duchy sales are now thanks to customers ordering online, from outside Britain.
Reason being: The phones are used for a while and then destroyed, for security reasons.
Things may be changing for Britain's Royal family — but they're still the Royal family. They never, ever use their phones in public, or even take them out while on visits. Again, there are security concerns… but one just wouldn't do such a thing anyway, would one.
Neil Sean is a U.K. entertainment columnist and TV commentator. His reports are also heard on more than 100 U.K. radio stations and he has a show on The Biography Channel.