MEGHAN MARKEL : CAN SHE SAVE THE BRITISH MONARCHY?

With the arrival of American actor Meghan Markel, the elitism of the British monarchy fully merges with the elitism of modern celebrity culture. But will it be enough to save the monarchy?

IF IT IS NOT ENOUGH to be forced to endure the commercially-insane, regimented 'fun' of capitalism in overdrive - otherwise known as Christmas - yesterday a royal engagement was announced. It proceeded to knock everything else off the top of the news bulletins. Even RNZ's Morning Report which I, naively, thought would of known better, went into tabloid mode over Harry and Meghan.

At least it didn't get quite as bad as in Britain, where The Daily Mail devoted 42 pages - 42 pages - to the happy couple.

In the UK the British monarchy is faced with the very real prospect of a left wing Labour government coming to power in the coming months. Such a government will not be quite as enthusiastic about the Queen and her family as Tony Blair's Labour government.

Earlier this year the corporate media were incensed that Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn did now bow his head to the Queen at the opening of Parliament - even though he wasn't required to. It was also later pointed that then Prime Minister David Cameron did not bow his head either in 2015 and 2016. But Cameron didn't receive anything like the barrage of media criticism directed at Corbyn.

But the corporate media think that Corbyn's views on the monarchy are a stick they can beat him over the head with. Also this year they dredged up a 2001 television interview with Corbyn where he made the reasonable observation that, while he accepted Republicans were a minority in the Labour Party, there would continue to be a shift as “public opinion moves more in favour of a complete democracy”.

Corbyn's view is more in line with the thinking of British public, which isn't as in love with the British monarchy that the political establishment like to pretend it is. As well the support for the monarchy is inextricably linked to the Queen and not the institution itself. Important questions about the role of the monarchy have been held in check by the long reign of Queen Elizabeth II. Once she has gone questions like "'What the hell do we want this kind of unelected family for, anyway?" will inevitably be raised - and will have to be answered.

Even though Corbyn has had to deny on several occasions that a Labour have plans to abolish the monarchy, he can't win. His crime, as far the political establishment is concerned, is that he continues to display an insufficient level of public enthusiasm and fawning for the monarchy.

But with the monarchy now fully embracing American celebrity culture via a relatively well-known actor, they have added another PR weapon which they can use against those who might wish for a day when a monarchy did not sit atop a class-ridden Britain. The elitism of a centuries old monarchy now fully merges with the elitism of modern celebrity culture.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has decided  which side of the class struggle she is on.

The engagement of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle is "incredibly exciting news" she announced to the nation. "Who isn't moved by someone's impending marriage? Particularly one of this scale."

Ardern said she was seeking advice on whether it would be appropriate to send the couple a card. ...