Cruel Britannia

In this image, a photograph of an Oxford Street souvenir window display has been digitally manipulated to incorporate the capitalistic and exploitative manoeuvres of the Royal monarchy – particularly in the lead-up to the coronation of King Charles III. The simulated image exposes the complicit commodification of the Royal Family and, upon closer inspection, reveals a veritable treasure trove of subversive imagery. Many of the Royal Family’s persuasive and rousing connections, are depicted festooned upon commemorative dining plates and heirloom decorative keepsakes.

The simulated high street souvenir window offers a glimpse into the machinations of the Royal Family, a venerated group that those outside the shop can only observe from a distance. The figure reflected within the shop’s seemingly welcoming display reminds one of the inequalities represented by a sheer pane of glass, an invisible barrier separating the haves from the have-nots, the Royal family from the public over which it presides. While subject to the scrutiny of those outside the shop, those within (and protected by) the Royal family may do as they please – much to the delight and consternation of the ravenous public.