Fairy Tales and Propaganda - How Our Children Learn to Revere Royalty

The BBC article on the study states “Researchers could not fully explain this difference”.

The difference should be obvious:

Children are particularly susceptible to indoctrination due to a combination of psychological, neurological, and social factors that influence their development:

1. Cognitive Development

- Impressionability: Children's brains are highly plastic, meaning they are designed to absorb and adapt to new information quickly. This makes them particularly open to beliefs and ideas presented by authority figures.

- Limited Critical Thinking: Critical thinking skills develop over time and are not fully formed in young children. As a result, they are less likely to question or analyze the information they are given.

Example: how many children would question why Charles rides in a golden carriage while their own families struggle to afford a car or basic necessities?

2. Trust in Authority Figures

- Children naturally trust parents, teachers, and other adults who care for them. This trust makes them more likely to accept what these figures say as true without skepticism.

- Adults in positions of authority often serve as role models, and children tend to mimic their behaviors and beliefs.

Example: children are only told about Charles’ “charity” work and admirable interests such as the arts and environmentalism. They are not told about Charles’ extremely high carbon footprint, his profiteering from charities and organisations such as the NHS and many other revelations that might make children question just how “good” he is.

3. Social and Emotional Needs

- Belonging: Children have a strong desire to fit in with their family, community, or peer group. Accepting shared beliefs is a way to gain acceptance and feel secure.

- Fear of Punishment: Indoctrination is often accompanied by consequences for dissent, which can instill fear and compliance in children.

Example: Even if a child’s parents have expressed republican/anti-monarchy views at home, a child might feel pressure to go along with a Coronation party or not address the many elephants in the room when learning about monarchy in case they are shut down.

4. Lack of Experience

- Young children lack the life experience necessary to compare and contrast ideas or understand alternative viewpoints. This makes it difficult for them to recognise biased or one-sided information.

Example: they only have access to biased school materials. They won’t have been able to access many different news sources and read about criticism. Do they know that Charles accepted bags of cash in the Middle East? Do they know that he profits from dead British people via bona vancantia? It is doubtful.

5. Neurological Factors

- The prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for decision-making and evaluating consequences, is underdeveloped in children. This makes them more prone to accepting ideas at face value.

6. Repetition and Conditioning

- Indoctrination often relies on repetition and consistent exposure to specific ideologies, which can deeply embed beliefs in a child’s mind before they have the capacity to question them.

Example: Many young people watch Newsround during tutor time. Newsround is packed with trivial royal news that is only positive.

7. Emotional Manipulation

- Indoctrination often involves appeals to emotions such as fear, guilt, or pride, which can be particularly effective on children who are still learning to regulate their emotions.

Example: Coronation resources included colouring sheets of golden carriages and union flags. Making children associate patriotism with royalty is wrong.

These factors combined make children highly vulnerable to indoctrination, emphasising the importance of fostering critical thinking, exposing them to diverse perspectives, and encouraging open dialogue as they grow.

That is why Greens For A Republic members demand:

1. A more balanced curriculum with lessons about democratic alternatives and criticism of the monarchy

2. Opt-outs for republican families

3. Parental permission needed before taking children on trips to attend royal visits.

4. An end to propaganda-style books such as Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee book being given to each child.

If you agree, share this article with parents, carers and schools in your area.