American Royals

Jewelry often holds special significance in royal societies and in works of fiction. Engagement rings are powerful symbols across genres, and this significance spills into the real world. American Royals combines these elements—royalty, fiction, and the real world—by focusing on Beatrice’s engagement ring: or rather, her rings. The engagement ring that Teddy gives to Beatrice represents propriety, duty, and privilege. However, Connor’s engagement ring symbolizes raw love and dedication despite impropriety.

When Beatrice proposes to Teddy, the interaction is strange and awkward. In a world full of traditional gender roles and courtly etiquette, men are typically the ones to propose to their romantic partner, but in Beatrice’s case, her high rank above Teddy forces her to propose to him. Beatrice isn’t comfortable with this role reversal, and the conversation feels more like a business transaction. Beatrice recalls that “normally when the heir to the throne proposed, he brought his fiancée a ring from the royal vault,” but points out that “every heir to the throne up till now had been a man” (238). Beatrice finds herself in the strange position of offering Teddy the chance to go through her family’s heirloom jewelry and pick out a ring for her: yet another challenge to tradition and the typical fairytale romance.