Monarchy and hyperbole

One is old enough to understand that the monarchy is a large, empty shell that bases its power not on its inner workings, but on its capacity for representation. Therefore, every gesture is amplified to give it a stratum of importance relative to its actual impact. But the Madrid press, and not only there, is so enslaved to this practice of shadow play that its headlines are exhausting, due to the sheer volume of exaggeration they contain. One of the headlines ofThe World This Friday's front-page headline reads: "Beijing adores Letizia while the king defends human rights." Similar formulations can be found in other courtly publications. We will break this one down, however. Let's begin with theworship —Ah, the divine reference!—, which, as the photo shows, is just a group of people wanting to take a selfie. But they speak shamelessly on behalf of a city of 21 million souls who are hardly addressed by a monarchy 8,200 kilometers away. Such are the constraints of its eternal decorative function, in any case. And what about the other side? I've read the entire speech in question, and only once does Felipe mention that Spain will continue to defend the values "of democracy, international law, human rights, and multilateral cooperation."

There is no indication, at this time, that the foundations of the Chinese regime have trembled in the slightest at Felipe VI's words. These words, of course, are not intended to be picked up by the Chinese press and resonate with the public consciousness, but rather to generate sanitized headlines in Spain with a heroic aftertaste, lest anyone criticize the king for whitewashing a regime without free elections like the one imposed by the Communist Party since 1949. Let us be spared this almost divine magnification, which, ironically, is reminiscent of the strategy of regimes with which it is uncomfortable to associate.