On May 19 in the year 2018 of our Lord, His Royal Highness Prince Henry (Harry) of Wales will wed Ms. Meghan Markle at Windsor Chapel.Congratulations, America: Once again, you맥스카지노�re on the guest list.From Elizabeth and Philip to Charles and Diana and now, the princes William and Harry and their brides, we have followed royal marriages as loyal media subjects for more than half a century. It맥스카지노�s a story line that has evolved, as has the institution of marriage, but its central dramatic tensions 맥스카지노� will they or won맥스카지노�t they? 맥스카지노� remains the same.In 2011, Nielsen reported that 22.77 million Americans tuned into the wedding of Prince Harry맥스카지노�s brother, Prince William, and his wife, Catherine (Kate), the duchess of Cambridge. Viewership expectations are just as high for these nuptials.But why, 242 years after we declared our independence as Americans, do we still care about the British royal family?In good times, but especially in bad, the royal families of the world can function as escapist fairy tales for Americans who never completely gave up the romantic notions of hereditary privilege and dynasty, even though we gave up the actual crown. (See: the success of the Walt Disney princess brand.)We don맥스카지노�t have a stake in whether the monarchy in another country continues; it맥스카지노�s a soap opera we observe from a safe distance. In post-World War II life, royal news and royal lifestyle stories are a staple of American media with a cast of characters whose story arcs we follow from introduction to sometimes tragic conclusions. (See: the death of Princess Diana.)Hereditary rule is perhaps the world맥스카지노�s oldest serial. We love following these royal narratives because we can follow the characters from the beginning of their lives, from Charles and Diana맥스카지노�s wedding to the births of William and Harry, and their childhoods.Now, their marriages provide an introduction of new characters into the story. When a mate is chosen from outside the royal class, it makes it even easier to identify with the fairy tale.The wedding of Prince Harry, 33, and Markle, 36, has the added appeal for American audiences of Markle맥스카지노�s American nationality. Her country of birth is only one of several firsts for the House of Windsor: In addition to being the first American to wed a member of the royal family in the line of succession (Harry is currently sixth), Markle is also the first royal bride of African descent, an actress and a divorcée 맥스카지노� all things that would have disqualified her in prior years.It맥스카지노�s also worth noting that two of the most-watched royals of the last century, Wallis, the duchess of Windsor (for whom King Edward VIII gave up the throne), and Princess Grace of Monaco, were, like Markle, American-born. Their marriages, and aftermath, were the subject of intense media coverage for the rest of their lives.The fascination with royal intrigue and fashion is as consistent as the monarchy itself. Even from across the pond, retailers are marketing Harry and Meghan맥스카지노�s fashion and lifestyle choices relentlessly. If you believe the ever-multiplying pitches in my inbox, Americans care deeply about the bride맥스카지노�s hair products, what her flowers might be, how to buy a sweater she wore or the real secret to the couple맥스카지노�s happiness.It맥스카지노�s not just current royal culture Americans are eating up, it맥스카지노�s also a new brand of royal nostalgia. The 20th century story of the House of Windsor is getting a second look in as many new television and streaming documentaries as you can shake a scepter at, and Ryan Murphy is bringing a 맥스카지노�Charles and Diana맥스카지노� season of his anthology series 맥스카지노�Feud맥스카지노� to television soon.Then there맥스카지노�s the Peter Morgan trilogy responsible for so much of this current look back at the Windsors: The critically acclaimed film 맥스카지노�The Queen맥스카지노� (2006), the play 맥스카지노�The Audience맥스카지노� (2013, both starring Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II and Michael Sheen as Prime Minister Tony Blair) and the current Netflix megahit 맥스카지노�The Crown,맥스카지노� now working on its third season.Morgan맥스카지노�s portraits of the royal family and the institution of royalty itself 맥스카지노� at times critical but ultimately respectful 맥스카지노� have done much to inform the current narrative on the Windsors and probably inspired much of the affection, but Morgan has also been helped timing-wise by the monarch맥스카지노�s recent, record-setting jubilees and the popular marriages of the Wales princes.Even with new outsider characters being introduced and nods to the 21st century with royal social media accounts, there맥스카지노�s something antique and probably archaic about the whole saga. But that맥스카지노�s part of their centuries-old branding, The concept of hereditary rule stopped feeling modern somewhere around the American and French revolutions, but the British royal family has kept calm and carried on, and we have followed right along. Their royal brand and narrative have been remarkably consistent, and that맥스카지노�s probably part of the appeal.How Markle may change the storyline remains to be seen, but there맥스카지노�s little doubt Americans will be watching.Tony Bravo is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tbravo@sfchronicle.com