Diplomatic Connections Jan/Feb 2018

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H.E. KARIN OLOFSDOTTER AMBASSADOR OF SWEDEN TO THE UNITED STATES

H.E. DANIEL MULHALL AMBASSADOR OF IRELAND TO THE UNITED STATES

MARGOT WALLSTRÖM, MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF SWEDEN UN SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES

H.E. JOÃO VALE DE ALMEIDA AMBASSADOR OF THE EUROPEAN UNION DELEGATION TO THE UNITED NATIONS

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Dawn Parker ASSOCIATE EDITOR Melanie Glennon DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS Lauren Peace BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVES Evan Strianese, Genna Glaser DESIGN & CREATIVE Watson Studios CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER Larry Smith DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENTS and CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Roland Flamini, James Winship, PhD and Monica Frim NEW YORK EVENT CONTRIBUTORS Haylee Buono; Shafrana Carpen; Deborah Egbo; Stephen Lylo; Philip Press WASHINGTON, D.C. EVENT CONTRIBUTORS David Berndtson; Jessica Boehr; Alicia Clay; Ingrid Unander-Scharin

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H.E. KARIN OLOFSDOTTER H.E. DANIEL MULHALL AMBASSADOR OF SWEDEN AMBASSADOR OF IRELAND TO THE UNITED STATES TO THE UNITED STATES

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“A Respected Moral Leader in International Affairs” AN INTERVIEW WITH SWEDISH AMBASSADOR KARIN OLOFSDOTTER

BY ROLAND FLAMINI

A

ccording to a reliable, albeit unscientific, survey, more than two-thirds of the ambassadors in Washington have served their embassies in a less exalted capacity. True to form, Sweden’s Ambassador, Karin Olofsdotter, was Deputy Chief of Mission from 2008 – 2011; she now leads this mission as Sweden’s first woman ambassador to Washington, having presented her credentials in September.

In a recent interview with Diplomatic Connections at the House of Sweden, a stunning example of contemporary Swedish architecture on the Potomac River, she repeated a more recent redefinition of Sweden’s long-standing neutrality policy, which kept the Scandinavian country out of World War II. Sweden, she said, is “militarily nonaligned.” This refinement reflects Sweden’s membership of the European Union, and the fact that it is a partner with, but not a member of, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Still, newly aggressive Russia, their neighbor to the east, concerns the Swedes, drawing them ever closer to Western security structures. Sweden has taken part in recent NATO exercises and re-introduced the draft.

The influx of refugees/immigrants is a growing domestic problem. In Sweden, unlike some other EU countries, the issue is not whether to admit them; rather, the challenge, as Ambassador Olofsdotter explains, is how to integrate them into the welfare system with minimum disruption. Sweden, in 2015-2016, with a population of 10 million, took in 163,000 refugees, mainly from Syria and other Middle Eastern countries. Swedes are proud of their welfare state which includes universal healthcare and schooling as well as other generous benefits. The country

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H.E. KARIN OLOFSDOTTER AMBASSADOR OF SWEDEN TO THE UNITED STATES

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boasts high revenues and wages, collective bargaining, significant levels of female labor-force participation, and an open economy.

In the summer, a government crisis threatened the coalition of Social Democrat Prime Minister Stefan Lofven when three of his ministers faced a no-confidence vote over an alleged security breach tied to a foreign contract.

Lofven averted the vote by removing two of the ministers, but the crisis raised questions about his survival until the 2018 parliamentary election.

When it comes to bi-lateral relations, Karin Olofsdotter says the Trump administration’s declared opposition to existing trade agreements is worrying (Sweden’s exports to the U.S. run upwards of $10.2 billion annually), but in many respects, the relationship is sound. The State Department country profile of the Scandinavian constitutional monarchy calls it “a respected moral leader in international affairs.”

Ambassador Olofsdotter, who stays fit running long distances, is married with two children.

Martti Kainulainen/AFP/Getty Images

Prime ministers of the Nordic Council (N5) meeting in Helsinki, Finland, on November 1, 2017, pose for group photo: (L-R) Juri Ratas of Estonia, Maris Kucinskis of Latvia, Erna Solberg of Norway, Juha Sipilae of Finland, Lars Lokke Rasmussen of Norway, Stefan Lofven of Sweden, Education Minister Kristjan Por Juliusson of Iceland, and Saulius Skevrnelis of Lithuania.

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(L-R) Defence Ministers Claus Hjort Frederiksen of Denmark, Jussi Niinisto of Finland, Frank Bakke-Jensen of Norway and Peter Hultqvist of Sweden take part in a Nordic Defence Cooperation (NORDEFCO) meeting to discuss security issues in the region on November 6, 2017 in Helsinki.

Diplomatic Connections: Is Prime Minister Lofven still your prime minister?

Martti Kainulainen/AFP/Getty Images

Ambassador Olofsdotter: He is definitely still my prime minister.

Diplomatic Connections: Sweden hasn’t been involved in a war since 1814, but today can you say that Sweden is still a neutral country?

Ambassador Olofsdotter: We are not actually neutral. We are militarily non-aligned, and there’s a difference. We are not like Austria and Switzerland. The fact that we’re non-aligned means that we have not signed up with any military alliance. In case of war, it doesn’t mean that we would necessarily be neutral. We have a solidarity clause now that all political parties have signed up to that in case of an attack on our neighbors; we will come to their help and protection, and we hope or assume that they would do the same thing. It sounds very much like Article 5 in the NATO treaty; but, of course, it isn’t because this is just us stating our hopes and wishes. It’s simply a statement of how we see our neighbors and our obligations towards our neighbors.

Diplomatic Connections: Isn’t there a Nordic defense agreement?

Ambassador Olofsdotter: Not on paper, no. There’s a Nordic Defense Cooperation, but that’s not equal to NATO, which is a treaty-based alliance. The Nordic Defense Cooperation is a voluntary cooperation. We have a very deep relationship, particularly with Finland. What we have done is stressed what we would do to confront the situation in our region, with the hope that it would be reciprocated.

Diplomatic Connections: But given the tension in the region, isn’t there also a discussion about joining NATO? Ambassador Olofsdotter: It’s a discussion that comes and goes over the years. At the moment, given the security situation in our vicinity, with us strengthening our defense, and seeing how the Russians are acting in Crimea and Georgia, and with the whole debate about security and defense in Europe, the issue is not on the table again; it’s discussed from time to time. Some political parties want us to join, but that doesn’t mean that it’s on the table.

Diplomatic Connections: If there were a referendum on whether or not to join NATO would it win?

Ambassador Olofsdotter: Probably not. According to the opinion polls, I think it’s 40 percent who want Sweden to join. It’s going up slowly, but it’s not the majority of the population.

Diplomatic Connections: But, Sweden is a member of the European Union.

Ambassador Olofsdotter: Yes. Diplomatic Connections: But not yet a member of the euro zone.

Ambassador Olofsdotter: Sweden has been a member of the European Union since 1995. But Sweden had a referendum Continue to page 18

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Patrick Tragardh/AFP/Getty Images Anders Wiklund/AFP/Getty Images

On September 19, 2017, Swedish armed forces took part in the largest regional joint exercises in 20 years, along with troops from other Nordic states and the U.S, on the island of Gotland, Sweden. (On right) A Finnish “Patria� armored vehicle taking part in the joint exercises known as Aurora 17.

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Anders Wiklund/AFP/Getty Images

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Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images

U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres meets Margot Wallstrom, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden at the General Assembly high-level dialogue on “Building Sustainable Peace for All: Synergies between the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustaining Peace Agenda.”

and voted against adopting the euro. Sweden plans to honor the referendum and thus, will be maintaining the Swedish kronor for the foreseeable future.

Diplomatic Connections: And doesn’t the EU also have a Common Security and Defense policy?

Ambassador Olofsdotter: Yes. We don’t know how far that will go in the end. I was working at NATO and the European Union in 2001 when we created the military capability in the EU, and there was a big debate on it at that time, that it must not be anything that duplicated NATO. Diplomatic Connections: Doesn’t that run counter to Sweden’s non-aligned position?

Ambassador Olofsdotter: The strong line goes with joining something that has collective defense, and the EU doesn’t have it. We’re quite cooperative with the European Union security effort. We have many times signed up for the EU Battle Group, on two occasions we’ve even been responsible for it, not that it has been used, but still

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it’s a readiness factor. And we take part in all NATO’s military operations.

Diplomatic Connections: As you say, the main concern is Russia’s recent demonstrations of force in Crimea and Georgia.

Ambassador Olofsdotter: It’s a historical concern, and the tension is going up because we’re in the neighborhood.

Diplomatic Connections: And you have re-introduced the draft.

Ambassador Olofsdotter: Yes. Diplomatic Connections: And this year, you staged military exercises that were the biggest in 20 years.

Ambassador Olofsdotter: There is support in the country for strengthening our military capability. We are increasing our defense spending by 11 percent in the coming years.

There’s really no opposition to having a conscript army again, but we’re not even close to signing up the same amount of people as we did in the old days. We ended the conscript about 15 years ago. This year it will be 4,000

people. When I was young, 80 percent of all men were conscripted, and then the numbers gradually dropped, especially after the end of the Cold War. Now, we’re not getting the numbers of professionals, so we’re reintroducing conscription. But it has changed. The needs are different.

Diplomatic Connections: Are there Swedish troops in Afghanistan?

Ambassador Olofsdotter: We’ve been there for years, with a large contingent before in ISAF (International Security Assistance Force), but now we are there with a training and advisory mission. We are in all NATO missions, and then, of course, we are in the EU missions as well. In NATO, we are together with four other countries designated as Enhanced Partnership Countries (Sweden, Finland, Australia, Georgia, and Jordan) meaning that we are even closer than some other partners.

Diplomatic Connections: Since 2015, there’s been a surge of refugees admitted to Sweden – 160,000 in that year alone. How would you update the refugee situation in Sweden?

Ambassador Olofsdotter: The asylum process takes almost two years, so the people who get asylum are now coming out on the labor market. We have elections in 2018, and I do believe that (refugee) integration will be a very big issue in the elections. How do we create a system that really integrates people, gets the into the labor market?

It’s a big issue where some parties want to lower the minimum wage, which we don’t have; others want us to reinforce education—it’s a big political question. I think most people are actually not so negative towards refugees getting asylum; the concern is how to integrate these people well into our life, and into our economy. The question is no longer whether to let in refugees. That was an issue in 2015, but now it’s an integration issue.

Diplomatic Connections: How has the influx impacted on the Swedish welfare system?

Ambassador Olofsdotter: There’s not really any discussion about the costs to our welfare system; it’s more a debate on how to integrate them in the best way. That is a challenge. If we don’t manage, we will have people who

Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson poses for family photo with European Union foreign ministers in Brussels. Front row: Margot Wallstrom of Sweden; Jean-Yves Le Drian of France; Didier Reynders of Belgium; Secretary Tillerson; Federica Mogherini, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy; Alfonso Dastis of Spain; and Karl Erjavec of Slovenia.

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never have jobs, remain isolated, don’t learn Swedish, and so on. Waves of integration we’ve had before, like in the 1990s, were the people from the Balkans, and that has worked very well. And all the earlier waves as well, so I think it was the concern that there were so many coming at one time and that would put a big strain on the system. I mean, just the fact that it takes two years for some people to be processed; that’s a very long time.

Diplomatic Connections: Are there certain areas that are more affected by this challenge than others?

Ambassador Olofsdotter: Yes, the bigger cities. Just like when America was founded, people want to live with their own kin, like you have Little Italy in New York, and all the Swedes went up to Minnesota. In Södertälje, for example, south of Stockholm, there’s been a huge influx of immigrants, but the economy there and the labor market are not such that they can be easily absorbed and get jobs there.

Diplomatic Connections: What would you be looking for to improve bi-lateral relations?

Ambassador Olofsdotter: Trade and investment is really high on our agenda. The United States is Sweden’s fourth biggest trading partner. And of course, we are concerned about the rhetoric coming out of this administration when it comes to trade policy. Sweden’s whole economy is based on the fact that our trade is open: 45 percent of our GDP comes from exports, and we don’t believe that the world economy or the job situation would be better if we close borders or raise tariffs. And I think our example proves that. We will see now what happens with these NAFTA discussions. We would’ve liked to have seen matters going forward on TTIP (Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership). We believe that the United States and Europe really forge a very close trade relationship because we are each other’s biggest markets. Absolutely, that’s a concern we have. For the moment, we’re monitoring the situation:

Ludovic Marin/AFP/Getty Images

Sweden’s Prime Minister Stefan Lofven (R) speaks next to President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker during the European Social Summit in Gothenburg, Sweden, on November 17, 2017.

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it’s rhetoric right now. The proof will be in what happens with NAFTA, and how that’s handled in the end.

Diplomatic Connections: How much time do you spend – or do you intend to spend -- on the road?

Ambassador Olofsdotter: Like in most countries, the capital is not the rest of the country, and it’s the same with the U.S. It’s extremely important to get out and meet people.

The United States is like a continent almost: there are so many different parts with different challenges. In the embassy, we’re going to try and identify which are the five or ten most important areas to attract investment to Sweden and visit those places.

Diplomatic Connections: When young Swedish diplomats ask you what it’s like to work in the United States, what advice do you give them?

Ambassador Olofsdotter: That it’s great! The challenge here is that there are 192 embassies, the competition

is extra stiff, and to get access to the politicians in this town is not easy. You really have to have a selling point to make your country interesting, so that your American counterparts really want to meet you and listen to you. One has to be even more on one’s toes here, compared to other posts, because this is the capital of the world.

Diplomatic Connections: Does being a woman help?

Ambassador Olofsdotter: Always helps. There are fewer of us, we stick out in a crowd, and then if you are serious, it’s just an advantage. Of course, if all ambassadors were women, it would be great to be a man.

Diplomatic Connections: How has the foreign service changed in the years since you joined?

Ambassador Olofsdotter: Very much. In general, embassies have less staff. In a posting where there are two or three diplomats, you have to be able to fix the radiator, go meet the King at the airport, write a good report, and be

Jonas Ekstromer/AFP/Getty Images

(L-R) European Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmstrom, Swedish Minister for Employment and Integration Ylva Johansson and European Union Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility Marianne Thyssen take part in a citizen’s dialogue at the School of Business, Economics and Law at the University of Gothenburg on November 16, 2017, on the eve of the EU Social Summit for Fair Jobs and Growth.

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David Becker/Getty Images Joan Cros Garcia/Corbis via Getty Images

Designer phone cases are displayed from the iDeal company of Sweden.

Ericsson display their robot technology for surgery operations during the Mobile World Congress, on February 28, 2017 in Barcelona, Spain.

host for dinner in the evening of the same day. Before, it wasn’t like that. You have to be much more of an all-round person. Washington is a huge embassy, and there are people here for most things.

reporting. In the past, an ambassador’s reporting would often contain news (to the ministry). Now Stockholm knows what’s happening the same time as you do, so we have to do deep and long-term analysis.

Diplomatic Connections: Presumably, technology has also had an impact.

Diplomatic Connections: Do you think that technology could advance to a degree where the presence of an ambassador would no longer be necessary, and could, for example, be replaced by a hologram?

Ambassador Olofsdotter: Technology has changed things.

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Swedish telecommunication equipment maker Ericsson’s CEO Borje Ekholm during a press conference at Ericssons headquaters in Stockholm, Sweden on January 26, 2017.

Ambassador Olofsdotter: No because I still think that a personal meeting makes such a difference. That’s why I think that in diplomacy, the notion of food is very important. When you eat together, you are creating a totally different relationship. Maybe you can do video conferences some of the time, but for the real

meetings, you have to have people. I can’t imagine a hologram of me.

Diplomatic Connections: Thank you, Ambassador Olofsdotter.

It’s been a very interesting interview and we appreciate your highly-valued time.

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Volvo is a very large international company. Here attendees look at Volvo SUVs during the auto trade show AutoMobility LA at the Los Angeles Convention Center on November 30, 2017, in Los Angeles, California.

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Swedish design engineer Mikael Kjellman sits inside his Podride, a motorized, four-wheel hybrid bicycle designed for all weather use.

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France’s President Emmanuel Macron and Sweden’s Prime Minister Stefan Lofven speak to employees during a visit to the Volvo Campus Lundby of the Swedish carmaker.

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“A Romantic Escape Under the Stars in the Heart of Beverly Hills”

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SPOTLIGHT FROM FAMED CELEBRITIES TO NOTABLE GOODWILL DIPLOMATS AND AMBASSADORS CONTRIBUTING TO GLOBAL HUMANITARIANISM IN 2017 ON

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Actor Laurence Fishburne (C) with attendees at UNICEF's Evening For Children First at The Foundry At Puritan Mill on March 17, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Hollywood actress and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Priyanka Chopra poses for a portrait after a press conference on May 07, 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Chopra was visiting the region to highlight challenges faced by children affected by abuse and violence.

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(L-R) Spanish professional basketball player Felipe Reyes, Spanish soccer player Javier Martos and Spanish film actor Eduardo Noriega present the campaign #Cierra UNICEF on March 9, 2017 in Madrid, Spain.

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(L-R) Caryl M. Stern, Nicole Kidman, Tina Brown, Sunny Pawar and Dev Patel attend Caryl M. Stern & The U.S. Fund for UNICEF, Tina Brown and Sofia Coppola host a screening and reception for “Lion” at The Monkey Bar on January 4, 2017 in New York City.

Finley Faith Sehorn, UNICEF Ambassador honoree Angie Harmon, Emery Hope Sehorn and Avery Grace Sehorn at the fourth annual UNICEF Audrey Hepburn® Society Ball on May 24, 2017 in Houston, Texas.

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SPOTLIGHT ON

Nicole Kidman attends The U.S. Fund for UNICEF with Caryl Stern.

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Evander Holyfield (R) and Corinne Eckhert (L) present the UNICEF Safeguarding Children in Sport award to Margaret Sheehan of Pass It Back during the Beyond Sport Global Awards on July 26, 2017 in New York City.

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Child actor Sunny Pawar and co-anchor of CBS This Morning, Gayle King attend The U.S. Fund for UNICEF with Caryl Stern.

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SPOTLIGHT ON

American Gymnast Nastia Liukin attends the Beyond Sport Global Awards on July 26, 2017 in New York City.

Omar Mitchell, Mike Richter attend the Beyond Sport Global Awards on July 26, 2017 in New York City.

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Felipe Reyes and Eduardo Noriega present the campaign #Cierra UNICEF on March 9, 2017 in Madrid, Spain.

SPOTLIGHT ON

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Oprah and motivational speaker Mpumi Nobiva pose for a photo at WE Day California to celebrate young people changing the world at The Forum on April 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.

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Singer Alicia Keys attends WE Day California to celebrate young people changing the world at The Forum on April 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.

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Host of WE Day California, actress/singer and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Selena Gomez attends WE Day California to celebrate young people changing the world at The Forum on April 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.

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Singer/actor Demi Lovato attends WE Day California to celebrate young people changing the world at The Forum on April 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.

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Host of WE Day California, actress/singer and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Selena Gomez attends WE Day California to celebrate young people changing the world at The Forum on April 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.

SPOTLIGHT ON Voice actors from the animated movie “Smurfs: The Lost Village” attend a special event for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the United Nations headquarters in New York. From left to right: Mandy Patinkin, (Papa Smurf), Demi Lovato (Smurfette) and Joe Manganiello (Hefty).

UN Photo/Mark Garten

Voice actors from the animated movie “Smurfs: The Lost Village” joined officials from the United Nations, UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Foundation at the UN headquarters in New York to celebrate the International Day of Happiness (March 20) with a campaign promoting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The “Small Smurfs Big Goals” campaign is designed to encourage young people everywhere to learn about and support the 17 Sustainable Development Goals to help make the world more peaceful, equitable and healthy. Joe Manganiello, Demi Lovato, and Mandy Patinkin, actors who voice roles in the movie "Smurfs: The Lost Village," give an interview to a UN Radio producer during the event.

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Voice actors from the animated movie “Smurfs: The Lost Village” joined officials from the United Nations, UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Foundation at the UN headquarters in New York to celebrate the International Day of Happiness (March 20) with a campaign promoting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The “Small Smurfs Big Goals” campaign is designed to encourage young people everywhere to learn about and support the 17 Sustainable Development Goals to help make the world more peaceful, equitable and healthy. Mandy Patinkin (right), actor who voices Papa Smurf in the movie “Smurfs: The Lost Village,” thanks three SDG Youth Advocates Noor Samee, Karen Jarath and Sarina Divan, for their work in encouraging and energizing their communities. Ms. Divan holds a symbolic key to the Smurfs Village presented to the three

by Cristina Gallach (center), Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, in recognition of their work. Also pictured: Demi Lovato (left), actor who voices Smurfette, and Joe Manganiello (second from right), actor who voices Hefty.

(L-R) Demi Lovato (Smurfette), Mandy Patinkin (Papa Smurf) and Joe Manganiello (Hefty).

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Diplomatic Connections with The JW Marriott Essex House in New York City wish to formally thank H.E. João Vale de Almeida, Ambassador of the European Union Delegation to the United Nations, for making the opening remarks at our New York International Diplomat Appreciation ReceptionTM D I P L O M AT I C C O N N E C T I O N S B U S I N E S S E D I T I O N | J A N U A R Y – F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8

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Jelena Vujic, Press, Information, Coordination and Assistant to H.E. João Vale de Almeida, Ambassador of the European Union Delegation to the United Nations with Robert Nagys, Senior Sales Executive – Diplomatic, JW Marriott Essex House New York

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“ONE OF THE MOST PROSPEROUS COUNTRIES IN THE EUROPEAN UNION” A conversation with Ireland’s Ambassador Daniel Mulhall

By Roland Flamini

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hen the United Kingdom joined the European Union in the 1970s Ireland joined as well because the close economic and social relationship between the two countries made it virtually inevitable. But Irish Ambassador Daniel Mulhall told Diplomatic Connections in an interview that his country has no intention of following the U.K. out of the union once Brexit takes effect in 2019. Membership has been the main factor in Ireland’s transformation from being “an outlier in economic terms to being one of the most prosperous countries in the European Union,” Mulhall said. Still, for the Irish, Brexit raises issues of close proximity, and the future of Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom. It’s as if a next door neighbor who shares a common wall decides to demolish his home: how much collateral damage will result? In Washington, Ambassador Mulhall’s role extends to keeping in touch with the enormous Irish-American community. In the 1950s Irish-American ties with the home country were romantically portrayed in the John Wayne movie The Quiet Man. But if that may have been a true picture at the time, today, Irish-U.S. relations are reflected in burgeoning bi-lateral trade which totals $100 billion a year. Mulhall’s message to Americans is “We are no longer a poor country. We’re a fully developed country and an attractive market.” This he tweets in daily facts about the Irish economy, but also in verses of Irish poetry.

Mulhall combines diplomacy with an interest in writing and lecturing about Ireland’s rich literary heritage.

Diplomatic Connections: What are the Irish expectations from an eventual Brexit deal?

Ambassador Mulhall: There’s an absolute determination in Ireland on two points. The first is that we will remain a fully subscribed member of the European Union, and we have committed ourselves to the future of Ireland being a part of the European Union. That enjoys, by the 62

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way, a very, very high level of public support. The last poll showed 88 percent of the Irish electorate being in favor of the European Union, despite the fact that Britain in the coming years will be leaving the EU. Second point is, we’re absolutely determined to avoid any hardening of the open border [between Ireland and Northern ireland] which is a great dividend of the peace process, and an important part of the framework to maintain peace and stability in Northern Ireland, and we will not allow any change on that border which would be very disruptive economically and politically. The third point is we want to minimize the impact on Ireland of Britain leaving the European Union, on British-Irish relations, and on the European Union because obviously this is a big moment for the EU: losing a big member state is not a happy situation.

Diplomatic Connections: In other words, no customs – Ambassador Mulhall: No customs between Ireland north and south. Now, we don’t yet know what the final outcome of the Brexit negotiations will be, because they’re only starting now. And we don’t know what the final decision of the British government will be. At the moment, the British government say they want to leave the market and the customs union, whether that will be their position in one or two years from now is another matter. I still hope that the British might decide in the end that membership of the customs union makes more sense, and that there might be a re-visiting of that issue, because clearly a lot of people in Britain are now having some misgivings about the disruption that will be caused by the kind of customs arrangement that will be necessary between Britain and the continent of Europe.

Diplomatic Connections: Do the British even know what they want?

Ambassador Mulhall: At the moment their position seems to be to leave the customs union, but I would hope that the

H.E. DANIEL MULHALL AMBASSADOR OF IRELAND TO THE UNITED STATES

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complexity of challenges involved in leaving the customs union will start to weigh on people, and will start to create second thoughts about that issue.

Diplomatic Connections: What about the movement of Irish citizens in Britain and vice-versa, once Britain leaves the European Union?

Ambassador Mulhall: That’s never been an issue. The British have always said they will continue to operate a common travel area between Britain and Ireland, which effectively allows British and Irish people to move back and forth between the two countries. They have rights which are almost equivalent of being citizens of the other country: to live and work there, to vote in elections. The border, obviously, was an issue in the past few months. But the status of Irish people in Britain and British people in Ireland has never been in question.

Diplomatic Connections: As part of a State Department inclination to cut back on the number of special envoys, the Trump administration seems to be considering not continuing to appoint an American envoy to Northern Ireland, as there has been in the past. What’s the Irish position on that?

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Ambassador Mulhall: We’d like to see an envoy appointed.

The United States has played a very constructive role in the Irish peace process over the last 30 years. I was actually in Belfast myself for the final stages of the negotiations and I can vividly remember, late at night, a call from the White House, which had a significant effect because clearly for politicians from Northern Ireland to receive a phone call from the White House, the most important political figure in the world…

Diplomatic Connections: Was that President Clinton or President Bush?

Ambassador Mulhall: It was Clinton at the time, but it happened with other presidents as well. And that is part of a long and honorable American involvement in supporting the cause of peace and reconciliation in Ireland. That role, and that influence is still relevant in the view of my government. We would like to see [the administration] appoint an envoy because it would be a symbolic expression of the continued interest of the United States administration and the Congress in what’s happening in Northern Ireland.

Laura Hutton/PA Images via Getty Images

Ireland’s Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Donald Tusk, President of the European Union Council, shake hands in Dublin.

Diplomatic Connections: What would be a U.S. envoy’s role in the present situation?

Ambassador Mulhall: What it would involve is someone going there who would symbolize the continuing commitment of the U.S. administration, and the United States generally, to peace in Ireland, and someone who could perhaps play some sort of mediating role. We’re not suggesting that (a former U.S. Senator and envoy to Northern Ireland) George Mitchell is relevant any more because we’re not at that stage. The gap between the parties now is relatively limited.

Diplomatic Connections: There is, however, a deadlock in the political situation in Ulster.

Ambassador Mulhall: Definitely. What’s happened now is that relations between the parties have been affected over the last year or so by various things, and they haven’t been able to agree to the re-establishment of the Northern Ireland Executive (the Northern Ireland government). But the concern that’s up front is the issue of the status of the

Irish language, which has become a stumbling bloc, but we’re not talking about the need for a talks process of the kind that George Mitchell was involved in. He had to construct a framework for peace and stability in Northern Ireland.

Diplomatic Connections: Is this an attempt to establish bi-linguality?

Ambassador Mulhall: Northern Irish nationalists see the Irish language as a central part of their identity, and they want a separate Irish Language Act to provide status for the Irish language in Northern Ireland. The Democratic Unionist Party sees this as somehow a threat to their image of what Northern Ireland should be, the British-ness of Northern Ireland. It’s a question of giving the Irish language a status, defined in an act of parliament. It didn’t prove possible in the last round of talks to resolve this issue. It’s assumed that another effort will be made in the new year, and in that regard, obviously the influence of the United States would continue to be helpful.

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Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Ireland’s Prime Minister (Taoiseach) Leo Varadkar (Center) joined by the Deputy PM (Tánaiste) and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Coveney, and the Minister of State for European Affairs, Helen McEntee, makes a statement on Phase I of the Brexit negotiations on December 4, 2017, in Dublin, Ireland.

Diplomatic Connections: Is there an envoy at the moment?

Ambassador Mulhall: There isn’t an envoy, no. But at the moment there’s no U.S. ambassador in Ireland, and probably the priority would be to have an ambassador, and then perhaps the envoy would come later. I daresay an ambassador in Ireland would probably discover that the Irish government is quite keen to have an envoy.

Diplomatic Connections: Other than this pending issue of the envoy, how do you find bi-lateral relations?

Ambassador Mulhall: Bi-lateral relations here are extremely good. Uniquely in my experience, we have a community of people in this country who identify with Ireland in different ways and in different intensities, who are descended from Irish immigrants who came here, but who have retained some sense of Irish-ness which you don’t find, for example, in Britain and in many other places where the Irish have settled, and that’s a very positive and powerful asset for Ireland. The economic relationship between our two countries has blossomed in the last 50 years. We now have 700 American companies who have invested in Ireland 66

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employing about 150,000 people amongst them. The trade between our two countries is now up to $100 billion a year. Moreover, that trade is quite balanced. We have a surplus in manufacturing goods, and the U.S. has a surplus in services. And then in recent years we’ve seen this increasingly strong trend of Irish companies investing in the United States, and we now have 400 Irish companies who have investments in the United States, employing 100,000 people. That trend is growing: most of those companies have come here in the last four or five years.

Diplomatic Connections: Would Brexit affect this in some way?

Ambassador Mulhall: Brexit will mean two things. For American companies looking at a base in Europe, Ireland will be the ideal place because Britain no longer has quite the same attraction from that point of view. And then for Irish companies who might have been considering, in the past, investing in Britain, they might see Britain as a little bit more questionable – it’s moving in a certain direction, it’s leaving the European Union. It’s no longer what it once was, and I think a lot more companies will start looking at

America as a place for their investment opportunities. The economic relationship is a two-way relationship. It benefits both countries, in terms of trade back and forth across the Atlantic, and in terms of investment back and forth across the Atlantic. We’re no longer a poor country; we’re now a fully developed country and an attractive market.

thousands, and there’s a lot of interest in Ireland in trying to regularize the status of those people, and also in getting a pathway for Irish people to come to the U.S. with a visa program. It would be great if our community here could be refreshed by new people coming in. A few thousand a year would probably be interested in coming.

Diplomatic Connections: But your number one trading partner is still the European Union collectively, is it not?

Diplomatic Connections: But isn’t there now a greater interest in staying in Ireland?

Ambassador Mulhall: Roughly, it’s forty, twenty, twenty, twenty. Forty percent EU, twenty percent UK, twenty percent U.S., twenty percent the rest of the world. So yes, the eurozone is by far our biggest trading partner, and that’s why for Irish people it makes huge sense for Ireland to continue to be a member of the European Union, and that’s why we think that Britain has made a serious mistake in deciding to leave the EU – but that’s their business. We can comment on it, but it’s their decision.

Ambassador Mulhall: Yes, because the economy is booming. But you’d probably still find that if there was a visa program, four or five thousand would want to come each year.

Diplomatic Connections: Does the administration’s tougher approach to immigration affect the Irish community in the U.S. in any way?

Ambassador Mulhall: There are some Irish people whose status is not as regularized. They are in the tens of

Diplomatic Connections: Eastern European immigrants in Ireland (Polish is now the second language in Ireland) have not aroused the same resentment as they did in the U.K. Why? Ambassador Mulhall: There’s a higher percentage in Ireland of people born outside the state than there is in Britain.

Seventeen percent of our population was born outside the Irish state, and it’s about 15 percent in Britain. We actually have a slightly bigger percentage of immigrants in Ireland than they have in Britain, but there hasn’t been any public expression of resentment against this development.

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Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images

European Union leaders gather at the start of a meeting with EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier (C,R) on the second day of a European Union summit in Brussels on December 15, 2017.

Twenty years ago, the figure was about two percent, so we’ve gone from being a country which is essentially, exclusively Irish born people to now being a country which is quite diverse, and people seem to view this as positive.

I can only attribute this to the Irish always having been a country of immigrants, and we all know the stories about how the Irish were badly received in many places where they settled, including in the United States. This has taught people a lesson that the foreigners are not always to blame, and it’s made us a more tolerant nation.

Diplomatic Connections: The 2008 financial meltdown hit Ireland badly.

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Ambassador Mulhall: Yes, because we’re an open economy.

Open economies do very well when the global economy is doing well. When the global economy contracts, they are vulnerable in the extreme. Look at the facts: In 1973 when we joined the European Union our per capita GDP was about 60-65 percent of the European average. Today, it’s somewhere between 110-120 percent. We have gone from being an outlier in European economic terms to being one of the most prosperous countries in the European Union. People therefore know that European membership overall has been a great boost for us. We are comfortable with globalization, we have a strong, enduring sense of our own identity which

is not threatened by people coming in from outside. The best example of this is sport. We have our own native sports culture: In most countries of the world, the big game is soccer. In Ireland, the big game is Gaelic football and hurling, massively popular, and they help to define people’s sense of identity.

a Gaelic Park in New York, one in Chicago, and one in Boston, and there are clubs all over the country, but I don’t think that Gaelic games are a defining element of the Irish abroad, although for younger people they tend to be.

Diplomatic Connections: To what extent is Gaelic football and hurling popular among Irish-Americans?

Diplomatic Connections: Can one still call the Irish American community a diaspora, or are the Irish so widespread and so deeply integrated into the fabric of American society that they are beyond that characterization?

Ambassador Mulhall: A little bit. It didn’t transfer with the Irish who came in the 19th century because at that time the games themselves were still developing, emerging from the mists of time. They’ve always been here: there’s

Ambassador Mulhall: I have been impressed in the last three months by the commitment of Irish Americans to their Irish heritage. I don’t see it as an inevitable consequence of having an Irish background that you should connect with

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Ireland, or identify with Ireland in the way that people here do. Before I came I had the impression that Irish America was withering a bit. Actually my experience of it has had the effect of boosting my sense of what Irish America really is, and there’s a genuine affection and concern for Ireland in the hearts of many people who are removed from Ireland for three, four, five generations. We’re one of the few countries in Europe that has that sense of community. Think of other European countries and ask yourself do any of them have the kind of sense of their country’s identity in America that exists with the Irish? I don’t know for sure because I haven’t investigated this, but I doubt that. The Irish are one of the founding people of modern America. We’re one of the populations that molded America, most other populations came here in smaller numbers.

Diplomatic Connections: But do you find that the Irish American perception of Ireland is behind the times?

Ambassador Mulhall: A little, but I understand that. I always say to people, whatever image of Ireland you cherish, that’s valid. The landscape of The Quiet Man [John Wayne 1952 movie] is still there, but it’s no longer relevant. I try to tell the story of modern Ireland as I see it: that’s my job. But I’m not going to tell somebody who has a different view of Ireland, maybe more Quiet Manish, that their view is invalid. But these days 10 percent of all Americans who go to Europe go to Ireland, so many more Americans are exposed to Ireland. And also, of course, people can actually access knowledge of Ireland through the internet. A lot of universities in America have specializations in Irish studies because there’s a native interest here.

Diplomatic Connections: What do you see as your role in Washington?

Ambassador Mulhall: My role is to inform people about Ireland, connect with the Irish community in the United States, and basically tell our story, and I do that through twitter and through my blog. I’m going to do a series of blogs about Irish-American history. I tweet every day. I like to be open, I don’t subscribe to the idea of diplomacy as kind of a secret craft that’s conducted behind closed doors and in narrow corridors. I believe diplomacy is in part at least, a public discipline. I tweet lines of poetry every day.

Diplomatic Connections: So what were today’s?

Ambassador Mulhall: Today I tweeted some lines from William Butler Yeats, which finished with the line “Caught in the cold snows of a dream.” I also tweeted a link to a blog that I posted yesterday about William Howard Russell [1820-1907, Irish-born foreign correspondent of the London Times] and the American Civil War. He was at the Battle of Bull Run, and I happened to be there recently and I read his diaries. He reported on all the major conflicts of the 19th century. I will also probably tweet some stuff about the Irish economy.

Diplomatic Connections: Who is your favorite Irish writer?

Ambassador Mulhall: W.B. Yeats is the one I’ve written about, and talked about. James Joyce, I’m very keen on his work. Of the contemporary writers, Colin Toibin I know quite well, Colum McCann – I’m reading his Transatlantic [explores Ireland and U.S.] and then there are some very good young writers as well, Donal Ryan, obviously Sebastian Barry, Kevin Barry. We’re good story tellers. In the 20th century there were four Irish Nobel Prize winners for literature: Will we get four in the 21st century? Who knows.

Diplomatic Connections: Thank you for your time, Ambassador Mulhall; I’ve very much enjoyed speaking with you.

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John Stillwell - WPA Pool /Getty Image

Ambassador Mulhall presenting his credentials to Queen Elizabeth II on becoming Ireland’s envoy at the Court of St. James, his previous post before Washington.

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mbassador interviews are most of what Diplomatic Connections does in the world of publishing; however, in this dialogue, we meet and get acquainted with New York’s French Consul General, Anne-Claire Legendre, to get a nonpolitical viewpoint of what purpose a Consulate in New York City serves for the French population living in one of the most prominent cities of the United States.

Diplomatic Connections: How and when did your career in diplomacy begin?

Consul General Legendre: It has been more than ten years ago that I entered the foreign ministry. In France, we have to pass an exam to enter this ministry. I took Arabic for this exam which is called the “Concours d’Orient,” so this is why I have developed the specialty in Arabic and in the Middle East. Since, I have been working a great deal on this region including many other equally as interesting sectors as well.

After ten years, I’m now very happy to be here in New York City as the Consul General.

Diplomatic Connections: How did you come to be a diplomat in New York?

Consul General Legendre: As you know in a diplomatic career, one has to change postings every three to four years which is an accepted part of this chosen profession. I have had different types of jobs; however previously, I was doing primarily negotiations. One very exciting opportunity availed itself working as a special advisor to our foreign minister. To be posted to the United Nations was something I had very much hoped for and, as you know of course, its headquarters is in New York. I so enjoy the city and to return in this capacity was at the top of my list as one of my most anticipated achievements aspired for and towards. So when the position of Consul General in New York City was presented to me; without question, I seized the opportunity, was most appreciative and continue to be extraordinarily enthusiastic about being here.

Diplomatic Connections: What is the anticipated length of stay for your particular posting here in New York?

Consul General Legendre: It is my hope to stay four years.

Diplomatic Connections: How do you define the mission of a consulate in general and for your nation specifically?

Consul General Legendre: The mission of a consulate is twofold. The most essential role and purpose is of course to take care of the French community. There are more than 80,000 French citizens residing here; this population is not 74

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only comprised of those in New York City but encompasses the entire state of New York including Connecticut and New Jersey as well as Bermuda. Our job and most fundamental task is to take care of them, to protect their interest, to provide them with services such as a passport, ID, but also to give consular protections in case they are detained in any U.S. facility. So that’s our principal role and function at the mission. The second one is to promote a friend’s interest in the jurisdiction. And so you have an entire scope of interest ranging from cultural to educational activities, to business relationships with the city of New York and the entire economic environment here.

Diplomatic Connections: What is the Consulate’s role in New York versus another city in the United States?

Consul General Legendre: Our assignment is with the specificity of New York City; therefore, as you know it’s a financial hub and our greatest priority is to attract financial investors back to Paris. New York City is not just the economy capital of the United States, it is also a cultural capital. So it’s imperative for us to maintain a continuous presence in the cultural scene and to be visible in the media; thus, to make the greatest impact we can concerning all things French, we make a huge concerted effort to contribute and participate in everything we are possibly able to in this wonderful city. It directly and indirectly translates to U.S. media and that reveals the perception of France in the United States.

Diplomatic Connections: How is the French consulate organized specifically in New York?

Consul General Legendre: We have a team of about 37 to 40 people working daily in the Consulate General here in New York. In addition to what I mentioned before, we are also working on economic interests as well as there is a political team that focuses on innovation and promotion at the French deck ecosystem.

Diplomatic Connections: How is the French economic collaboration with the United States?

Consul General Legendre: I would say that the French collaboration with the United States in terms of an economic relationship is really good. Of course we have very strong exchanges in terms of exports and imports; this is a very balanced relationship if you compare it to other countries. For instance, if you look at job creation on both sides of the Atlantic, French companies in the U.S. create more than 500,000 jobs in this nation; correspondingly, U.S. companies create more than 450,000 jobs in France. Hence,

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you see that there is a great balance and truly mutually beneficial components to this relationship amongst our two countries. In a brief summary, our foremost goal here in the United States is to advance and develop an even greater alliance while simultaneously reinforcing and strengthening the relationship. This is actually working very well in New York City; since comparatively, France is the largest foreign investor in the local economy than any other country as of 2016.

Diplomatic Connections: What is the role of the consulate when you have elections in your country?

Consul General Legendre: The role of the consulate is to help and facilitate the electoral process for our citizens.

Last year both presidential and legislative elections were held and we had to organize polling stations to allow our citizens, which were registered, to vote at the consulate and other places. So it took us quite a long time to prepare, more than six months in advance, we had to recruit many volunteers to assist in organizing and setting up the polling stations, which were in most cases setup in the schools and then we went to full weekends during the presidential election and then for the legislative election. That was really intense work for us and for the entire consulate team.

Diplomatic Connections: How does the consulate participate in the cultural and touristic promotion of your nation in the United States?

Consul General Legendre: The Consulate works very closely with two entities. We have a cultural service that is also located on fifth avenue; conjointly, we have an agency that specializes in promoting tourism. We work in tandem with them in order to spread the word about French culture as well as French tourism. Unfortunately, as you know, we had to face a series of attacks in France and we had a drop in tourism from the U.S., but now it’s really picking up again and I believe this year will be fantastic in terms of American tourism in France. We continually have many events in New York City and throughout the nation to promote our beloved country.

Diplomatic Connections: What services does the consulate offer to your country’s nationals residing in your district as well as visiting tourists?

Consul General Legendre: Providing the best possible services to and for our citizens is our mission; protecting them is a vital part of the mandate of a consulate. We provide consular protection to our citizens; for instance, if 76

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someone is arrested by the NYPD and we get a call from them, provisions are made for proper consular protection.

If they are detained in a U.S. Facility, we go and visit them regularly to give them information and news from their family. Additionally, we try to help them to be in contact with their lawyers. So we are constantly facilitating all those services in terms of respective security including social protection. Real life in New York City is not always easy, we have this dream idea of coming to New York and making it a success, but it’s a little bit harder for some people. They can end up in a very difficult position so we’re here to help them to try to see what kind of services from New York State and/or New York City they might be able to benefit from in their particular circumstances. There are times we help them to be repatriated to France in case of mental illness and such. That is the first part. Then we have also administrative services. First we register our citizens because it’s important for us to know who they are and where they live. We do this in case of an emergency, we need to attain all information we possibly can to better react to a crisis such as a terrorist attack or even something such as weather conditions; there are many different situations. We provide the same services, in the same way, that they would receive in France; for example, attaining passports, identity cards and the like. All those administrative procedures are being facilitated by the consulate here in New York City.

Diplomatic Connections: How can the consulate help those who are not French citizens planning to travel to your country?

Consul General Legendre: We have a great website so I encourage you to go to our website (newyork.consulfrance. org/) and to also connect by going to the foreign ministry website (www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/) because there is a lot of very useful information for those who want to travel to the U.S. or to France. American citizens do not need a visa to travel for short term to France; although, if they wish to stay longer or if they want to study in France or even open a business there, our website is extremely informative and can easily answer a good number of general questions. We are always ready here to help them to facilitate the process. France is a very open country and we want to attract more foreign students, investors and entrepreneurs. They are very welcome in our country.

Diplomatic Connections: What would the difference be if you were to make suggestions for a tourist versus someone going there on business?

Consul General Legendre: For a U.S. tourist it’s very easy to go to France because a visa is not required; that makes everything rather uncomplicated. You can check the website and see what kind of advice you can find. We have plenty of cultural recommendations that would make your stay in France better, more playful, more enjoyable.

For the business entrepreneur or someone who wants to go and set up a business in France or to have exchanges with a French company, we have a great agency that is dedicated to supporting those kinds of exchanges between France and the United States, it’s called Business France and they are really informative for all business leaders who want to connect and wish to invest in France. They are well prepared to help entrepreneurs and investors in facilitating all the administrative procedures or visa related items and so on. They are there to help them set up their business in France.

Most recently, we have established quite a few reforms that have been implemented to create a business-friendly environment to assist those entrepreneurs and investors who want to come to our country.

Diplomatic Connections: You spoke earlier of cultural events being a top point of focus, are there any organized by the consulate that are upcoming you’d like to mention? Are they open to the public?

Consul General Legendre: We have plenty of events, both with the cultural services and with the consulate. I can mention some of them; for instance, we held a tech fest on December 14th where we organized and focused on all our tech ecosystem programs. Young French entrepreneurs from our ecosystem met entrepreneurs from the U.S. ecosystems. We also have parties at the Consulate, in an upcoming reception we will have a very special guest star, Thomas Pesquet, a famous French astronaut and a presentation of his incredible experience in space will be highlighted. This is an event not to be missed! We will have many others but perhaps I can mention some that

I am really looking forward to this coming year. Towards the end of January, a “Night of Philosophy” will be hosted and organized by the cultural services department. It’s certain to be a wonderful evening of intellectual discussion and a great opportunity to listen to some amazing speakers both from the U.S. and from France about topics of politics, economics and, of course, philosophy. It will make a really great night of ideas, that you can share with your neighbors; the public library of Brooklyn will be the location. We are very attached to our values and promoting diversity and equality, so on another occasion we will hold, with the consulate of Canada, the New York Stock Exchange and the New York Economic Club, an event dedicated to the promotion of women on corporate leadership and on corporate boards; addressing issues such as: How can we empower women for them to be better represented in companies?

How can we help them go through the hierarchy to be, at one point, a board member?

Diplomatic Connections: If you had a message for our readers specifically concerning your country, what would it be and why?

Consul General Legendre: If I had one message it would be that France is back! We have a very attractive country. Sometimes people don’t see or don’t know what’s going on in France. I would really encourage your readers to learn about France, to get in touch with our institutions. We have French tech that is booming; we have investments that are coming back. Our new government is highly committed to making exchanges with the U.S., economically dynamic and relevant to other aspects, also culturally speaking. So please come over and take notice of what France is becoming. We are a young innovative country and we want you to come and see it yourself!

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A marble statue of Britain’s Queen Victoria is pictured in the gardens of Kensington Palace in west London on November 27, 2017, following the announcement of the engagement of Britain’s Prince Harry to American actress Meghan Markle.

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I was brought up with a social conscience to do what I could and speak up when I knew something was wrong.” So said Meghan Markle, the Hollywood actress now officially engaged to Prince Harry, fifth in line to the British throne.

The star of a popular television series, Markle had openly voiced her views on U.S. politics (no prizes for guessing who she opposed in the presidential election), women’s rights, humanitarian issues, and – more recently – Brexit. But as a new addition to the British royal family, it will be goodbye to such advocacy, or most of it.

This is one of the many ways Meghan Markle’s world is about to change when she marries Prince Harry. “She is going to have to be politically neutral,” Dickie Arbiter, a former press secretary to Prince Charles, was quoted as saying following the royal engagement announcement.

“Harry has probably made that perfectly clear. He knows she has been outspoken, but all that has to stop.”

Queen Elizabeth II has distanced the British constitutional monarchy from direct involvement in politics, and other Windsor family members are equally expected to keep their political views private. Markle will be expected

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Prince Harry stands with his fiancée actress Meghan Markle as she shows off her engagement ring while they pose for a photograph in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace in west London on November 27, 2017, following the announcement of their engagement.

to get involved in some of the many royal charities, but only ones that are politics free – although the UN is hoping that she will remain as an ambassador for UNWomen, the world body’s movement for gender equality.

In their joint press conference in November, it was clear that Prince Harry has warned his bride-to-be of the seismic changes in her life, with her now ended acting career on one side, and the protocol laden existence of a royal princess on the other. She is not likely to have that title officially, but the rules still apply, and the learning curve is steep and at times arcane. She will have to learn why her husband’s aunt, Princess Anne, has the military title of Gold Stick in Waiting, and she may find herself sitting next to a cabinet minister known as the Lord Privy Seal even though he or she – as the joke goes -- is neither a lord, nor a privy, and certainly not a seal. Within days of her engagement announcement the former star of the Suits television series was in Nottingham with Prince Harry embarked on her new career of hand shakes, royal waves, tree plantings and ribbon cuttings.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pose for one of two official engagement photos at Frogmore House on December 21, 2017 in Windsor, United Kingdom.

And this despite the fact that the younger generation of royals, led by Prince William and Prince Harry, has considerably relaxed the behavioral patterns inside the monarch’s family. For example, Prince Charles remains firmly encased in his impeccably tailored double-breasted suits, but both William and Harry are casual dressers, frequently appearing in public without neckties, and even on occasion jacket-less. At his joint press conference with Markle, Harry sported a trendy designer stubble.

The days of loveless, strategic marriages in which princes and princesses were expected to marry other princes and princesses, regardless of nationality are long gone. But if Prince William broke new ground by his choice of a commoner as his wife and Britain’s future queen (that is, a non-royal and not even, like the prince’s own mother, Princess Diana, a member of the nobility), his younger brother Harry has pushed the boundaries much farther by proposing to a woman described by The Daily Telegraph, a conservative newspaper, as, “a divorcee, mixed-race Hollywood actress who attended a Roman Catholic school.”

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pose for one of two official engagement photos at Frogmore House on December 21, 2017 in Windsor, United Kingdom.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace on November 27, 2017 in London, England. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been a couple officially since November 2016 and are due to marry in Spring 2018.

Such a sentence, the paper went on, “could simply not have been written a generation ago.”

Given that the queen’s approval was required, it’s fair to say that Prince Harry’s engagement to Meghan Markle was an indication that the royal family who until relatively recently barred unions with commoners, Catholics, and divorced people – not to mention nonwhites – had finally caught up with the country’s racial diversity (Time magazine caused a stir by calling Britain a multi-racial country as far back as 1979).

At the end of the day the engagement was the happy outcome of two young people falling in love, as the couple strove to emphasize in their press conference. But (1) for the media the romance of an English prince and a Hollywood actress is the ultimate story of the celebrity narrative; the kind of event People magazine editors dreamed of but never imagined happening. (2) The royal family is woven into the fabric of British society, and inevitably, the announcement has sparked a debate on its broader impact.

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American actress Meghan Markle visits Nottingham for her first official public engagement with fiancé Prince Harry on December 1, 2017 in Nottingham, England. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their engagement on November 27, 2017 and will marry at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle in May 2018.

Jeremy Selwyn - WPA Pool/Getty Images

The British writer and broadcaster Afua Hirsch seemed to argue it both ways. “Few will not be transformed in real terms by the arrival of a beautiful American actress in Kensington Palace,” she predicted. But also, “If Prince Harry has wanted to find a way to make his role more relevant in modern Britain and … if engagements are meant to bring people together, this one is doing just that.”

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are also being seen as a symbol of the so-called “special relationship” between the U.S. and the United Kingdom, and couldn’t have come at a better time to counter the public squabble between London and Washington over President Trump’s re-tweet of anti-Muslim footage of highly dubious authenticity originally sent out by a right-wing British group.

Many reports have pointed out that Markle is not the first American to become engaged to a member of the British royal family.

That distinction goes to Wallis Simpson, also a divorcee, whose affair with King Edward VIII led to a constitutional crisis and his decision to abdicate in 1936 when the British parliament blocked their marriage because of Simpson’s divorce.

Marriage to Edward (later known as the Duke of Windsor) would have made Wallis Simpson the wife of the reigning monarch, which many Brits found unacceptable on religious, as well as nationalist grounds. Attitudes towards divorce have changed in Britain, but Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are hardly likely to ever face the same situation. Prince Harry stands fifth in the queue for the British throne after Prince Charles, his father, brother Prince William, nephew Prince George, and niece Princess Charlotte – and when the Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William’s wife, gives birth to their third child in the Spring, he will slip to number six.

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Prince Harry and fiancée Meghan Markle attend the Terrance Higgins Trust World AIDS Day charity fair at Nottingham Contemporary on December 1, 2017 in Nottingham, England.

Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage

Prince Harry and fiancĂŠe Meghan Markle attend the Terrance Higgins Trust World AIDS Day charity fair at Nottingham Contemporary on December 1, 2017 in Nottingham, England.

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle meet pupils at a Kick Boxing presentation during their visit to Nottingham Academy on December 1, 2017 in Nottingham, England.

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pose for a photograph with the cast and crew of a hip hop opera performed by young people involved in the Full Effect programme at the Nottingham Academy school on December 1, 2017 in Nottingham, England.

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