Friday, November 11, 2011

Royals and Washington, D.C.

There are several exiled royals living and working in Washingtin, D.C.
Outside the church, the Selassies seem like any other Washington area family. The prince ­works at the International Strategic Studies Association, a think tank in Alexandria focusing on issues such as water security in Africa. The princess spends her days approving mortgage loans for the Congressional Federal Credit Union.
But royals are becoming increasingly important to the Ethio­pian community, which sees its history in the face of Prince Selassie. There is a growing movement among the younger generation to honor the controversial legacy­­ of the prince’s grandfather.
The emperor’s elegant photograph and his full title — “His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah and Elect of God” — is displayed in many Ethio­pian restaurants. Soccer teams around Washington wear jerseys with the emperor’s gaunt, bearded face. At a recent D.C. festival honoring the emperor, he was celebrated as an elder statesman of African anti-colonialism who stood up to Italian invaders and forged the country’s closest links with the United States.
Prince Selassie also heads the Crown Council of Ethi­o­pia, a group that works to retain dynastic traditions and highlight the emperor’s achievements. The council would like constitutional monarchy to return to Ethi­o­pia, although there is no plan to restore that system.
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