This spring holds many public spectacles surrounding graduates, brides and grooms, and even King Charles III in London. What is the purpose of all this pomp and ceremony surrounding events like graduations, weddings, and coronations? What do these rituals and symbols mean? And what do they say about us when we participate and observe (or ignore) them? In other words: What’s up with all these caps, gowns, and crowns?

Host: Andrew J. Falk

Guest: Charlotte Cartwright

Past is Prologue is a history podcast that provides the public with the background behind the day's headlines, and offers much-needed context to understand the significance of current events that people observe around them. It seeks to contribute to the public conversation in an engaging, informative, accessible, and constructive way. It's produced by the Department of History in the College of Arts & Humanities at Christopher Newport University in Virginia. We welcome your inquiries and feedback at [email protected].