Story Archive

Affectation

For the recent Royal Wedding, TV viewers were kept informed by “Thomas J. Mace-Archer-Mills, Esq.” He “knew more about the royal wedding than the millions who listened to his global TV commentary outside Windsor Castle,” the Associated Press says, “delivered in a posh British accent.” But his friends know him better as Tommy Muscatello, 38 — an Italian American who grew up in upstate New York. The accent? He learned it from a high school production of the 1960 musical Oliver!, followed by trips to the U.K. Muscatello says he’s never claimed to be British, and “performs” as Mace-Archer-Mills. He knows his stuff, AP says: he’s the chairman of the British Monarchist Society and Foundation — which was founded by Mace-Archer-Mills when he moved to England in 2012. He also promotes a “collection” of cocktails with the slogan, “Their Majesties’ Mixers — When They Reign, They Pour.” (RC/AP) ...His favorite: Black Cow Pure Milk Vodka cut with fake Cornish Pastis.