King Copperfield Joins Roster of Magic RoyaltyInside MagicMagic News Updated Daily for the Professional Magician

Inside Magic congratulates David Copperfield on his deserved ascension to the awesome position of King of Magic and awarded the “Magician of the Century” designation.

The Society of American Magicians (“SAM”) bestowed both accolades upon the peripatetic and prolific prestidigitator.

Mr. Copperfield has earned many titles and laudatory commendations throughout his incredible career but unlike us, is not willing to rest on his laurels. The SAM’s press release notes the ever-young performer still puts in an honest day’s work by presenting his full show more than 500 times a year.

The Society previously picked him as “Magician of the Century” for the 20th Century – quite a feat considering the incredible lot of magicians that performed from 1900 through 2000.

This is the first time the Society has named a “King of Magic.”

Our U.S. Constitutional research shows Mr. Copperfield’s acceptance of this title does not run afoul of Article 1, Section 9:

No title of nobility shall be granted by the United States: and no person holding any office of profit or trust under them, shall, without the consent of the Congress, accept of any present, emolument, office, or title, of any kind whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign state.

See, Cornell’s fantastic resource, the Legal Information Institute here..

Note, it is a popular misconception that a more strict prohibition against titles was added to the Constitution by Amendment. While there was a Titiles of Nobility Amendment passed by the Senate, House of Representatives, it was not ratified by the requisite number of states and is not law.

We would like to go on record as saying that even if the Titles of Nobility Amendment had been ratified and Mr. Copperfield’s acceptance of the title “King” violated that law, we would not turn him in.

The Society gave the title in recognition his efforts “to advance, elevate, and preserve magic as a performing art, to promote harmonious fellowship throughout the world of magic, and to maintain and improve ethical standards in the field of magic.”

However, as Inside Magic reported recently, Mr. Copperfield earned the more significant and lasting title of Father with the recent birth of his daughter, Sky. The magician and his beautiful French model girlfriend, Chloe Gosselin kept Sky’s arrival under wraps for about 16 months before the lay and magic press discovered the happy news.

Under traditional rules and customs pertaining to royalty, Sky would properly be considered a Princess of Magic but Chloe Gosselin could not attain the title of Queen of Magic unless she married the then-existing King.

Additionally, we are informed by a scholar on royalty that kingship is rarely attained by talent or popular acclaim. In fact, 77.41 percent of all kings or queens attained their position simultaneously with the murder, execution, coup d’état, or suspicious disappearance of the previous monarch.

SAM informed readers Mr. Copperfield was the first magician they named the “King of Magic.” As loyal readers of Inside Magic know, many other magicians throughout history have held similar royal stations although without the SAM’s imprimatur.

Consider:

According to at least two advertising posters, The International Magic Circle named Harry Blackstone, Sr. was named “King of Magicians” at their now famous 1934 International Magic Circle Conclave held at Jefferson Beach in Detroit, Michigan.
The legendary P.C. Sorcar held the title Jadusamrat or “Emperor” of Magic as commemorated by a 2010 postage stamp issued in India.
Mohammad Jalil was awarded the title of King of Magic in 1991 for his performance in the National Magic Competition, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
True, a different type of magic was used but the Guru Monk Luang Phor Koon of Wat Baan Rai known as the King of Magic.
Liu Ch’ien’s title may outrank Mr. Copperfield’s. The gifted Taiwan magician has been named Asia’s Heavenly King of Magic. True, the title is apparently restricted to Asia but it also transcends metaphysical planes from earth (within Asia) to Heaven (presumably within the projected boundaries of Asia but higher up).
Luc Leduc bills himself as The Duke of Magic – a lesser but still noble title. We figure it was so close to Prince, that we would include it here.
Joycee Beck is also known as The Duchess of Deception. Our logic applies for the talented Ms. Beck as well.
Adelaide Hermann advertised herself as Queen of Magic when she took over her late husband’s show.
Bambi VanBurch claimed the title of Princess of Magic and although her web site is not yet up, she has indicated she will continue in her reign and can be seen with her title here. Princess VanBurch was married to the Prince of Magic (at least in Branson) Kirby VanBurch and even though they are no longer in union, both retain their titles under some peculiarity of royal protocol.
T.A. Hamilton is one of several self-proclaimed Clown Princes of Magic.
Performing for over a decade, Julie Sobanski (aka The Princess of Magic) has been entertaining and delighting audiences of all ages throughout the United States.
Elenora of Italy and Rizuki from Japan each claim the title Princess of Magic.

Our point? Mr. Copperfield’s new title of King was bestowed upon him for his incredible stamina, imagination and infectious sense of excitement about magic. In a profession where honorifics are often self-proclaimed and donned even without noble heritage, SAM’s proclamation that Mr. Copperfield is King of Magic still means something special.

The new King acknowledged the announcement with grace and style, “I’m humbled by the honor and grateful to be recognized by this great organization.”

As we say at the racetrack,”blood tells.”