Regarding the Royal Family, when I look at 1 Pet. 2:9 I first have to remind myself that Peter addressed this letter to Jews because in his salutation he addresses it to the pilgrims of the Dispersion/exiles of the Dispersion/aliens scattered/God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered. When he states in 2:9 that you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God isn’t he talking about the children of Israel and not the Church? Wouldn’t it be the children of Israel that is the Royal Family?
I’m sorry you took exception to my interpretation of 1 Peter 2:9, but I stand by it. The children of Israel were never called a royal priesthood but a kingdom of priests (Exodus 19:6). There’s a big difference. If you recall, the kings of Israel could not be priests and the priests could not be kings. It’s only the Church that can be both kings and priests, a royal priesthood.
And in 1 Peter 1:2 it’s clear who he was writing to. He’s addressing those “chosen according to the foreknowledge of the Father through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by His blood.” In verse 3 he said “our” Lord Jesus Christ had given “us” new birth through the resurrection, etc. This can’t be anyone but the Church.