Abolishing the Royal Family

[FeelthewrathofthesuperRad]

Anyone else in favour of it?

I’m not entirely sure what their purpose is either.

[something2say]

I'm in favour of it. Its inappropriate to stand behind the institution now. No thinking society ought to. I think it would take a lot tho, to dismantle a historic matter like that.

[JackieBeaver]

No, the royal family do a lot of good work and bring in a lot of money through tourism etc... I would however like to see Prince Andrew properly investigated.

[Franke]

Then you'd have to replace it with a different Head of State. I once read that the upkeep of the office of German president is as costly as that of the Royal family. Do you know who the President of Germany is? (clue: it's not Angela Merkel).

Think of all the entertainment you'd miss out on. Be careful what you wish for.

OK I'm not entirely serious. I think the idea of a Royal family is preposterous and a conversation should be had once the Queen is gone

[CheshireCats]

Yes, I am in favour. Abolish- the monarchy is an historical relic.

[Damnloginpopup]

I'd fight to defend it. As a matter of fact I once swore an oath to do so. I would again.

[Lynora]

Yes abolish the lot of them.

[something2say]

Why would you fight to defend it @damnloginpopup Its just a social construct that we've all chosen to believe in. It's not real and its being shown to be toxic and unhealthy.

[boobybum]

Get rid ASAP. I don’t care how much a replacement head of state costs because having the system we do know is undemocratic and preposterous - slaves are cheaper than paying employees properly but we don’t do that anymore do we because it’s wrong.

[Enb76]

I like having a non-elected nominal head of state. I don’t really care about them much, I don’t watch the gossip but I like that they are there. What would you replace them with?

[hennybeans]

I never was in favour of getting rid, but after hearing Harry say he was trapped and his father and brother still are, it made me think completely differently about it. How outdated to for someone to be special/ different/ chosen/ privileged because of their blood. We don't think like that anymore.
I feel for Prince George who had his whole life planned for him before he was born. He has little real choice in his life like William and Charles. Yes, they are rich and privileged, but I'm not sure they are free. It just struck me as wrong.

I'm not sure how to replace the head of state. I would be fearful of the UK turning into something like the US with is presidential elections. And I think the Queen is beneficial in that she is long term and can think long term for the country, whereas politicians are only ever thinking about what will get their party re-elected short term.

[Silurian]

@Franke

Then you'd have to replace it with a different Head of State. I once read that the upkeep of the office of German president is as costly as that of the Royal family. Do you know who the President of Germany is? (clue: it's not Angela Merkel).

Think of all the entertainment you'd miss out on. Be careful what you wish for.

OK I'm not entirely serious. I think the idea of a Royal family is preposterous and a conversation should be had once the Queen is gone

Then don’t model it on the German presidency. Model it on something like the Irish presidency, where the salary is 250,000 euro, plus 25 staff in total, 4 police offers as security detail, plus the use of a house, car, plane during the term of office. The current president asked for a salary cut of 23% to bring himself into line with the top civil servant rate, and has gifted his pensions from having formerly been a TD (MP) and a minister back to the state.

And don’t confuse the largely ceremonial office of president in many jurisdictions with being the PM/actual executive head of government. I wouldn’t expect to know who the German president is.

The royal palaces can remain as tourist attractions.

[livinlavida2021]

I think it should be abolished. It does not reflect 2021 and the values we live by anymore.

We are all equal now and should not have a hierarchy system based on you birth rights.

I'm happy for it to stay whilst the queen is alive but when she dies I'd have no respect for any future kings or queens - charles? William? No thanks.

[CathyorClaire]

No, the royal family do a lot of good work and bring in a lot of money through tourism etc

These arguments are made on these threads every time and have been shown to have little substance many times over.

I feel for Prince George who had his whole life planned for him before he was born. He has little real choice in his life like William and Charles. Yes, they are rich and privileged, but I'm not sure they are free

Every last one of them is free to walk away any time they choose. The odd thing is how few of them do.

[MrsBotibolsCruise]

Not a rampant Royalist by any means, but the RF has been in existence for many hundreds of years and forms the backbone of the history and tradition of the British Isles. They have as much right to their lives as we do to ours. Who is any individual to say they should be binned because it’s someone’s judgement they’re no longer relevant and don’t fit in with modern agenda? We can just get rid of them, it doesn’t work like that.

I do agree the family should be slimmed down and reliance on the public purse minimised.

[sashagabadon]

Definitely not. I’m happy with the governance of the U.K.. I think it works well with a head of state, a prime minister, House of Commons and House of Lords. Lots of checks and balances there which mostly works, plus the people too.
It would also have implications for the other countries around the world that have the Queen as their head of state too. It’s not a simple question.

[altlife]

Should be abolished. The monarchy should die with the Queen. Can you even imagine Charles as King? He's the most pampered of the lot. They cost taxpayers a lot of money and yet have fortunes of their own. It's about time they started using them to fend for themselves.

[Silurian]

@MrsBotibolsCruise

Not a rampant Royalist by any means, but the RF has been in existence for many hundreds of years and forms the backbone of the history and tradition of the British Isles. They have as much right to their lives as we do to ours. Who is any individual to say they should be binned because it’s someone’s judgement they’re no longer relevant and don’t fit in with modern agenda? We can just get rid of them, it doesn’t work like that.

I do agree the family should be slimmed down and reliance on the public purse minimised.

You sound as if you think people are suggesting executing them! They’re not, just making a bunch of independently-rich people redundant from embarrassingly anachronistic and unequal positions. (It’s fairly clear that Prince William would be delighted not to be king, so I don’t think we need to see it as forcing their collective fingernails off the sceptre.)

And of course you can ‘just get rid of them’. Lots of ways, from revolution, coup d’état to legislative reform. Assuming we want to go with legislative reform, lots of examples. Most world monarchies didn’t survive the 20thc.

[PurpleDaisies]

There was a very long thread here...
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/4184420-Royal-Referendum-1-word-answer

Choosing a head of state based on their parents is totally wrong in a modern society. I’d vote to abolish the monarch.

[JanewaysBun]

I'm happy with the status quo for now. Boris frightens me far more than Prince Charles


Plus I enjoy The Crown so want to watch a few more seasons first

[ParkheadParadise]

Yes 100%

[CrunchyBiscs]

Well, come on then - who is to replace them as head of state - well I suppose Bojo is so popular

I am trying to think of some - maybe the lady who arranged the vaccine roll out in the UK - can't fine her name online right now. Katherine something?
Let's have a list folks.

[Handsoffstrikesagain]

cathy I understand what you’re saying but I guess you could apply that argument to most people. My husband had a horrible upbringing. He was essentially trapped and controlled. Even when he was wealthy in his own right he didn’t walk away. He was scared of the unknown. This is also true for people in religious cults. I think it takes a lot to walk away from everything you’ve ever known tbh.

[CrunchyBiscs]

Honestly, I think many of the Royals would be cheering from the roof tops - their jobs are so crap.

[oldwhyno]

No. We don't need that kind of instability right now. I'm not a royalist per se, if we didn't have them I would be arguing in favour of them. But without knowing what benefit there would be to getting rid of them it would be a huge and stupid risk to the constitutional stability of the country.