Gawping at the royals has to stop

im sure these very privileged children will cope. we rarely see them.
i will save my concern for children whose parents have to use food banks.

I am wondering what London offers that is different to other places. They hardly come to see the people on benefits. Although is quite unique to this country 🤣🤣🤣 may be soon.

I know of people from abroad who came specifically for this yesterday. I did not even know it was happening.

You are the third poster to have a go at me. Please read my posted at 09-13hrs and come back and agree with me!!

With respect, the post is clear and not stating what you and the other posted. Therefore I am standing by the post!!

Enjoy the sun!!

@DistinguishedSocialCommentator You can disagree all you like, but @ShrinkingEveryDay is completely correct. The royal palaces of France bring in a lot more revenue than our own do. What is the point of gawping at Buckingham Palace from behind the railings when you can actually get inside and wander about, as is the case in France.

Hello Kimberly!!
Please read my post again and you will note very clearly as that is not what I said!!

I doubt they come especially to London especially to see the royal family. You’re deluding yourself if you think that. They do Europe and London is a small part of that. They’d still think London was worth a look even without the Royals.

I love the history and culture of the UK too, but I associate the royals with slavery, colonialism and Empire.

Their only purpose is to be gawped at. But the vast, vast majority of their time is spent in luxurious privacy, so I think they do alright.

If they were just figureheads I wouldn't care. But the POWER they have is disproportionate to their contribution to society.

Imagine being able to decide not to allow photography except when they decide. To be able to influence taxation policy in their favour, to earn millions from lands that really should be in public ownership and so on. There are so many things that are available to them just because they were born. Nothing else, just born.

Isn't that amazing? And infuriating to me anyway.

I enjoy gawping at them. And talking about them with family and friends. And using them as a touchpoint for my love of the UK (there are others, like our history, art, literature, cultural creativity and natural beauty, but the royals are one too.)

I won't stop gawping :-)

It's a great word, gawp. Thank you for reminding me it exists. I must remember to use it more in everyday conversation :-)

Good morning!!
I have to disagree with you. The RF is part of a package of reasons and a big reason millions come to London from abroad!!

The photo the OP used was taken during the national anthem. They always look solemn then. I watched the whole event and most of the time they were smiling and waving at the crowds. It's a strange job but they do it well.

As to the children, I know far less about George, Charlotte and Louis than I do about the offspring of the couple you think admirable, I've even seen Archie in the bath. I know even more about the children of so called influencers on Instagram. I think for the social media age the Royal family tread an appropriate line for the children.

Maybe in the future the country will decide we don't want a monarchy. I'm sure they will step aside gracefully if that time comes. I just hope that there will be a well thought out plan, that the public can actually vote on, covering every complicated aspect of removing the Head of State in a constitutional monarchy. If Brexit taught us nothing else we have surely learnt that change in the way we are governed is hard and complicated and shouldn't be entered into lightly.

Yes, I agree about Taylor Swift etc. that's definitely the problem with royalty. You then get hangers on and lazy people who want titles but do nowt.

It was Elizabeth II who said that. Victoria disappeared for 40 years and it didn't make a blind bit of difference. She still managed to rack up 8 assassination attempts! This lot have it easy!

I agree. Also, 'Celebrities' (with the exception of those who are famous for shagging famous people and their stories to the press) whether you like them or not, are people who have done something and been successful in often very competitive industries. Taylor Swift is one of the most successful singer songwriters in the world. She has weird obsessed fans, yes, but she herself has achieved something remarkable. The Royals have either been born, or married someone who has been born into the Royal Family. They are unremarkable, so what have they done to demand such worship? They coukd leave if they don't want their children to be subjected to this. They could say that Charlotte and Louis are going to be private citizens who don't work for the RF and get rid of most of their 22 homes. They don't do either because they know they get an enormous amount in return for doing very little, and want that to continue.

Some need a hobby, sure I don't get it but plenty do and carry on like they a bff but it's their thing

This. At one of the later Jubilees there was a tea party on The Mall. It absolutely threw it down and there was no shelter for the people ( chosen by ballot) who were sitting there. There was a photo of the Queen looking out from behind the curtains in her nice warm Palace. It struck me at the time thst she was probably wondering how far they could go in torturing absolute idiots who would do anything if it was 'Royal'.

I agree. Probably individually they're decent people, it's the whole set up which is problematic.

It's not the individual royals I have an issue with. It's the institution.

They may be individually as nice as pie.

Harry doesn't even live in the UK but still wants limitless security paid for by the taxpayer.

Feudalism?? How do you manage every day, tending to your half-acre, while dealing with pests, famine, boils, the plague, 21 out of your 22 children dying beforecthe age of 2
You deserve a medal

it has always happened, the gawping
so gyles B says, queen victoria, i think, said she had to be seen

that is what they are doing, Being Seen

Kate chose to marry Prince William and chose to have children. The children don't have a choice, but Kate did. Also, the Royals have quite a lot of privacy and it's mainly just special occasions that the children are seen.

As none of you know them don't make assumptions. The only person I know who has met William said he was really nice, ate lunch with him, not some formal lunch, was at a military base. Friendly and interested in what was happening, no standing on ceremony but strictly no cameras allowed once the press had their shots

When were you made Chief Inspector of the Gawping Police?