Are you in favour of the Royal Family?

[enzomari]

DM and I were discussing this last night, she's now in her Eighties and used to really like the Queen (not so much Phillip for some reason) but now really isn't bothered and thinks the RF, as is, should be abolished . I've always been a Republican but I was surprised at DM as she always seemed very pro RF but actually was pro the late Queen.

IMHO it seems so past it's sell by date but I'd be interested to know others opinions.

This thread tells you otherwise

so basically an ambassador.
Chief ambassador sort of thing .It's what the RF are meant to be but it wouldn't cost half a billion pounds a year
I'm in favour of that

Yes - exactly that.

He could, and I really don't see why abdication is such a dirty word in this country. Other monarchies do it. The Danes and the Dutch (and I think the Spanish too) have been known to abdicate in favour of the next generation. Ours can't or won't.

Edward VIII was absolutely slated for it, but he was a classic case of someone who wasn't suited to the role anyway, and as a Nazi sympathiser I think that abdication might well have been forced onto him eventually anyway.

This.

I would hate to be a royal, even with all the £££, but I can't think of a better alternative.

😀😀

If George abdicated, his sister would be lumbered. I can’t see it happening. He wouldn’t do it to her.

The poor wretch is going to have to suck it up. He has no choice.

Get rid, Harry can be my sex slave if he wants.

They literally do nothing for my life. So no

Yes. I certainly don’t want a President

Your version is only one version of what we could get.
As others have said
If it were to change I/we would like to know what we were getting.

Also the name calling doesn't help your point

Why not? Could you give your reasons?

Elected every four or five years. A miniscule cost compared to the RF. Would do the same job that RF is lauded for i.e. "soft power", as pp said, a supreme Ambassador. Can be kicked out after term unlike the RF.

A President as purely HOS is nothing like Trump or Macron. Different political systems altogether, if that is your reasoning.

I don't think the British public is taught enough about how the country operates, and/or what the alternatives could be. But that is obviously not a topic for public consumption AT ALL. So many live in ignorance of the alternatives and continue to think that the RF is fabulous dahling. It is far from that.

Couldn't agree more...

Absolutely not. I’m a republican. I don’t understand royalists at all.

Answering your why not?

It depends on what we are going to get

A president that was political, how would that work over the current PM?
Could it even work unless we just changed the PM to the president?

If we use ExhibitionOfYourself's idea.
Would you want to have a President Lineker?
President Ant and Dec? They do everything together
President Dyer (Danny or Danni)
President Gallagher
Or President Jones (Vinny)
all have been "national treasures"

Or do we have the current PM/party in charge choose?
President Johnson
President Cameron
President Blair
It would be just another way to show cronyism.

I would settle for a much slimmed down version of the Royals that we have based maybe on the Spanish version? One family direct line of throne only brought out for ceremonial occasions when required.

Why do we need a head of state at all?

Yes but the fact that you are highlighting that division (public school educated v state school educated) is proof that that division is still very much present in our society.

On the subject of education; it’s a question of how limited resources are spent. When all education was private, the public school system made sense. But now we want those resources spread across the population as a whole, without diminishing standards and rigour.

Though - I'd rather our royals than Trump

How would you feel if morally bankrupt buffoon Andy were to have been the one parking his lardy arse on the throne eighteen months ago?

Or if Good King Harold was the one waiting in the wings right now?

Trump has a shelf-life. Accidents of birth order means monarchs don't.

@FrippEnos

Maybe have a look at the Presidency of the Republic of Ireland. Obviously they dont have a monarchy (touchy subject there I'd say for historical reasons!) but they have a democratic Government not too unlike that of the UK, but the voting is by STV not FPTP.

It is a purely ceremonial role. The President of ROI does sign off on legislation however, if s/he is unhappy about the implications or legality of a new law the Council of State is convened to decide. This only happens in very rare cases. The president represents his/her country at home and abroad at ceremonial occasions and so on. S/he has ZERO political power or influence, and can be taken to task if they overstep their mandate.

Just one example, I am sure there are others around Europe and the world.

I agree there are quite a few good ways to do this.

IMO, the first thing to do would be to figure that out first.
If we ever did go down this route I would only go for a ceremonial role.
Anything else would just be more trouble than its worth.

Yes. I cannot see how anyone's life would be better by changing the way in which we select our head-of-state.

How does the cost of a coronation every 70 years compare with an inauguration every 4 years or a 14th July parade every year?

It works perfectly well in all the Scandinavian counties and Benelux.

The Guardian tries desperately hard to drag up various anti-monarchy articles but they are always totally unconvincing.

Let's stick with the royal family. Better that than creating a job for a load of second-rate political failures.

Totally agree. At a minimum the role of HOS should be absolutely apolitical. That is the whole point of the difference between HOS and the incumbent Prime Minister who is Head of Government. HOS must not have political influence.

Absolutely NOT. The lands and wealth they have inherited through birth not to mention their connections which add to their obscene wealth makes me furious.

I cannot understand why we don’t dissolve the Monarchy, claim back the land etc. Arghh .. my blood pressure is rising.

Posters on here seem to want the pomp so what's wrong with a 14th July parade? Or equivalent
You can see all your marching bands and such like then. Minus the gold carriages and crowns and regal hand wave from those living in unequalled splendour on our bill

I find the Guardian articles very convincing. Along with the Dispatches programme which didn't get the publicity it deserved.

When royalists lose an argument ( which is inevitable as the Windsors are an utter disgrace and embarrassment) they usually say ‘ well getting rid of them is too difficult’.

Can we start by cleaning up the Windsor’s mess and then see where we are ?

• no Windsor above the law
• no swearing allegiance to Charlie - mps, lawyers, the forces etc - their allegiance should be to the people
• stop the utter scandal of the Duchys
• revert to the civil list and parliamentary debate for any increase in cost
• Stop the embarrassing coronations and all other Windsor shindig and funerals paid for out of their (Windsors)
• Windsirs to pay all taxes due and accounts put under proper scrutiny