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.

I used to like a bit of pomp and ceremony but now I just find it odd. They walk around shaking hands and are pitched as being above us… meh, I don’t really see the point of them. Never thought I’d say that but I hit 40 and realised lots of things are bullshit.

I've always thought being King or Queen should be a time share sort of thing. And I am equally sure it must be my turn by now.

@SilverBlueRabbit you need to do the right thing and get in the queue - I was here first !

Dammit. Sorry.... hoped my queue jumping would go unnoticed.....

Can we share the tiaras? I am happy to go with a lucky dip arrangement.😉

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

Fred achieving a 70 year reign seems vanishingly unlikely. Likewise Willy even if he got the reigns tomorrow.

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

Can you link to an unconvincing example?

What I really want to know is how much money we could squeeze out of the Royal Family if they were stripped of their status. You know Rachel Reeves has considered it.

these are the end remarks from the film of The Royal Family 1969

While the King occupies the highest office of State, no one else can
While he is head of Law no politicians can take over the Courts
While he is Head of State, no generals can take over the Government
While he is head of the Services, no would be dictator can turn the army
against the people
The strength of the Monarchy does not lie in the power it gives to the Sovereign
but in the power it denies anyone else

Which makes Charles a sort of buffer zone

I believe William will be a good King, personable, tall, dignified,
although I’m not convinced George will ever be King

They don't do anything useful. The rest of the world including the commonwealth is waking up. The concept of a monarchy is outdated and just bizarre when you think about it. So much repressed emotion with those royals.

I applaud Harry for speaking out and getting out.

They need to get proper jobs like some of their European counterparts .
I dont understand the concept of a full time working Royal
The allure of the Royal family died the day the Queen died imho

The concept of a full time working role is visits, (Anne does a lot) abroad and home, supporting charities, finding out about what needs support and what they can champion, the weekly PM visits (the king) and all the planning and involvement in things like the Princes Trust and Earthshot. Plus being informed about everything! I think our constitutional monarchy works well as head of state without being in power. And no, the king cannot overturn the will of parliament. The king has no direct power.

Trooping of the colour for the past 300 years has been part of the monarch’s birthday celebrations. I’ll give you Remembrance Day, but that’s only 100 years old.

This. I am not a royalist and never have been. I am suspicious about the RF and its hangers on and suspect there is much concealed corruption and greed in its ranks.
(Remember the carrier bags of cash that the king accepted when prince of wales! - yes I know it was said the money was for his charities...I remain sceptical. )
Recent revelations that the Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall derive rental and lease income from tenants like the NHS and charities look unseemly and grabby. Charles and William receive millions of pounds income from the two Duchies. After much bad publicity Charles, when prince of Wales, voluntarily paid 50 percent of this in tax. I am not sure it is clear what he pays now on Duchy of Lancaster income and do we know what William pays on his Duchy of Cornwall income?
Then there is the issue of wills. As a result of murky agreements in the early 20th century between royals and politicians the sovereign's will is sealed forever. You and I and everyone else in the UK do not have this automatic privilege. Our wills are public.
It is yet another means by which the RF hides its wealth -- the fact they want to keep it hidden speaks for itself. (It was intended to apply only to the sovereign but has been extended to other royals such as the queen mother and prince Philip. Although it is of questionable legality.)
The Guardian newspaper challenged the sealing of Philip's will in the courts but was told it is not in the public interest to unseal. I strongly disagree.
The Guardian www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/jul/18/187m-pounds-of-windsor-family-wealth-hidden-in-secret-royal-wills

Charles published his Duchy accounts . Yes they had not been allowed to be scrutinised by a parliamentary select committee which requested this but he did publish them. It’s been estimated that the paid around 25 % tax

Now William, the disaster in waiting that is William , declined to continue this practice and does not publish the Duchy accounts
A big FU to the public who keep him in obscene wealth

Easy .
Troop the colour on the date we finally free ourselves of the parasites

Hmm
you’ll have to do better than that I’m afraid

No way. Why? Feudal system where we pay taxes to support them. WTF? In this day and age?
Talentless, stupid, ugly toffs leeching off us and trying to call us their "subjects".
Outdated, useless piss-takers.

@ThereIsALifeOutThere
The "queen" - I call her Elizabeth Saxe-Coburg because that's her real name - was not great. What are you on about?
Tried to make us pay for one of her burnt castles - why? Especially when you're so rich. Disgusting.
Always smiling! You probably would if you were that rich and mugging off the population and then people were saying you great.

No, I’m not in favour of having a RF, I think it’s an outdated institution.

So your reasons for keeping the monarchy are actually nothing to do with them? And based solely on conjecture? Not a very strong argument is it?

Nope.

Charles never paid 50% of duchy income in tax. It was 20% or 25%> Not 5O%, not what the public have to pay that's for sure. And William has refused to say how much tax he pays on his duchy, could be 1% for all we know. UKgaslit has it.

As far as the Wills, it is appalling that they are sealed. The practice started back in 1900 or thereabouts when Prince Philip of teck had a .mistress or two and whoever didn't want what he gave them getting out to the general public. The practice continued. The Royals thought, this is a good wheeze, let's go for that one. Prince Philips is sealed for 90 years and this appalling practice extends to not just the monarch but other royals too.

Of course none of them want transparency we would be shocked even more than we are now if that were possible. At the moment we are in the position of paying more money to less working royals than ever before. I say 'working' for want of a better word. Charles does put himself out a bit and I think he does try, ditto Anne who holds this lazy lot together, the next generation are bone idle and the monarchy will morph into a rich paid for aristocracy when they go. The signs have been there for a long time.

Charles would have to live to about 140 to have a 70 year reign. Even William would need to live to 110 if he became king today.

I vote Nov 5 for the national pomp. Keep the bastards on their toes

"The anti monarchy brigade are probably left winger Starmer voters. Yeah thats turning out well isn't it. Just 6 months in and he's the most unpopular PM ever. Could you imagine what the monarchy would be replaced with"

<sticks tongue out and makes rude gestures at @BunkSpucket