To want a Republic?

[StrictlyOogieBoogiePumpkin]

That it really. I cannot stand this 'joy' at a Royal Wedding that will cost a fortune and all to welcome in someone else who will now never EVER get a real job.

Would is really be so bad to join the rest of the modern world and ditch them? We could have an ELECTED President, we could just have our elected Parliament.

The Palaces would still be there for the tourists. The President can welcome the Heads of State (but only for a fixed term)

Would it be so bad to not pay for her cousins to live in Palaces?

Can we not just give it a go?

Yeh but it would all be a bit dull and end up costing us all just as much in the end

We tried it many years ago and it did not work then

I sometimes think that, but then I look at the people who get elected as Presidents and - with a few honourable exceptions - they quash my enthusiasm

Dull?! The Queen isn't exactly a riot... and Camilla

The President would get a wage, it would not involve paying for their entire extended family, for ever! Also he would get one house, not a whole load of palaces.

I think the civil list should be ended completely. They have sufficient money and property that it is utterly absurd that we have to support them. Especially now when most people are being affected by the recession and cuts.

We tried 400 years ago, the time surely has come for another go?!

We'll get a really good President this time, we could have an election, with choices!

YABU
I would hate a president. I imagine a Tony Blair like all powerful figure.
I surprise myself by not not minding the Royals at all.

66p per person just for the Queen.

66p x 60 Million for ONE person

We don't need a President, we could just have Parliament.

And a President wouldn't have power, just be a much cheaper, elected, figure head.

66p? Over one year or a week or a lifetime?

A year

I don't mind that. Just over a penny a week.

YANBU

The government has the cheek to squeeze the benefits to people already close to poverty and yet sees fit to give millions a year to this one family. They are just people, same as all of us. Old queenie still goes for a shit just the same.

I know I know... and tbh, to be against the monarcy is much more akin to my general political beliefs. But for some irrational reason I like all the pomp and ceremony, the sense of history etc. Maybe it's because it's what I have been brought up on or maybe I am living in fantasy land most of the time ( I am prepared to entertain both notions) but I don't want some elected representative in suit to welcome foreign dignatories, I want the Queen to do it......in her crown

66p x 60 million is not to be sniffed at Ruffalo. For one person... and yet we can't afford CB

Like badfairy, I am not the type you would assume to be well, not exactly a royalist, but I am fascinated by their history and see them as something of traditional importance in the country. I don't mind them at all.

Best argument for a republic: King Charles anyone?

See,I don't mind Charles. I love Duchy Originals and his eco friendly ideas. The gardens at Highgrove are an amazing adventure in sustainable living

(Only lurking to see if there are any good reasons against a republic).

YANBU at all. The monarchy is a totally outdated institution and it needs to go. As for the 'they bring in tourist revenue' argument it's not like any of the tourists who come here get to actually meet the Queen. The palaces will still be there, the history will still be there, but more importantly we'd get to live in a country where our Head of State would be elected on the basis of merit rather than becoming so through an accident of birth.

The having Tony Blair as president argument doesn't even put me off even though I totally despise the man, at least I'd have the choice not to vote for him and hopefully there would be a limit on his stint in power. The current Queen has reigned for nearly 60 years and the general public have not once been asked if they are happy with this arrangement.

YABU. Any head of state - especially a President - would cost as much, or more, than the Royals. Just look over the Channel to see how expensive Sarko is.

There is something very special about having people who genuinely represent the nation sometimes, rather than any political party or position.

We should not get rid of traditions and heritage lightly.

Of course if we were designing a country from scratch, we would never have a monarchy - but then we wouldn't be Britain.

And they do bring in a lot of tourism. I think the extra tourists next year will bring billions and billions of pounds into the Exchequer, at a time when we badly need them. The few millions we spend on a Royal Wedding will be tiny in comparison.

"all to welcome in someone else who will now never EVER get a real job."

there are plenty of people in society that never get a job and certainly don't make the contribution to charities etc that the royal family does. They cost us a fortune as well and I'd much rather pay for the royal family thanks very much

Do you think tourists don't go to France because there is no monarchy anymore? Have you ever seen the crowds at Versailles? Imagine how many more tourists we would get if the many, many splendid houses the royal family own were properly open to the public. Same goes for their works of arts, parks etc...