To wonder we still put em with em?

[Ryoko]

I can't stand the royals, they make a mockery of our democratic system, a relic from age that should be forgotten, we don't burn witches, we eat meat/fish any day of the week we like, people are no longer put in the stocks, kids no longer put to work, bout time they went out and got jobs like the rest of us mere mortals.

40 million a year to keep a bunch of inbred pets, stupid money spent on a wedding during a time when we are tightening our belts.

People in 2011 still happy to be called subjects, of a bunch of people given everything on a plate due only to the out dated belief of a divine blood line, a belief which is totally at odds with democracy and the capitalist way.

The supports constantly rolling out the lie that the tourists wouldn't come without them such trash, 3 million people visit the palace of versailles every year, only 50,000 visit Buckingham palace, Paris has the same amount o visitors a year as London. Turf the royals out of the palaces and you can make more money out of them then you can with them in the thing, does anyone who goes to the Forbidden city care that China no longer has an emperor?.

The wedding has cost the economy far more money then it has made in tourism money.

I agree.

Topic title should read "to wonder why we" oh well.

Another boring Royal thread, it's all been said before.

I'm off to find something worth talking about.

:)

YANBU to hold such views.

But all polls show you are very much in the minority (BBC quoting consistent support of around 80%, estimated higher at present). Even Australia, where opinion polls were much closer (and benefits far less direct), voted in a referendum to retain the Monarchy.

the royal princes work!! so presumably pay tax!

thanks ILOVE I thought they worked to more the military. Not exactly a comfy job with garunteed elf and safety is it.

to more = too for.

Where are these polls? I've only ever met one royalist in my 32 years of living in the area of this planet known as west London.

No ones ever asked me anything.

was wondering actually,anyone know if Beatrice and Eugenie work?

I think I saw Eugenie working in Tescos once.

The polls are those cited by BBC at least twice in separate news broadcasts yesterday (have no further detail, but BBC wouldn't be making a basic errors on data).

Polls mean nothing, BBC might have a poll on the news page about royal weddings, a poll for anything in the daily mail should be ignored etc.

I want a referendum on the matter, should we continue to pay the royals 40 million a year from the tax money, yes or no.

simple as that I couldn't even care less if we got shot of em or not, let em work like everyone else, if you are going to pay someone 40 million a year then give them power again, they can't be any more out of touch then the Tories anyway.

It wasn't one BBC poll - it was reference to a consistent level of support in polls over time. To help you realise what a minority you are in, here are some published results:

YouGov April 2011: 82% retain (45% unaltered, 37% with reforms), 13% abolitionists

Guardian/ICM: April 2011 (did not report figure for retention) 20% favoured abolition: 69% expected Britian to be a monarchy in 100 years time, 76% thought William will one day be a good king.

ICM 27 March 2009: 76% in favour of retaining post-Elizabeth monarchy; 18% pro-Republic.

BBC poll 28 December 2007: 78% retain, 19% abolish.

Independent newspaper: April 2002: 84% to retain (54% keep exactly the same, 30% keep with reforms); 12% abolitionists.

Even republican.org.uk says "Opinion polls consistently put support for a republic at around 20%"

Not one Royalist in 32 years!!! I take it your neighbour was all business as usual yesterday then? and you haven't spoke to or know of anyone celebrating yesterday. I think it is amazing that so many people turned out or watched the wedding yesterday a truly global affair.

I actually couldn't care less how much they cost and how little they do, they are part of our history and I think you may find a lot more people are proud of the whole pomp and ceremony than would care to admit to you.

Made me smile that even the royal family have to sing God Save the Queen

'People in 2011 still happy to be called subjects'

That's the problem with democracy you see, majority rules.

I suspect given the Brits I know (also from SW London) that if you held an actual referendum that you would be retaining the monarchy.

For Australia I think it had a lot to do with inertia (and apathy) and also the whole ANZAC thing we have going on, the referendum had a lot of the diggers up in arms over the flag. I think perhaps the question will get a different answer in maybe 10 years time when the last of the vets from WW2 have died.

People are complicated.

YANBU OP, I agree completely!

I live in West London and love the Royal Family, so there you go: 2

Don't know what you mean by business as usual? no street parties, flags or bunting or anything if thats what you mean, there was one drunk guy sitting on the green at 2pm singing god save the queen badly does that count?.

I don't understand your thread title

Beatrice and Eugenie are students. Real university students.

I am not, not definitely not a royalist. But, I find it odd that people make personal attacks on the royal family. The roles they inhabit in this day and age are laughable. However, what many royalists and non royalists alike share is the attitude that the royal family are are like soap opera characters.
They are real people with real feelings. Some of them might be stupid or horrible, some of them might be great. We don't know.

If you don't like the royal family then vote for politicians who will get rid of them. If we carry on treating it all like the latest episode of Dallas nothing will change.

Separate the role from the person. I learned that from Tony Benn by the way, who has respect fro The Queen's experience and sense of duty. Totally object to her position but admire her in many other ways.

I love 'em!!

I'd rather keep a bunch of posh inbreds that generate income ( and actually pay hundreds of millions to the treasury through their lands as they own huge swathes of it ) than pay all the billions we do pay to thick inbreds to sit on the dole for years breeding more thick inbreds.

YANBU.

I believe that the monarchy preserve our democratic system.

YABU... the monarchy is only there by popular consent. We dispensed with it once (chopped the poor bloke's head off for good measure), demanded it back again, have modified and updated its role ever since, stripped it of all but ceremonial duties and the occupants of the post know that they are only there because we want them there. If those polls changed to 80% against and 20% for then they'd be out on their ear pronto. It's not a safe job so it's in their interests to knuckle down, keep their noses clean and be good VFM...

The £400m we spend entertaining heads of state etc. would have to be carried out by the PM's office (or a President's office) if the Queen wasn't there, and wouldn't have quite the same cachet. The family members act as the UK PR Department - they don't have a choice in that, that's their job from birth. And revenues from the Royal Estates are net contributors to the Treasury, employing thousands.

We may still be 'subjects' but we're not 'subservient'... not unless you really want to see yourself that way, of course.

cachet ? Foreigners do not want to HAVE our royal family. They are exotic, entertaining and good to gawp at but that does not mean they are envious. In fact having a royal family contributes to the idea that the British are backward and comical. Of course tourists visit Buckingham Palace and get their cameras out but does that really make you proud ? Really ? Not a bit embarrassed ?

Why stop there? Couldn't we have some actual democratic accountability? Get rid of fiddling MPs straight away, not wait til they decide to resign; make manifestos enforceable etc