AIBU to think the current Queen has been a mediocre to poor Monarch?

[ComposHat]

Anyone else think all the praise lavished on her is undue? We are all told that she has done a 'good job' but has she really? The servile media, including the supposedly balanced BBC won't broker any attempts to criticise her in any way. We are simply told that she has been 'beyond reproach.'

I'd argue that she's been a dull and unimaginative Monarch, clinging to hidebound tradition and fighting to preserve arcane privileges like a Royal Yacht (actually a mini cruise liner) and resisting paying tax on her income. At crucial moments in her reign she's dallied and shown weak leadership.

On her watch the monarchy has at best stagnated and at worst slipped into an inexorable decline and has begun to feel like an anachronism.

I'll venture that history will not judge her as kindly as all these fawning contemporary commentators do. Her reign will be seen as the point at which the rot set in.

Oh and about the monarchy slipping into a decline. If you think the 'rot' started with Liz II then you should study your history a bit more. We haven't had the divine right of kings since Charles I, and we haven't had the monarch as absolute head of state since the Glorious Revolution.

In comparison, Liz II was pretty late to the party and has actually done quite a decent job, in the face of holding a position that is really just a figurehead, of doing so with dignity and making something meaningful of it.

YANBU. All this sacrifice and duty nonsense. Would they do it for a grace and favour high rise flat and no jewels or payment or bowing and scraping. Can't bear the royals and what they stand for.

She looks really miserable most of the time, or her enjoyment looks forced. It's not a particularly exciting job, granted, but she is paid handsomely for it and she has been all her life insulated from all the crap normal people have to do to make their lives function. The way parts of the media go on you'd think she was personally responsible for discovering DNA, developing colour television, medical advances etc etc

The rubbish that poor woman has to sit through is worth the crown jewels in itself...the royal variety performance every year for a start.

I'm curious to know what an 'excellent' monarch would look like in the OP's opinion.

I have visions of some prat chosen by a committee, who turns up on children's TV in brightly coloured clothes and the 'Krown Jewelz' in a bid to make monarch-ing 'accessible'.

YABU Her role is to be the figure head and represent Britain. To judge whether she has been effective or not, you have go by how she is perceived abroad, not at home. My experience having lived amongst forriners of various nationalities abroad for many years now is that she is one of the most respected people on the planet.

Who do you think was a good monarch?

YABU to direct this sentiment at the Queen, as opposed to the institution

NO I think it is important to see how Elizabeth Windsor has fulfilled the role. It is perfectly possible to be pro-monarchy, but think the incumbent monarch hasn't been up to snuff. You don't say 'criticise the office of prime minister but don't criticise David Cameron' do we?

Dizzy we don't know what she does or should do as she doesn't allow it to be scrutinised. FOr example we don't know what informal power she wields or how much influence she has over government policy. She has a weekly audience with the Prime Minister but what is discussed? Has she tried to alter policy in the same way as Charles has? We simply don't know.

Dull is good!

She's put the interests of the country above all other considerations for her whole life. The only exception I can think of was when she prioritised her newly bereaved grandsons and stayed with then in private for a few days. And so many people were horrid about that one personal decision.

I saw a fascinating programme once about the effect she has on other world leaders. Bill Clinton, then the most powerful man on earth, looked like an oversees little schoolboy who didn't know where to put his hands.

I hope one of the RN MNetters will be able to comment authoritatively on the decommissioning of the Royal Yacht. I had always understood that it was on the MoD budget, and when they felt no longer able to fund it, HMQ relinquished it immediately at first request.

Henry VIII was a good monarch. Apart from all the executions.

Mary was a good monarch too. Sort of. Apart from all the executions.

Elizabeth I is remember as an outstanding monarch. Quite a few executions there too, although in her defence, I don't think she really enjoyed them.

Boudicca was a very good monarch. Quite a few executions there too but at least they were EU migrants.

I think she's done a great job and I'd much rather have a Queen as head of our country than someone like Blair/Brown/Cameron etc etc.

TheUnMember

And William The Conqueror was an OK monarch AND an EU migrant

ComposHat
Every minute of every day (virtually) is scrutinized. She doesn't wield power in any real sense, she simply has a great deal of experience that she can offer to her much younger PMs, and they say they are grateful for her input. The weekly audience is confidential - that's why the PM of the day can be open and honest.

I think she has been a brilliant Monarch, in that she hasn't stood out and made a point of 'being important', but has gained respect from the majority of people she has met.

She has a great deal of personal wealth, and could live a very comfortable life without the civil list of whatever it's called now, which is essentially to cover the cost of running the 'office'.

William The Conqueror brought French rabbits with him that bred like ... rabbits and drove out the native hare. Bastard immigrants.

Well compared the QE1! No contest!

William was a Norman - so just another Viking, but that time with a French accent.

William and Mary were EU migrants too, as were the Georges.

I think she's been a great queen.

I think the Queen Mother was a bitch and Charles is a twat but I have a real affection for Betty

I'd rather have no monarchy. Anachronistic, not cost effective.

It's her job to be dull and unimaginative. Charles will be interfering where he should not and vain (which her maj seems not to be). I think no one can follow her and the institution of monarchy should die with her.

Obviously we do not know a lot about her personally but how some people have a complete lack of respect for her amazes me. She has given her whole life for this country and put it above everything else. That alone deserves respect even if you don?t like the woman.

Also, how are you deciding what is a good or poor monarch? What could she have done differently that would change your perception?

I'd argue that the Scandinavian Royal families and the Danish Royal family in particular are a good example of a more modest and accessible Royal family could look like in this country. The model is there, but the current Queen has lacked the vision to slim down and reform the institution.

What I'd argue that she's done is perpetuated the model of monarchy that was created by her Grandfather George V. Given the amount of time she has been on the throne, the institution has pretty much been preserved in aspic. She's stuck to that Windsor rule very rigidly.

hmm liz is not all sweetness for some of you who may remember this incident
www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-81467047.html

but i do respect her...she has been a good figurehead compared to others

I'd disagree with you on your perception of the Scandinavian Royal families. In Sweden there is a gentleman's agreement between the monarchy and the press. The press rarely, if ever, print anything negative about the royals. They can relax and let their guards down because the media aren't circling them like hungry wolves, waiting for the slightest trip up.

i agree with you. she has done her duty no less and certainly no more but i can hardly see that as something we should celebrate

i feel it is time we got rid of the monarchy. we would still have millions of tourists coming here, they do not generate this huge income and as much as we like to fool ourselves the monarchy is not looked up to and admired greatly in other countries we have created this myth