To think Prince George will never be King?

[SerfTerf]

Or if he is, the next generation won't be?

We were talking about it at lunch. I just have the strong feeling now that the monarchy will fizzle out at some point in the next 50-100 years.

It's not an active "want" just a notion.

Two of us talking earlier felt similarly but the other three were aghast.

So, AIBU?

I always say to her, you don't get to choose who comes next, that's the whole point of a hereditary monarchy. Then I'll remind her, the way for the public to actually choose who the head of state is, to to become a republic. She doesn't appreciate that truth!

IKR?

They aren't subsidised though, if you consider the queen handed over all Crown property to the Govt in return for the civil purse. If she took it back, sold off buck house for flats she'd be quids in.

Here it is, from June I think
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/2960682-Harry-says-no-Royal-wants-to-be-Monarch-but-will-do-so-from-a-sense-of-duty

I sort of hope it will get toned down a lot. More relaxed, less expensive, more like some of the other remaining European monarchies.

I don't expect there to be mass unrest or anything when the queen dies. Why would there be?

I was half expecting her to go in 2016 though - which would have been crap on top of everything else that year.

It's Charles who will bugger it up for them, he's so unpopular

Charles is a constitutional crisis waiting to happen!

You think enough people feeling as you do will save it?

That's not the point. It's the status quo; changing that would require a huge number of people feeling strongly enough about abolition to force a referendum. I see zero evidence of that happening any time soon.

You don't think they'll just quit?

No one member of the RF can just bring down the monarchy, all they could do is abdicate their own position. And even if William, George, Charlotte and Harry all agreed to some sort of abdication pact, Andrew someone would step up and put their bum on the throne.

The whole concept of a "ruling class", thrones, people having to bow to them ... bowing to another human being!!! Why should one person bow to another? Its so so outdated and wrong.

squishysquirmy I don't mean protests in the streets or whatever but controversial statements by politicians/high profile people and lots of debate about the future of the monarchy.

I think the monarchy is very stable because it has divested itself of any real power

I agree, but this is also why I believe Charles would do an enormous amount of damage to the institution

The difficulty of a monarch who meddles incessantly in politics - and I really can't see him giving this up - is that as well as expecting applause they'd also have to take some kind of responsibility for what follows ... and as we've seen too often, Charles's reaction to anything less than adulation isn't a positive one

Yes it does seem so outdated @amber90

I watched an extended news of William and Kate's trip to Germany. It looked to me like he was entirely polite and charming to everyone he met, but was secretly hating the fact that from now on, his life will consist of shaking people's hands and asking 'have you come far?', or similar inane pleasantries. Kate, I thought, was extra smiley and chatty to divert attention from William's possible gloom. He wasn't openly gloomy, was lovely to everyone, I just felt he wasn't entirely happy about his future. Prince George really wanted to be somewhere else!

So I can see the monarchy ending simply because it's a horrible job and no one in line for it wants to do it. What will happen then is moot, maybe a peaceful transition to a president who would shake the hands and make the pleasantries for a few years before handing over to someone else.

I can see Charles fucking things up tbh.

Think of the crowds that always turn out to see them, all of them.The Regatta in London, and other such happy times, sorry but I think you will find it;s a case of people saying one thing and doing different.

But once the queen dies I seriously doubt as many people will turn up to see Charles and his missus fart arsing around.

I think if the royal family were abolished and buck house and the rest then got opened up to the public that would result in more tourism than any of the events that currently attract crowds.

What annoyed me was the announcement in June that the state allowance was being raised to £81,000,000 a year. How many hospitals and schools would that fund? Don't tell me they need that sort of money to run the Monarchy as I won't believe you.

Let's hope so, Lynn

What do you think he'll do @Lynnm63 ?

I thought you meant because of the longevity of the royals!

So I can see the monarchy ending simply because it's a horrible job and no one in line for it wants to do it. What will happen then is moot, maybe a peaceful transition to a president who would shake the hands and make the pleasantries for a few years before handing over to someone else.

Like a gilded cage. Cruel almost.

Duty as an idea is losing currency fast and personal happiness is now seen as the key thing. We know the younger generation are all into therapy. It makes you wonder, doesn't it?

YABU. They do a lot of good and bring in a lot of money to the economy.

Harry said in a recent interview that none of his generation were very bothered about doing their royal duties and only continued out of a sense of duty (probably more to his Grandmother than the public). They enjoy a life of privilege and do about 50 public engagements each (some do more or less) a year to keep the money rolling in.

YABU. They do a lot of good and bring in a lot of money to the economy.

That doesn't mean they're safe.

Would and should are not the same.

the Queens 'income' is taken from the crown estates money which is paid to the government, who then pay the queen. So its not our hard earned taxes that pay for the queen, its the money the estates produce. They are also a big employer around the country.

Her maj IS getting a pay rise, but that is to pay for the refurbishment of Buck House, where all the state banquets, hosting foreign dignitaries on behalf of the government is done.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jun/27/queens-income-rises-to-82m-to-cover-cost-of-buckingham-palace-works

The Crown Estate, which owns most of Regent Street and swaths of St James’s as well as thousands of acres of farmland, forests and coastline, made £328.8m profit in the year to the end of March 2017, an 8% increase on the previous year."

YABU. They do a lot of good and bring in a lot of money to the economy.

How do they bring a lot of money to the economy?