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Original poster

AIBU Why do English people curtsy to the royal family?

292 replies

PineapplePower · 10/08/2018 14:15

I need to stop reading the Daily Mail, but there was an article there about how “low” you should curtsy to your betters.

...there was a photo of Theresa May curtsying to Prince William, of all people. I found it absolutely repulsive.

Think what you will of her, but should she be bowing and scraping in front of a 30-something dude that hasn’t done much with his life? She’s the PM fer chrissakes!!!

OP posts:
YeTalkShiteHen · 11/08/2018 11:44

I don’t hate the Royals, I just don’t see the point of them.

MadMum101 · 11/08/2018 12:13

Let's be honest that it's doubtful that William would have achieved what he has if it wasn't for him being a Royal. No one is going to refuse him joining anything are they?

The saving lives with the Air Ambulance is excellent PR for a future King where the future acceptance of the Monarchy hangs in the balance.

I should Imagine TM wanted to curtsey. She seems the type.

RoseWhiteTips · 11/08/2018 13:14

Yep. It’s fair to say the Royals get lots of cool jobs - and into decent universities too - with substandard qualifications. No one is fooled by that.

girlwithadragontattoo · 11/08/2018 13:37

What's the problem with it? I don't see anything wrong as it's traditional

Worldpeace123 · 11/08/2018 14:02

Ugandan/Batswana people do it (gracefully) to their elders as a sign of respect.

lazyhazysummer · 11/08/2018 15:21

People that hate them tend to be jealous of their wealth & grace
Don't be ridiculous. The majority of people who don't agree with the monarchy hate the concept of a royal family, they don't actually hate the people in it. Jealousy has damn all to do with it. It's having the intelligence to know that there is no place in a supposedly equal society to have as the head of state someone who is only there through the accident of birth. The whole thing is abhorrent.
Apart from that, what is this "grace" thing? Confused

OlderThanAverageforMN · 11/08/2018 15:51

I think they're past their sell by and we should take our time to find a more realistic alternative for the age we live in

Who do you suggest? Elected politicians. They are voted for by us, sustained by the public purse, and they do such a great job don't they Hmm

sue51 · 11/08/2018 16:44

Older At least they are elected and in theory anyone can be a politician. To anyone who says President Blair, I would counter by saying that but for Mrs Simpson, we very nearly had the Nazi sympathiser King Edward.

Worldpeace123 · 11/08/2018 16:55

Meghan is pregnant (reliable sources).

YeTalkShiteHen · 11/08/2018 16:59

Meghan is pregnant (reliable sources)

IF that is true, isn’t it up to her and her husband when that news is made public?
Like any couple.

Ta1kinpeace · 11/08/2018 17:08

Loving the accusations of William as "Workshy"

He is not the Monarch

He is not the Heir to the throne

He and his wife have three small kids who they are trying to bring up to be sane human beings.
Their family is not even the richest at that school.

Get over yourselves

DesignStatement · 11/08/2018 17:40

Ta1kinpeave
Blimey ~ having 3 kids and trying to bring them up to be sane human beings is hardly worth a medal! It's what all parents try to do - while working outside the home and struggling with bills, chores and financial restraints ~ none of which Willy and Kate have to do!
He has been expensively trained as a pilot and 'dabbled' at it a while and then gave up. He is sitting in his butt (usually on holiday) while the rest of us (with or without our own children to support)pay him to do it. Kate is hardly heroic ~ she is a mum, end of.

As for Willy not being heir to the throne ~ exactly. So he is 'excused' as he is understudying his dad who has never worked and has enjoyed the many privileges of the longest and highest paid apprenticeship in the world!

Get over yourselves? ~ I'm happy for you to keep this family living in idle luxury, but sadly there are many like me who resent the anachronistic nonsense of blindly financially supporting every whim and fancy they have.

Laniakea · 11/08/2018 17:43

I think Prince William is doing a masters in pre hospital care atm (I'm a bit embarrassed to know that!)

Winebottle · 11/08/2018 17:50

He does not get paid by the hour. He is funded because he is heir to the throne.

He may not have financial pressures but he doesn't have an easy life. He is in the public eye and criticised for everything he does. He bares a huge burden of responsibility that working 9-5 does not.

I don't blame him for spending time with his young kids. He has an entire life of duty ahead of him which he did not choose.

Ta1kinpeace · 11/08/2018 17:53

designstatement
William and his family are not paid out of the royal purse.
Their income derives from the post tax income of the Duchy of Cornwall.
They are only as rich and entitled as many other families at the school their kids attend.

TM is a wazzock who should know that a deep curtsey like that is just embarrassing.

YeTalkShiteHen · 11/08/2018 17:53

Curiously, do the people who quite happily fund the royals and their bills at taxpayers expense avoid benefit bashing?

Something tells me not.

Loonoon · 11/08/2018 17:56

I wouldn’t curtesy if I met them and I am glued to royal weddings. But to be fair I would be glued to any televised wedding with rich and famous people all dressed up, or even just ordinary people. Hello or OK magazine should start a TV channel doing that.

stevie69 · 11/08/2018 18:00

And yes, he’s not done much with his life

Perhaps you'd care to tell us what you've done with yours, OP .... Hmm

YeTalkShiteHen · 11/08/2018 18:03

Perhaps you'd care to tell us what you've done with yours, OP

Why are you getting so uptight about someone you don’t even know? This is what really confuses me, people get so passionate about random strangers because they’re royal!

sar501 · 11/08/2018 18:04

YANBU at all. They may have titles and riches but they are no better than any of us. I don’t understand people who worship them like they are gods. Why??

TooTrueToBeGood · 11/08/2018 18:19

Their income derives from the post tax income of the Duchy of Cornwall.

That may be true. However, they only own the duchy of Cornwall as a result of our feudal past. There are still huge swathes of the UK that belong to the aristocracy because their ancestors carved up the nation between themselves way back when they had the power to do so. I long for the day our supposed democracy finds the courage to strip them, all of them, of their ill-gotten gains.

YeTalkShiteHen · 11/08/2018 18:21

Their income derives from the post tax income of the Duchy of Cornwall

That’s only Charles. There was an article about it in the news the other day.

Hushnownobodycares · 11/08/2018 18:28

He has an entire life of duty ahead of him which he did not choose

He picks and chooses the duties he fancies but that aside he could if he so chose opt out of his onerous lot and live privately. Oddly enough he doesn't.

Ta1kinpeace · 11/08/2018 18:39

That’s only Charles. There was an article about it in the news the other day.
Link please

He picks and chooses the duties he fancies but that aside he could if he so chose opt out of his onerous lot and live privately. Oddly enough he doesn't.
He could.
Who would the UK have as its head of state instead ?
The Monarchy are a compromise
None of our or many other countries' politicians are up to being a President

YeTalkShiteHen · 11/08/2018 18:44

here

To save you trawling though, to try and prove you’re right, this bit is the relevant bit
This means he will take on the Duchy of Cornwall, a private estate which funds the public, charitable and private activities of the heir to the throne

As a consequence, he will receive more financial benefits than the ones Prince Harry will ever have

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