To wonder if Britain will always have a monarchy...

[DrinkSangriaInThePark]

... Or if not, how/when will British people get the opportunity to disband it?

I'm not from England, I'm Irish living in Ireland by the way, and I don't have very strong feelings for or against the British Royal family. But I seem to be hearing a lot of criticism of, and annoyance at, the Royal family recently, and I'm just wondering if there could ever be a referendum to decide whether the idea of a monarchy is outdated and unnecessary?

Again, I'm totally unbiased one way or another, but just wondering if the monarchy has to stay forever, just because it has always been there. With a democratic government, will be there ever be a time when it's deemed an unnecessary cost?

the younger royals have said several times in interview that they do not wish to be "royals". They are just picturing their current lifestyle with all the percs but without any of the "obligations". We are mugs enough to give it to them as well.

What do we stand to gain by getting rid of them? What do we risk by trying to get rid of them?

As long as you have a monarch, you will have an order of succession, and so you will have a Royal Family. You can’t just say “We want the Cambridges and everyone else f-off.”

Personally I think it’s a ridiculous institution, but I quite like tradition so I would probably vote to keep.

We tend to forget the Queen's role in terms of the Church of England and that's another very significant aspect of her role.
I think there's a growing division between hard working royals like Princess Anne who seems to recycle her clothes for generations and the younger royals who seem to spend so much money foolishly.

I think the problem is they want the money but not the obligation that goes with it.
I think when prince William and Harry bit say they don’t want the job but do it lit of duty really pisses people off.

They need to change and become more relevant and visible with their charity work and gain respect through the work or go the opposite way and stopped being photographed on jollies and next to Beyoncé. That are at a cross roads and bed to choose whether they want to be celebrities or regal, but they can’t have both.

We tend to forget the Queen's role in terms of the Church of England and that's another very significant aspect of her role.

No we don't. One way or the other, the monarch's role re the established church has been under constant discussion for decades. There have been divorces, scandals, long debates over whether Charles could remarry, WHERE he could remarry, that whole thing where he expressed his intention to be 'Defender of FAITHS' .

Nobody has forgotten it. It's just looking increasingly fragile. The UK apparently isn't a 'Christian Country' any more. Was it Dave Cameron wjo got torn to shreds for trying to say it was?

You can’t just say “We want the Cambridges and everyone else f-off.”
Why not? Imo five is quite enough - there would have to be a tragedy of an unprecedented scale for all five to die. The rest can technically be “in line” but shouldn’t get any money or privileges.

Agree that abolishing the monarchy would actually increase tourism. France is the most visited country in the world and the louvre and Versailles are the most visited attractions, both former royal palaces. If all the royal palaces, houses and estates were opened up year round tourism would increase ten fold

I'm weakly republican - don't really like the Monarchy (or any form of inherited privilege). However it's not something I'm going to storm the palace over - or even offer an alternative arrangement.

One thing that has started bugging me a tad though, is that one of the defences of having the Queen was that it make the UK a super-special place as the Crown had all these exotic powers to prevent a slide into extremism and chaos. Seems we were sold a crock on that one.

All Hail King Boris

Out of curiosity, for those who think the monarchy should be abolished, what would that look like? I imagine they would still be among the most wealthy people in Britain and that there would continue to be global interest in them. Would it actually change much?

(Aussie here so not affected either way but as a lover of history I have a mild fascination with Royalty).

I can't understand why we don't have a referendum about it.

Because referendums always solve things ....

@LaMarschallin - we wont behaving this conversation when Im Queen

for those who think the monarchy should be abolished, what would that look like?
Basically the top job would be open to anyone who got enough votes, and not restricted to a particular family who imo don’t deserve their position.

Lets face it , we tried a revolution once, lopped a Kings head off, had anarchy and no mince pies.

Basically the top job would be open to anyone who got enough votes

If we wanted an elected president that is. Bear in mind Americans don't actually vote for the president either.

Do you understand how the monarchy is funded ? Few people who post about them do. And when you point out how they are funded the conversation switches to entitled rich fucks!

I usually bite my tongue but would love to know how posters think the world should work - with everyone having the same of everything, nobidy having too little or too much. It's a nice idea but totally fucking impossible, and human nature being what it is would probably hurry along the end of us as a species.

Basically the top job would be open to anyone who got enough votes, and not restricted to a particular family who imo don’t deserve their position. Ha ha ha ha... .hollowly! Lets start with Trump, Castro and move on to just about every dictator ever!

Lets face it , we tried a revolution once, lopped a Kings head off, had anarchy and no mince pies.

happy days

Once Lizzie’s gone, I think they’ve had it. She understands how to balance enormous unearned privilege with the appearance of work and adherence to duty. Charles, William etc just want it on their terms. Look at us when we’re cast in a good light, fuck off and stop looking when we say.
No mate. You turn yourself into a soap
opera, you don’t get to decide when the viewers switch you off. Unless you want switched permanently. That we can accommodate, but you might not like it that much ...

MyOpinionIsValid

@LaMarschallin- we wont behaving this conversation when Im Queen

Is that because my head will have been chopped off....

You will never get a balanced view on MN because its predominantly left wing. In general I think people prefer the Monarchy to the alternative and republicans in the UK only make up a small percentage. I don't see it disappearing any time soon although I do believe it will be pared down even more than it has been of late.

I think The Queen has done a fantastic job and hope Charles can do half as well. IMO it's infinitely more favourable than having, for example a President (war criminal) Tony Blair or President Boris Johnson.

Ha ha ha ha... .hollowly! Lets start with Trump, Castro and move on to just about every dictator ever!
At least you’re not stuck with a president permanently. Unlike some of our useless royals who’ve been massively privileged from birth and will continue to be for the rest of their lives, including hangers-on like Markle who’ve done nothing except marry a certain person. I realise it’s impossible to eradicate unearned privilege but I disagree with the state facilitating it.

I think The Queen has done a fantastic job and hope Charles can do half as well. IMO it's infinitely more favourable than having, for example a President (war criminal) Tony Blair

So what exactly is her "fantastically done" job, if it's not stopping Prime Minsters starting illegal wars ? Are the curtains and valances at no. 10 really clean then ?

Remember, the Queen isn't a toy one. She is our actual, real and very much ingrained Head of State. A real grown-up position. Moreover a real grown-up position that no one on this thread, forum, website, or country can hope to aspire to because it's dished out by birth.

Even the lowliest American can become President.

At least you’re not stuck with a president permanently. Erm... oh never mind!

I think the Queen should be our last monarch.