Monarchy Abolished?

[malibuloving]

Other threads have inspired me

Do you think we’ll ever live to see the Royals gone or perhaps our children will?

I can see public support for it to be abolished once the Queens gone. I feel like they’ve had too many chances at this point. The cover up of Andrews vile friendship with the sexual predator Epstein and the awful things Andrew probably did plus the pictures with teenagers has been an outrage. I also really like Harry and Meghan but their hypocrisy is quite embarrassing how they’re banging on about climate change and then jetting off across the globe on private jets. And more and more for all royals.

AIBU to think their time is up soon

I thought she looked very silly too but if it had been Meghan doing the wrecking ball pose then I'm sure there would've been MN thread after MN thread about how it was proof of her "narc" qualities and the Mail would've commissioned Sarah Vine to write a long opinion piece about what was wrong with the pose etc etc!

SamanthaBrique

Sadly, I think you're right.

BertrandRussell But it annoys me that despite her expensive education and media training she is such a rubbish public speaker. It annoys me that she hung around waiting to get married rather than doing something-what sort of a role model is that?

True. I find both Kate and Meghan particularly uninspiring. With Kate, I suspect the lack of serious work experience and the lack of public speaking ability might be linked. She has never developed any other qualities than to be a "good wife". I knew this set from a distance at university and its a not unusual approach. The Middletons have however perfected it.

Meghan OTOH gave up her career for marriage, and it seems unlikely that Harry would have interested her had he not been royal. Meghan's career also involved blogging and produce placement, so arguably with her alliance with Givenchy and the unusual knowledge of Meghan's Mirror, she has not given it all up. She does however remind me of a particularly fake girl at school called Elizabeth-Ann, who had exactly the same fake smile and a whole host of fake platitudes at the ready. I do see the similarity.

It would be astonishing if all the people marrying into the RF just by chance turned out to be wonderful, kind people. By the law of averages they must get some horrors.

I was called racist once - that's probably something I get less than non mixed race people. But I look sort of white enough to have been called racist for having let a room in my flat to a Nigerian man, and then to have asked him to leave for non-payment of rent. Obviously, if I was racist, I wouldn't have let him stay in my flat in the first place. But that didn't stop his most loyal allies ganging up on me and calling me racist. That's what I think is currently happening with Meghan. Real racism should not be confused for not being as universally popular as one would desire. Popularity is earned, not as of right.

Charles can whinge all he likes about being Prince of Wales. I don’t know how you could describe the life of someone who doesn’t even squeeze their own toothpaste as anything but stress free.

@Puzzledandpissedoff Curses- I was setting the odds based on nobody else having noticed. I’ll take your ton at evens. As a favour.

“Real racism should not be confused for not being as universally popular as one would desire”

Oh, I agree. But, as you know, racism comes in many forms. It is impossible to look at the language used about Meghan and the criticisms of her and not think that they have a thread of racism running through them. Obviously not all of them. But it’s certainly there in the sense of her being “above her station” for example.

Real racism should not be confused for not being as universally popular as one would desire

This expresses the sentiment that I feel much better than I've tried.

I don't like Meghan.
But I don't like Kate either.

And if anyone cares to check my posts, they'll notice that.

Dog-whistle racism has been commented on. I totally agreed with that on the use of the word "uppity".
But there's a kind of dog-whistle anti racism. So nobody can say anything negative about MM.
Or the DofS. Which she might be called without typos.

I have no problem with people saying negative things about MM. What I object to is when the negative things are ridiculous. Or when they are things which are not considered negative in other members of the royal family. It seems to have come as a huge surprise to many that the royal family live hugely privileged lives, are very rich, have very rich friends and spend fucktons of money. They didn’t notice til a “not quite one of us” type person started to do it!

It’s not a “diagnosis” it’s just an opinion. Calm down. People are always dishing their opinion on Trumps mental state, it doesn’t mean they’re diagnosing him.

MM seems no more narcissistic (in a clinical way) than any other actor or person in the media spotlight

Yes showbiz does attract narcissists, that is true. The majority of people do not want fame. A certain type of person that needs attention and adoration will try to get famous.

I’ll take your ton at evens. As a favour

You're on … though I'm not sure the odds are good enough

Well if it’s not a diagnosis, then what is it? And what does it mean?

It’s an opinion? Do you think Trump is mentally sound? OMG are you diagnosing him?!

I wouldn’t dream of diagnosing anyone. I’m not qualified. So I try not to use words unless I know what they mean. So no, I would never call anyone a narcissist.

We just need to get rid of monarchy for the irrelevant, expensive anachronism that it is.
It seems that taxpayers have to fund the multiple marriages the royals go through - each new partner entitled to live lavishly at our expense. However many children they pop out, we have to fund their weddings. Countless homes, endless renovations, bottomless security and lavish travel arrangements.
Despite the most expensive advice and security our money can buy, each of them seems to act how they want and hang the consequences.

It cost a fortune to pay security for Beatrice and Eugenie through their university etc - yet they, against all advice, saw fit to blog all their movements for anyone to read!

Harry, despite his bodyguards etc, was able to turn up dressed as a Nazi, fall out of pubs and clubs drunk, and prance about stark naked at a party full of strangers with camera phones.

Philip despite his age and ability continued to drive against advice, it took a very public crash before he stopped. Likewise, no advisor could get him to shut up with his racist and offensive remarks.

Andrew despite demanding expensive security detail on his travels, was brazenly associating with a convicted paedophile, and may yet face charges of being one himself. His wife at the time meanwhile cavorting with other toe suckers and selling the royal name to the highest bidder.

Edward - a petulant entitled layabout who trout 'It's a royal knockout' would be an expensive jolly jape to amuse the peasantry, and through a giant strop that we didn't enjoy it! His wife meanwhile, trading on her royal connections.

So far, MM doesn't even come close to displaying any of the rank behaviour displayed by the royal!

Are we supposed to hold our breath and just hope the next royal generation reverse these indulgences, choose partners who work for a living and can fund their own lifestyles out of their labours, not ours?

No - just get rid and recognise that the pantomime is over.

thought, not trout

I can't see it ending for as long as the Queen is the Queen. If it goes, it'll be during the reign of a future monarch.

I think those in charge of such things will at least let the Queen complete her time.

If it ends afterwards then at least it can end on a
high of sorts. She will have had the longest reign and has not brought shame or scandal unlike some of the others.

"and the only possible reasons are her nationality and her colour." - now you see I do not believe this. I really don't.

I do think the Queen has earned her place - I think Charles and William are going to have to grow up a bit to earn similar respect. My opinion only. & I know Charles is getting on a bit . ( Obviously I am not talking about those who do not wish to have a monarchy at all )

I think if either Sophie or Kate had come into the RF as someone we don't know (i.e. they had not been the partner of one of the RF for some time), and immediately set about creating an Instagram in which they delivered homilies and admonishments to the proles about how they should live, it might not have gone down well either . Especially if they were seen spending a huge amount of money very quickly. Yes the rest of the RF take private jets and spend a lot, but they keep it under the radar as much as they can. That doesn't make it right, but at least they aren't waving it in our face. It takes time to build a profile and set out your stall as a Royal. Camilla and Kate were very canny in the way they presented themselves and still are. Sophie made a huge gaff in trying to use Edward to further her career, and that career was quickly ended as a result. Since then she has worked hard without drawing attention to herself, and doesn't come across as having an ego per se. Camilla the same, and Kate tries very hard to fit the profile expected of her.

Meghan had a lot of good will initially, but she quickly lost it with many people by appearing not to take much notice of public opinion in THIS country. She seems almost exclusively focused on her image in the US.
The celebrities she hangs out with give the impression she considers herself a celebrity not a member of an institution which is supposed to be there to serve the country . (Bit of a joke that!)

The RF get away with what they do because they play a clever game with us. Push too hard, make their wealth and privilege too obvious, and they have lost us. They need to tread a line where they aren't seen to preach but are seen to support and help. Then go home quietly and live in luxury away from our prying eyes.

Meghan doesn't understand any of this, or doesn't seem to. I think she is trying in her own way and is probably finding it very hard going. I imagine the lack of privacy is driving her crazy, the lack of freedom to wear what she likes, and pop out to the shops when she feels like it. Frogmore probably feels like a fortress. I imagine (and of course this is just my opinion) she thought being a Royal would be like being a celebrity only a hundred times better, with lots of Palaces and free clothes. She probably thought she could march in and 'change things' . It doesn't work like that in an institution as hide bound as the RF. I also think she likes her own way and doesn't listen to advice. That's a recipe for disaster.

I think Charles and William are going to have to grow up a bit to earn similar respect

As you suggest, Charles is now over 70 and a bit old to change, especially when he's never shown signs of listening to what doesn't suit. So for many monarchists the only real hope is William and frankly that doesn't sound like much of a hope to me

Anyway, for all the talk about personalities abolition isn't about individuals for some of us - it's the overall principle of the thing

I would seem the future is not looking good for the RF. Really only have themselves to blame. Can you imagine the good all that money they fritter on obscene expenses could do for our people and our country. New hospital units, better housing, better schools. It’s heart breaking to see these chinless wonders frittering it like it’s their absolute entitlement to do so.

• it not I

Can you imagine the good all that money they fritter on obscene expenses could do for our people and our country

Very true, but I'm not sure it would work quite like that. If we want a Head of State somebody's got to do it, and while republicans would much prefer an elected President there's no saying it would cost any less

I really hope the monarchy is abolished asap. It is an outdated and unfair concept. Why should we have a national anthem that holds an unelected, undemocratic head of state superior to everyone else? They just have a laugh quite literally at our expense all the time. Prince Andrew and Harry and Megan have really pissed me off recently, I'm glad the press are pursuing their behaviour.