AIBU to wonder if it's time to abolish the monarchy?

[MyBeloved]

Having grown increasingly tired of their shennanigans, I think the monarchy should be abolished. AIBU?

1) I love the tradition and sense of history, and I admire the Queen and her devotion to duty
2) They are a unifying force for British people and above politics
3) They are a major international draw
4) Their charitable work is amazing and their loss would have a devastating impact

The history will always be there - People still visit historic sites regardless of whether there is living royal there - think Stonehenge, Hampton Court, Edinburgh Castle, Scara Brae etc etc
The queen's 'devotion to duty' - she is exceptionally well paid, pandered to and money worry free. A job for life for herself and her bottomless pit of heirs.

They are not unifying - believe me, many want them gone as much as you want them preserved. Charles notoriously gets involved in politics.

A major international draw? Just like Versailles, The Hermitage, The Pyramids and The White House? No royals live there yet tourists pour in.

Many people do charitable work (the real work, not ribbon cutting) and do not get to live for the rest of their lives in luxury. Andrew's nonsense shows how his 'charitable involvement is not welcome, and that some even earn HIM money.

I think they should end the monarchy and donate the money to the nhs. Why are we paying for the upkeep of palaces and frogmore cottage and clothes and flights all over the world and Meghan makeup artist whilst people are dying in corridors waiting to be seen by a doctor. It's so wrong! What is wrong with this country! That is not ok!

As if the royals really care about "charity work" - just an image thing. Prince Charles could help charity much more if he gave a fraction of the duchy of Cornwall estates income to charity.

think they should end the monarchy and donate the money to the nhs. Why are we paying for the upkeep of palaces and frogmore cottage and clothes and flights all over the world and Meghan makeup artist whilst people are dying in corridors waiting to be seen by a doctor. It's so wrong! What is wrong with this country! That is not ok!

This this this!!!

I would love to see the back of the whole lot of them. Why on earth would we need another head of state to replace the queen??? What on earth is the point of them except to spend public money lavishly??

I wasn't particularly anti monarchy before pa and h and m bs as will as Williams shagging around - now i bloody well am.

Fuck off the entire whole lot of them.

They all pay tax so a lot of that would go too

@Morgankitten - even if the royal family was abolished the former members would continue to pay tax and probably a damn site more than now.

Also prince andrew is a disgrace claiming that pitch@palace is so great, help young business people etc and it turns out he pockets 2% of any deals done. Stupid, entitled prick.

Ask yourselves the question... What would you miss if the Monarchy is gone?

IMV, nothing, the palaces will still be there and tourists or indeed ourselves rarely see the RF in the flesh anyway.

Time to move on and pare it down to the bone. IMO.

None of them will end up penniless anyway and indeed might enjoy the freedom of anonymity going forward so it is a win win for everyone.

@Outsomnia I wouldn't miss a thing. Every time they appear on the news sandwiched in between a story on food banks and the nhs falling to bits I think why???? Meghan a crocodile tear over it "being hard" being a new mum with nanny's and a makeup artist and hairdresser and enterouge made me sick. Try having a newborn being a single mum on benefits living off a food bank in a council flat. She wonders why no-one asks how she is? Get real!!!!!

@iamadalek2

Exactly, you have said it for the majority of people I reckon. Good on you.

But their shenanigans sells papers and all that doesn't it? Andrew will never see a poor day ever, despite all the Epstein horror.

Will all be blown over in time. That is why I don't have much time for the Firm. And in reality, anyone with half a brain can see through it all now.

Slightly conflicted on this.

Most countries have a head of state like a President as well as the prime minister.

I wouldn't like us to go the US way where companies and individuals spend tens of millions to buy the presidency and influence the presidential decisions.

I wouldn't like to go the way of most of Europe where the President can override parliament. The Queen cannot do this - just advise.

I would like the Queen and her successor to do what they've wanted to do for ages and slim down the royal family.

@MyBeloved

YABU. I want to keep them.

I am not surprised to see the % results on here are higher for getting rid of them though.

If a (UK) referendum was done, I reckon the result would be to keep them, by about a 60-40 majority.

You’re not wrong, OP - it’s high fucking time we kicked the Windsors into touch. I really hope this Andrew business is the beginning of the end.

I'd quite happily wave goodbye to the lot of them.

Once Her Maj goes to the palace in the sky, it really should be all over now.

Sorry if that offends anyone that wasn't my intention.

But the Monarchy is as anachronism now. And we are paying for it.

I am sure you are all happy with that.

I think it's time to rethink the monarchy, once the Queen goes. The whole concept of monarchy is an anachronism in the 21st century, we should be developing a more meritocratic approach.

I think the tourists would still come, but only time will tell.

I’d be fine with that once the Queen goes.

I think the tourists would still come, but only time will tell

Tourists don't come expecting to actually see a member of the RF. They come to see palaces, stately homes etc. Look at Versailles - thousands go to see it and the RF of France is nowhere to be seen.

It really irks me to see accomplished, intelligent people, having to bow and curtsy to slime like Prince Andrew. Time to re-think the whole thing, once the Queen is gone.

They can stay royals, but end the civil list. And the land. And honorary military ranks.

I take it Andrew will forfeit his civil list income?

I think it’s high time we look into our entire constitutional arrangements

I think it’s high time we look into our entire constitutional arrangements

Exactly.

And bin the lot of these greedy entitled twits.

Yes get rid, and put the House of Lords in the bin at the same time

YANBU. I do however respect the queen as a person and feel sorry for her, because the last years of her reign are going to shit what with Brexit, climate change, her family etc.

The royal residences would be more open to tourists if no one was living in them!

Tourism income will increase when the monarchy is abolished.