Abolishing the Monarcy.

[Helendee]

Good or bad idea and reasons for your opinion?
I don’t feel strongly either way but I am curious about what aspects of becoming a Republic are more beneficial than the UK’s stable current system.

The point is that they come and spend money.

Again you have just totally contradicted yourself.

However, the point of monarchy is that you don't get to choose...
Edward VIII abdicated because his prospective wife was felt to be unacceptable to the public.

@KeflavikAirport

So what about the actual CIVIL WAR that was going on in GB in my lifetime? How does that make for a "stable, progressive" monarchy?

Great Britain hasn't seen a civil war since the Jacobite rising.

@jasjas1973

we do need the Monarchy. They cost 67 million quid to the taxpayers but bring in 1.8 BILLION on average every year. They're mostly what tourists come to the UK for. They're more than just statues and ceremonial figures, to be honest, they're a HUGE part of our culture and I cannot stress this enough

4 x as more people visit Versailles than Buck house, why? because you can go into that ex royal palace.

You can stress it all you like, its just your opinion, many people disagree, just 49% support QE, 3% Charles.

Bit like Brexit, the older you are, the more likely you support the monarchy.

Have you counted the crowds who congregate (pre-pandemic) outside the gates every morning to watch the changing of the guard? Plenty of other countries have similar ceremonies but they don't attract the same following.

When the current Queen dies it should be quietly phased out

Too late I'm afraid, even if the majority wanted it right now. Picking it all apart would take years, so probably couldn't be completed even during Charles's reign - unless he makes it much beyond 80, which I doubt

All of which may be why they're so careful to keep W&K's image clean. With the Queen as mortal as anyone and Charles a busted flush, they've got to produce some hope for the future if they're to hang on longer term

@KeflavikAirport,

"Again you have just totally contradicted yourself."

No I haven't.
People come for all sorts of reason and the Royal Family are one of them.
Others come as general tourists see what London has to offer, like what they see and decide view Royal events. They like it so much they tell their friends and all come back the next year specifically to see what they didn't catch the last time. This is how marketing works.

Just because they didn't come originally to see Liz & Phil doesn't mean they won't come in future.

theconversation.com/fact-check-do-tourists-visit-britain-because-of-the-royal-family-88335

@Anyoneelsewilldo

I’m now convinced *@AnitaB888* is trolling. Sounds like a teenager reading out excerpts from her school history book. Thinks this then gives people the ability to comprehend the completely different point she was trying to make and also has apparently never heard of Northern Ireland and the troubles (or didn’t realise they were part of GB - not sure which is worse!)

You need a geography lesson because Northern Ireland has never been part of Great Britain.

Great Britain hasn't seen a civil war since the Jacobite rising.

But the United Kingdom has. By definition if you send soldiers in to keep the peace, you are fighting a war of some kind. And if the people shooting at you and that you are shooting at have the same head of state, it's a civil war.

@Hrpuffnstuff1

I wish people would stop using the term tax payer and saving us money. Half the people in this country don't even pay bloody tax, a large percentage are claiming bloody benefits and a significant majority as seen by the vaccine plan are classed as vulnerable costing more than they contribute.

And yet they moan about the queen.

Even people on benefits pay tax. They pay tax every time they use gas or electricity, put petrol in their cars, buy a beer or virtually anything else that's not food.

One of the few potential benefits of leaving the EU is that we can, if we wish, do away with VAT and charge more in direct taxes which, if done right, would redress some of the gross inequality we have in this country. Won't happen though.

And what would your alternative to benefits be, @Hrpuffnstuff1? Begging, perhaps?

I'm not a fan of the royal family....but the thought of BoJo as head of state?! president?! eurgh. Not sure I trust my fellow brits enough when it comes to elections, in recent years we seem to have only made disastrous election decisions, why give them even more power?

I hope they abolish the monarchy in my lifetime. I would go as far to say they shouldn't get a penny of public money either

@Anyoneelsewilldo,

"I’m now convinced @AnitaB888 is trolling. Sounds like a teenager reading out excerpts from her school history book. Thinks this then gives people the ability to comprehend the completely different point she was trying to make and also has apparently never heard of Northern Ireland and the troubles (or didn’t realise they were part of GB - not sure which is worse!)"

What are you talking about?

I'm sorry you can't keep up with me.

There are many definition of a Civil War and IMO the Troubles in NI don't qualify. That's why I tried to clarify what the topic was.

Maybe you could define 'Troll' while you are at it. I certainly don't live under a bridge and eat unwary travellers.

but the thought of BoJo as head of state?! president?!

Does the thought of King Charles or King Andrew or King Harry fill you with deep joy? I mean, we've had Nazi sympathisers on the throne before.

@CoronaIsWatching

Prince Andrew is just what they're all like behind the PR spin

Prince Harry and no loyalty to the monarchy or the country in the end

Prince William having affairs left right and centre, all covered up

Prince Charles and Camilla both vile in their treatment of Diana (what The Crown and see for yourself)

Only one I like is Kate Middleton but she's not even a blood royal

Shouldn't have to but will point out. The crown is not a documentary.

Either way I used to be a royalist but with the behaviour displayed of late I feel it should end when the Queen dies.

Edward VIII abdicated because his prospective wife was felt to be unacceptable to the public

I think you'll find it was because she was unacceptable to the establishment rather than the public, especially as the latter were a lot more biddable and knew even less about the RF back then

There was quite a big "hands off our KIng" movement at the time, so who knows if we'd have ended up with them and their Nazi pals if the unwashed masses had any say in it ... though since they had no children at least we wouldn't have had to suffer their offspring

I’d love someone like Michael Palin to do it Yes it'll be an English metropolitan person who has no interest in the countryside or Scotland.
I like the Queen. I know who her ancestors are and that's fascinating in its own right. I'd be thrilled to meet the Queen. She's history personified. A walking symbol of the country. Nice as he is I wouldn't feel that about Michael Palin. All the ceremonial would disappear. The tiaras, uniform and finery.

@donewithitalltodayandxmas

Name me all the occasions they have got involved in politics ? It very rare ? We vote in a goverment Sounds like lots of bitter people here , plenty of people are born into rich families , thats life .

There was quite a fuss a few years ago when it was revealed that Charles tried to influence government policy in many areas.

Google "Black Spider memos" and you should find plenty about it.

@Puzzledandpissedoff

I had family members who live through the Abdication Crisis and the public were basically kept in the dark about what Edward VIII was up to 'over the pond'. The press put a 'D' notice on all info, to preserve the reputation of the Royal Family but because my family members had friends in Canada they got wind of it.
If Joe Public had really known the truth then they wouldn't have been so supportive of him.
I think the abdication came as a great relief to the gvernment.
Basically he was a promiscuous, irresponsible, playboy.

Basically he was a promiscuous, irresponsible, playboy.

And a Nazi sympathiser. Who but for an accident of fate would have led us into WW2. Great argument for the monarchy right there.

France, who have no monarchy, revenue from tourism = 198.3 billion euros in 2016
UK revenue from monarchy = 145.9 billion British pounds in 2018 (168.5 bn euros)

Aside from royal weddings, tourists do not come here to see the royals. They come here to see lots of stuff, including viewing Buckingham Palace from behind 8 foot railings.

Basically (Edward) was a promiscuous, irresponsible, playboy

He was indeed, and as another product of dysfunction his replacement was hardly any better (though admittedly in a different way)

As a slight aside I've often found it uncanny how Edward's haunted expression - at least after meeting Wallis - is so exactly mirrored in that of the current heir; the consequence, perhaps, in throwing their hands in with inappropriate women

I mean, we've had Nazi sympathisers on the throne before

No we haven’t. The one that meets that description abdicated before his coronation.

As a slight aside I've often found it uncanny how Edward's haunted expression - at least after meeting Wallis - is so exactly mirrored in that of the current heir; the consequence, perhaps, in throwing their hands in with inappropriate women

What.... Char;es?
He's the current heir to the throne...

By the way, if anyone wants more info on the wartime/Nazi activities of the RF I recommend Princes at War by Deborah Cadbury - it's an excellent piece of writing and covers it all pretty well