Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think the royal family should end at the queen

329 replies

Letshaveablackcelebration · 14/05/2021 06:48

I have respect for the Queen’s sense of duty but I do genuinely believe that it’s time for a conversation about the royal family. Honestly, who cares about the coming King Charles- is that really right? People mostly respect the queen but not the rest of them.

I read this article and I was one of those who thought their interview showed up some horrible stuff- there are clearly issues with the royals

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/may/13/prince-harry-royal-family-like-being-in-the-truman-show

Apart from all of the drama, I don’t think that we should be funding a royal family with tax payers money when the country is in such a state & the queen is literally one of the richest women in the world. I know royals in other countries are funded differently. The fact that the tories are mooting the idea of spending millions of public money on a ne boat to remember Prince Philip is a classic example.

Aibu?

OP posts:
GCAcademic · 14/05/2021 07:07

@Letshaveablackcelebration

Realistically too- if Scotland becomes independent, Ireland reunifies and Wales do too (I am welsh and support independence) then there isn’t going to be much of a kingdom to rule over - lots of the commonwealth moot independence too! It has always bothered me that we have a Prince of Wales!
The commonwealth countries are independent. They wouldn’t be commonwealth countries if they weren’t.
justmatureenough2bdad · 14/05/2021 07:08

i mean, you can call for the cessation of their public role, or the monarch as titular head of state, but noone can just abolish their royal styles or titles or position as most senior aristocracy. im sure they wouldnt mind handing over the bulk of the crown estate, retaining the royal duchied and living out their lives in idle luxury, still as kings, queens and princes with none of the responsibilities they currently have. im pretty sure most of the institutions that have them as patrons would still want them...
also, notwithstanding that any family has internal complications, particularly if they live under public scrutiny. i bet charles has a different view of his own life than Harry's presumptuous assertions. harry seems determined to paint everyone in the rf as miserable and trapped, but it feels like it is to justify his narrative of heroic escape than anything else. yabu to believe much of what is coming from the sussex media storm...

Original poster
Letshaveablackcelebration · 14/05/2021 07:08

@GCAcademic what I mean is that the Queen is still head of state in Australia and they have been talking about becoming a republic for ages

OP posts:
GreenClock · 14/05/2021 07:10

I don’t support the idea of monarchy so I agree OP. I also suspect that you’re right about the future of the UK - I don’t think that there will be a “United Kingdom” 50 years from now - but that’s a different topic I guess.

Quincie · 14/05/2021 07:11

The queen would remain the queen of Scotland if we leave after indyref2 - we will also keep teh pound??!! - Nichola is determined to keep everyone happy Hmm

ConkerBonkers · 14/05/2021 07:11

Completely agree, hugely archaic institution, let's get shot of it.

Quincie · 14/05/2021 07:12

I don't think you would get a good replacement due to media intrusion. People only want the media if they can make money out of it and that requires a certain type of person. That is not the type of dignified, intelligent, articulate person who you'd want for a president.

fruitloop2021 · 14/05/2021 07:13

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Original poster
Letshaveablackcelebration · 14/05/2021 07:13

@Quincie ah ok, I didn’t realise that 😬

OP posts:
girlsallowed21 · 14/05/2021 07:13

Can't believe they're even a thing in this day and age!
The idea that 1 family is above everyone else simply by birth doesn't sit right with me. They need to be abolished.

MargateSands · 14/05/2021 07:14

Broadly speaking you’re right. However, there’s a cat in hells chance of it actually happening.

AbsolutelyPatsy · 14/05/2021 07:15

it is a strange situation but i think plenty of people like the pomp and ceremony of it all,
we are unique and special with the royal family
i would hate a president

3cats2kids1dog · 14/05/2021 07:16

also, i fully respect your right to opine that charlie and bill 'have no credibility' or that 'people don't respect them'... but i don't understand the arrogance that makes you think that those opinions are universal

AbsolutelyPatsy · 14/05/2021 07:16

it is all a huge tourist attraction and i think should remain.

Dontforgetyourbrolly · 14/05/2021 07:17

That's nice for you

MadameMinimes · 14/05/2021 07:17

I can see the argument for slimming down the monarchy but the idea that getting rid of the monarchy would make the country more democratic doesn’t really hold true. In the democracy index in 2020, of the top 10 most democratic countries in the world, eight were constitutional monarchies. The only republics in the top 10 were Ireland and Iceland.
Any move to a republican system would, by the nature of how our political system is set up, end up being skewed to the advantage of whoever held the parliamentary majority at the time. No political party in government hands away power to someone else that they don’t have to.

Original poster
Letshaveablackcelebration · 14/05/2021 07:20

@3cats2kids1dog debate and discussion is literally what this forum is for. I don’t think anyone is being arrogant or assuming their beliefs are universal 🤷🏻‍♀️ It’s just a discussion!

OP posts:
MindyStClaire · 14/05/2021 07:21

YANBU, the idea of it being an inherited position is preposterous really.

I'd really miss the entertainment though. Grin

Original poster
Letshaveablackcelebration · 14/05/2021 07:23

@MadameMinimes yea given the current assault on democracy and voter suppression from the tories, you are probably right

OP posts:
Dohrehmee · 14/05/2021 07:25

I love the queen and Kate avd William are likeable but I still think let them live off their own personal wealth. If they need more money they can find a job. Also as what previous pp have posts why should one family be above everyone else simply because of birth

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 14/05/2021 07:29

Would you rather have Prince Charles or Donald Trump as head of state?

Royal family is pretty harmless really. . I've always liked the idea that if the PM is being a complete idiot the RF could in theory stop them. Just wish they had done it sometimes.

Even if they stopped being HoS they would still be in demand for ceremonial stuff. People would still want to see changing of the guard and Buckingham Palace. Still want to see stories about how their local lollipop lady got an MBE for services to the community. And people will still want to see what the various women are wearing in Hello magazine.

LaMarschallin · 14/05/2021 07:29

I've gradually become more republican over the past couple of years and have no respect for the younger generation of the RF.

However, I think you are BU for not posting this in the royal family section and saying I do genuinely believe that it’s time for a conversation about the royal family. Fair enough, there should be, but there already have been loads of conversations about the RF. This isn't a new idea in the slightest.

Also:

I think we have had years of lockdown now and normal scandals, life, celebrity tittle tattle, divorces have not have not reached the papers to nearly the same extent.

We've not had "years of lockdown".
Godsake!

Quincie · 14/05/2021 07:30

The Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, have monarchs.
Luxembourg has a Grand Duke.

So often we are told we should emulate the Scandi countries, especially Scotland.

Many countries have monarchs. I think many countries don't have our intrusive press and are probably able to get on with their lives.

Quincie · 14/05/2021 07:32

We've not had "years of lockdown".
Well a year and a bit and during much of it no one was doing much, making movies, putting on shows etc etc etc etc

MargateSands · 14/05/2021 07:32

@Aroundtheworldin80moves

Would you rather have Prince Charles or Donald Trump as head of state?

Royal family is pretty harmless really. . I've always liked the idea that if the PM is being a complete idiot the RF could in theory stop them. Just wish they had done it sometimes.

Even if they stopped being HoS they would still be in demand for ceremonial stuff. People would still want to see changing of the guard and Buckingham Palace. Still want to see stories about how their local lollipop lady got an MBE for services to the community. And people will still want to see what the various women are wearing in Hello magazine.

The difference is you can boot out Trump if you don’t like what he’s doing. Not so easy with an unelected head of state.