To think the royal family should end at the queen

[Letshaveablackcelebration]

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?

Ithas always bothered me that we have a Prince of Wales
Yep me too. The idea of having Prince William invested in Caernarfon castle makes my blood boil.

Of course YANBU. There is such social and financial inequality in the UK. To financially support and put on a pedestal a family that's already hugely privileged and wealthy is obscene. I don't think what the country gets out of the monarchy is worth it.

[quote Letshaveablackcelebration]@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[/quote]
That is their choice to make, independent of the U.K., surely? I don’t think we should be obliged to get rid of our monarchy because countries who claim to want to be a republic haven’t got the momentum to do it. I think it’s completely ridiculous that a country should have a head of state who resides on the other side of the world, and think that actually says more about that country than it does ours. Most commonwealth countries have managed to organise a system where the head of state actually lives in the country.

As for Prince Harry, I take most of what comes out of his and his wife’s mouth with a vat of salt, as I do with all supremely privileged people who whine about how oppressed they are. Moaning about how he hated having to undertake his very limited royal work in poor countries is beyond crass.

Agree with you. The queen's been good at her job. Charles won't be, William neither. They're all inbred and weird with the same face - big low bulgy cheeks.

I think the alternative sounds too costly to implement. What could work is continue with the monarch as the figurehead, with the constitutional role, but have the rest of the family as private citizens. That way we can have the pageantry and attractions for tourists and the royals can live their private lives. I can’t imagine living in a goldfish bowl, it probably takes a toll on one’s mental health. They can retain their royal patronages. Their assets and jewels that belong to them can remain their own. Anything that belongs to the state can be used by the current monarch and their immediate family only.

It just becomes tricky when it comes to security but that is usually up to the government to decide.

I actually didn’t understand the fuss behind the Royal Knockout but it was before I was born so I might be missing something there. I think the royal family needs to more accessible, which they’re slowly doing, but I also think that there is a certain mystique that they have and the focus is on the cause that they’re championing, with some elements of personalisation to make them more relatable, rather than their own personal lives being aired out in public, which makes it all the more interesting. I wish Diana, Charles, now Harry and Meghan didn’t have those interviews, rightly or wrongly, they might become part of our history as these types of interviews weren’t so readily given due to their “never complain, never explain” motto. I haven’t watch any of these interviews in their entirety but from the snippets online, they’re just came across as human beings who seemed very vulnerable with a fragile mental health, seemingly easily manipulated.

No, but I think it should be scaled back. Enormously.

@Fairyliz

A quick google says they cost the U.K. £69 million last year so just over £1 per head of population.

I’m happy to pay that for the entertainment value, who would we have talked about in 2020 if not them?

Eastenders costs £30 million a year. Definitely better bang for buck, entertainment-wise from the RF.

Agree The head of state would obviously be a fixed term post.

@AbsolutelyPatsy

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

This. The royal family probably probably do far more good for our economy than most people realise.

I’m not a royalist, I think it’s totally wanky tbh, but they do apparently bring a lot to the country!

I don't think it will or should end but I think it will go more like the Scandis

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!

You said it better than I could have done! I think an independent, EU-rejoining Scotland (for example) would be pretty attractive to my fellow English republicans. Obviously a lot has to happen first, and it won't be done in just a couple of years.

I've always loved the Royal family and have a lot of respect for the Queen but yes I do think it should now end after the Queen.
The world has changed a lot over the past few decades and it just seems silly now, and fake. All the pomp and ceremony.
They are born into that, have done nothing to earn that respect. Charles certainly won't get the same respect that the Queen does.
I think tourism and history wise, that part should still generate income for the country because people will still be interested in the history of it, such as the Tower of London, and them open Buckingham Palace up to the public like a national Trust property that you can visit.

The Queen is head of the Church of England - often on MN people ignore religion - this is a big deal, I'm not sure they can just 'step down'. There are Church of England followers Worldwide.

Yanbu. The UK monarchy is an anachronistic institution that has no place in a modern, progressive society.

I keep seeing people saying the queen has done a marvellous job and never put a foot wrong but that's simply not true. The current lot are lucky to still be hanging on after all the catastrophic mistakes she's made in her lifetime, from Windsor Castle to Diana to taxes and all the rest. The monarchy would have long been gone if it weren't for the likes of Blair and Major intervening. Have we really forgotten all those cliff edges, do we just pretend we have or has it all been whitewashed? Get off your knees, people. We are all equal.

@Letshaveablackcelebration yes i understand the point of debate, and it amuses me that when challenged you question that understanding... rather than addressing my point.. which still is.. you state 'people mostly respect the queen, but not any of the others'... fine if that is your view, but arrogant to make sweeping statements about how 'the people' think

The Queen is head of the Church of England - often on MN people ignore religion - this is a big deal, I'm not sure they can just 'step down'.

Disestablish the C of E - problem solved. People can still believe whatever they want.

It will never happen

Tourism is already massively struggling and they are one of the major draws to this country so YABU

I agree it should end but I think with Charles. Poor man has had his whole life waiting to "rule us all".

After that, I think the others should disperse and find something better to do - Don't think William & Kate should be thinking of being king and queen of anywhere. I feel Kate wants it badly though, not so much William.

YABU - I love a bit of pomp and ceremony.

Tough call but original poster you make some valid sensible points. The issues are more complicated as to alternatives. But overall a royxit looks like a fair way forward. No exceptionalism with more spread of wealth and everyone subject to all laws with no royal exceptions. All to pay for themselves and not automatically paid for by others. Not sure about legacy royal naming conventions etc though as seemingly these add value especially to a worldwide as well as local audience etc. Decisons decisons….off with one’s…..

*Don't think William & Kate should be thinking of being king and queen of anywhere. I feel Kate wants it badly though, not so much William

There’s no way she’d have put up with his shit

I much prefer a non political head of state than a president.

I’m around the middle they couldn’t have felt more useless in last year but coming out of this I think they’re more likely a shiny bauble

Some tradition, pomp, continuity

So I swing between yes and no

I actually think it's a savage and backwards culture to still be participating in. With all the poverty in the UK and people struggling just to feed and house themselves, people think someone being draped in the finest velvet robe in all the land and adorned in gold, diamond and rubies is a welcome image to "boost morale"...of whom? Those who can never have that? Those for whom one precious stone from that crown can feed their entire family but they're supposed to just look at it, smile and see the family as wonderful people who're "just like us"?

Shivers at how well-conditioned this all is and people can't see the oppression right in front of them. Yet they complain of second-homers and rich people.

I do have an issue with the non egalitarian signalling they bring though

Reading pp