To think the royal family are a bloody embarrassment

[MariaAngustias]

Just that - why are we paying for this bunch when we could be spending the money on essential services? Let the Queen continue then after her just get rid of the whole bloody lot of them. We have and alleged paedo, a whinging multi millionaire in his 30's moaning constantly, an allegedly corrupt heir to the throne meeting dodgy russians for money....... just go, enough. Seriously - this is all Jeremy Kyle for poshos.

@LizzieSiddal

I think we’re all watching the beginning of the end of the monarchy. The fact Andrew can dodge legal papers by hiding behind tax funded security is the end of any respect I have for any of them.

Same :(

Guelph. That is the actual surname of the Hanover dynasty.

But Hanover was lost in 1837 when Evangeline/Victoria aceeded because the title could not pass to a female.

And the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child defines a child as anyone under 18, but that does not change UK Law, and the Convention has no standing in the US where Congress refuses to ratify it.

@Autumngoldleaf

I'm happy to have a totally slimmed down royalty of one head, mostly living a life of ceromony and most houses etc turned over to tourists

Me too.

And yes, of course tourists come to the UK for the royal family but I honestly don't think they wouldn't come anywhere because we weren't paying for the extended Royal Family.

They come for the Tower of London and the changing of the guard. They want to see castles and flags and Beefeaters. Not Princess Beatrice,

Rape is a crime. This is a civil suit. No allegation of rape has been reported.

I think the Queen is the personification of dignity and duty. I admire her immensely.

I believe this country is the better for having a monarchy.

@Jaysmith71 What word do you use to describe a child in NY saying that she was trafficked and forced to have sex with Prince Andrew?

I like the Queen. She is an excellent monarch. I think William and Kate will do a great job.

I would never be disrespectful to someone in their 90s who is still working (and riding horses) and I think the Queen has many admirable personal qualities such as stoicism. And she did not ask or expect to be Monarch but has accepted her lot with grace and done the job conscientiously. I doubt whether all the trappings make up for the loss of freedom and a private life.

Is she an excellent monarch though? I'm not sure. She has been largely uncontroversial but she hasn't been dynamic. I think she should have taken the initiative and radically modernised the RF before now. There are already signs that the leadership at the top is weakening. And if she lives as long as her mother it will be a while yet before Prince Charles takes the throne. The Spanish and Belgian Kings have abdicated successfully in favour of their sons. I know the reasons why the Queen has not abdicated but she has put Charles in a pretty impossible position by not doing so. Or maybe she has done that because she feels (as Diana said and later regretted saying ) that his character is not suited to the job. I am no fan of Charles but he certainly will have his work cut out when he does succeed. There will be those that still support Diana, and more importantly remember what the institution tried to do to her as a woman , and those who are too young to remember Diana, will probably not have much knowledge of Charles or loyalty to him either.

He will take over a monarchy that is too large, far too fat at the seams, with too many properties, too many members containing many rival factions, offices and palaces, overshadowed by a whiff of dodgy financial dealings and PA'S allegedly scurrilous activities, with an uncertain and somewhat anachronistic role in 2021. It will be a vwry hard task indeed.

@Endlesscleaning

I think the Queen is the personification of dignity and duty. I admire her immensely.

I believe this country is the better for having a monarchy.

This impression is chiefly because she’s kept schtum for decades, and her natural resting bitch face never looks as if she’s in danger of enjoying her astonishingly privileged life.

What I call it is neither here nor there. No criminal complaint of rape has been filed in any jurisdiction.

In the case of the UK, these events took place in 2001 before the Sexual Offences Act 2003. Under the old 1967 law, Roberts (as she then was) would be regarded as a common prostitute with no prospect of any conviction against Andrew for anything.

[quote FeministTrust]@Jaysmith71 What word do you use to describe a child in NY saying that she was trafficked and forced to have sex with Prince Andrew?[/quote]
She was a young woman.

I can't imagine anything worse than a US style government

We can have an Irish, French or Italian style government then

I have no time for them, and their entitled privilege. Elizabeth is an enabler, she should force Andrew to face the music.

Tony Blair saved their collective arses in the aftermath of Diana’s death.
Come the revolution etc!

Cam will likely be officially styled Camilla the Princess Consort

It's possible, but I genuinely doubt it; I just don't see him passing up the validation of his choice which making her Queen would involve (and yes, I realise she'll be legally Queen, but am talking about her day to day style)

One of the worst cringefests was when some child asked Charles if she's be Queen and he stuttered something about "Ummm ... well .. that could be ... we'll have to see"
Personally I don't want any of them, but for those who do I'm surprised they don't expect a bit more dignity than that around the choice of a future consort

her natural resting bitch face never looks as if she’s in danger of enjoying her astonishingly privileged life

Really?

@Blossomtoes I keep pointing out that legally in NY at 17 she was a child.

@Jaysmith71 so you are talking about a technicality? And your comment about a common prostitute tells me what you think of Virginia Roberts Giuffre and many young trafficked women. It took my breath away.

I see op hasn't been back to engage but anyway.

Brits are too comfortable to do anything about it. They will not revolt because they're too cosy ensconced in their tables, eating junk food.

The Royals are in cahoots with the Daily Mail so the plebs instead get worked up about other stuff I. E. Immigration. Whilst the 400+ landed gentry are happy in their country pads.

,She has given decades of faultless public service

You mean smiling and waving at the same time and occasionally making a speech to the plebs whilst sat in one of her many luxurious homes?

@Jaysmith71

What I call it is neither here nor there. No criminal complaint of rape has been filed in any jurisdiction.

In the case of the UK, these events took place in 2001 before the Sexual Offences Act 2003. Under the old 1967 law, Roberts (as she then was) would be regarded as a common prostitute with no prospect of any conviction against Andrew for anything.

A "common prostitute" is that really how you are choosing to describe a trafficked young woman? Do you really think she would have chosen to have sex with PA?

I can't imagine anything worse than a US style government

We can have an Irish, French or Italian style government then

^

Canadian? Northern European??

There are people who travel to see trooping of the Colour and Cenotaph, visit historical palaces and royal residences, I wouldn’t say they bring in Billions , but for every £27 ticket bought another £27 is spent in the gift shop/cafes.
Some visitors would rather buy Tea to take home from Fortnums instead of a far superior tea supplier minutes away in Covent Garden , just because of the royal warrant.
They are very little things but when added up they do make an impact both financially and historically/ culturally.

I think the the U.K. will lose so much by abolishing the monarchy just because of the appalling behaviour of one member.

@Jaysmith71

Rape is a crime. This is a civil suit. No allegation of rape has been reported.

It's a civil suit relating to criminal offences. Criminal law seeks to punish where an offence has been committed; civil law seeks compensation for the victim.

Her [Virginia Guiffre's] legal claim alleges she “was compelled by express or implied threats by Epstein, [Ghislaine] Maxwell, and/or Prince Andrew to engage in sexual acts with Prince Andrew, and feared death or physical injury to herself or another and other repercussions for disobeying Epstein, Maxwell, and Prince Andrew due to their powerful connections, wealth and authority”. It further alleges that the prince knew she was a sex-trafficking victim and that she has suffered – and continues to suffer – “significant emotional and psychological distress and harm”.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/aug/10/why-is-virginia-giuffre-suing-prince-andrew-and-what-could-happen-next

@BoredZelda

Trump held power for 4 years before he could be voted out, which he was thankfully. But still 4 years to wait and vote him out.

Only 4 years but the damage he has done will take a very long time to sort out. If anyone thinks they got rid of Trump, look at the current Republican GOP. Add to that what he did to the Supreme Court. Look at what is happening with HR 1, and with Texas’ new abortion laws. These are all a result of Trump and the resulting Trumpism and will change the face of the US for decades to come. “Just vote them out” is meaningless.

But Trump was more the equivalent of our PM than a figurehead. For how it can work check out Ireland

I think the Queen is the personification of dignity and duty. I admire her immensely.

^

Assuming this is goady sarcasm

[quote FeministTrust]@Blossomtoes I keep pointing out that legally in NY at 17 she was a child.

@Jaysmith71 so you are talking about a technicality? And your comment about a common prostitute tells me what you think of Virginia Roberts Giuffre and many young trafficked women. It took my breath away.[/quote]
And I keep pointing out that legally under British law which applies in two out of the three locations of the alleged offences took place, she was a adult.

@Jaysmith71’s comment wasn’t an opinion, it was a statement of fact. You don’t do well with facts, do you?