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.

@Cazzovuoi

It’s great entertainment for non Brits

lol.. A dear Canadian friend who is else very sensible and rational still follows them closely. Especially the recent scandals but out of concern.

I tell here we were raised with Charles and Anne; I m nearly eighty so at junior school we heard almost daily about them.

Now I am totally uninterested. Thankfully.

@JeffGoldblumsGlasses

The UK will never be a republic. It's had a monarch since its inception this will continue.

As did all the other countries that became republics.

@Whammyyammy

Yanbu. I've always supported the Royal family, but with whats gone on the last few years I dont. Plus all the hangers on, that we as taxpayer's pay to live a life of luxury.

I only like the Queen, William, Harry and Kate.

We all "support" the Royal Family, whether we want to or not. That's the problem! For some ridiculous reason, this family are still revered and worshipped. Other families, exactly like then, have to sell their houses to the National Trust to avoid death duties and yet, for some utterly nonsensical reason, we actually PAY for the upkeep of their many, many houses.

Parliament is Sovereign. We have changed royal houses before and could do so again.

How about the Redknapp-Lampards?

Royal Family lovers are fucking deluded. They are full of criminals of the worst sort who get away with it because they’re the Royals. Who gives a shit?! Answer for your crimes.

Tourism money - also a load of bollocks.

The UK will never be a republic. It's had a monarch since its inception this will continue.

But the Act of Union of 1707 was in no small part a reaction to the Cromwellian Commonwealth, a none-too-sucessful republic.

The latest YouGov poll shows that the Royal Family are still very popular, even among the 18 - 24 age group, with just something like 24% who don't want a monarchy.

I agree it’s time to put a stop to it. I expect even without them there will be a certain amount of income from tourism of the history of the monarchy but I don’t think there’s any place in modern society for an us and them and I think it needs to be challenged.

@user1471462428

I’m always surprised by how relaxed people are about the allegations made about Andrew and the way the queen is hiding/defending him. It’s truly despicable behaviour from our monarch. I used to be a monarchist but now I feel deep shame about our Royal family. If my son was facing allegations such as these and I truly thought he was innocent I would encourage him to fight it not hide.

Sadly I think there is an unsaid undercurrent that sexual exploitation is not that bad if it’s done in fancy mansions and that Virginia Giuffre was somehow complicit in her abuse - why didn’t she just leave, why did she have sex with these men, she was “an adult” etc - that is the saddest thing to me.

Reagrds Randy Andy, I cannot see that he has committed any crime, but he may be liable to civil proceedings both in the UK and USA.

The continuing mystery is the lack of curiosity about Ghilaine Maxwell's role in trafficking underage women to the UK for sexual exploitation, which is and more importantly was a crime at the time.

@girlmom21

We don't pay for them, realistically. They bring in more money in tourism etc than they'll ever cost us.

Of course they do.

After all, no-one goes to France do they, because they chopped all their Royals heads off?

I think some of them are, for sure.

But don't we all have embarrassing relatives?

MN seems to have the knives out for her maj lately. Or is it just a few people constantly name-changing?

His team, his poor bloody team are slogging their guts out to stop him facing justice.
. Who is paying for his legal team?

@Jaysmith71

The point of a constitutional monarch is that our loyalty is not to a politician but a unifying figure who represents contituity and is above politics.

The classis description of the power of the British Monarch is they have the right, "To advise, to encourage and to warn."

Assuming you don't want a President Thatcher or President Blair, it would be ever so easy to establish a British Commonwealth with the constitutional functions of the head of state vested in the Lord Speaker. That's Norman Fowler.

You can also amend the acts of sucession and have parliament choose a new monarch from anyone who is a descendant of Sophia of Hanonver. Grumpy Annie would be good, or just skip a generation to Wills.

Skipping a generation completely tramples on the "hereditary" aspect. May as well just skip to an elected president, similar to Germany or Estonia. Respected by all parties and just a figurehead for ceremonies.

His problem is that the jury of public opinion has already judged him guilty based on no evidence other than one photo and the unsubstantiated word of some woman.

I think he's also judged on his friendship with Epstein, and on that car crash of an interview he did.

But will the money go to the NHS? Building affordable housing ? Creating new jobs? Education ? If not then I say keep them , they are quite entertaining.

I like them generally but Andrew needs to show some dignity, be a man and face his accusers.
I respect Harry for leaving but wish he would show his dignity in silence.

They bring in more money in tourism etc than they'll ever cost us

Oh please, not this again Is it really possible that folk still swallow this one wholesale?

@Poetrypatty

His problem is that the jury of public opinion has already judged him guilty based on no evidence other than one photo and the unsubstantiated word of some woman.

I think he's also judged on his friendship with Epstein, and on that car crash of an interview he did.

Yep. He should never have gone on national TV. Incredible that the RF and his advisors didn't stop him- or maybe they tried and he insisted?

But don't we all have embarrassing relatives?

Most people's embarrassing relatives don't live lives of ridiculous luxury being paid for from public funds.

People can be as embarrassing as they like as long as they don't harm others and as long as they fund their own follies.

Well George III was the grandson of George II, and Princess Evangeline of Kent was the niece of William IV, so there's no need for a son to aceed.

@queenofarles

But will the money go to the NHS? Building affordable housing ? Creating new jobs? Education ? If not then I say keep them , they are quite entertaining.

The 350million a week for the NHS should be along fairly soon surely?

@Jaysmith71

The UK will never be a republic. It's had a monarch since its inception this will continue.

But the Act of Union of 1707 was in no small part a reaction to the Cromwellian Commonwealth, a none-too-sucessful republic.

Indeed and it also made sure in a roundabout way that no republic was ever born again.

I think sometimes people confuse personality and "the monarch". The monarch regardless who wears the crown is a significant figure in our society, economy, laws, services. Do you really want President Boris Johnson? ....it's a safeguard to crazy dictatorships and wild politicians.

Forget who has it on, just think how that seat of power is more of a safety net.

Charles will have a short reign compared to his mother so those years of dropping PR points will be limited to a decade or two. Will however the powerhouse positive PR points will take over and boost their popularity once again. It is what it is.

@Hogwarts4Christmas

YADNBU, I can't stand the monarchy and think all their assets Inc money, property, etc, should be surrendered to the state and, bar the Queen, Phillip and Prince Charles (only due to age), the rest of them should all have to start working for a living and pay their own way.

All the money from the Crown estate, etc, should be used to fund essential services such as NHS, cheaper public transport, etc.

If you go back far enough their riches stem from taxing ordinary people and landgrabbing, etc, anyway so I don't see it as 'their money/properties' and I do think it should be restored back to the public.

Tourists would still come because the Palaces, etc, would still be there, same as people still visit Versailles, etc, so that's not a valid excuse. It's not like they get to meet the Queen when they're looking around Buckingham Palace.

Completely beside the point of all this but, it is hard to work when you're dead

I like the Queen. She has dignity.
Andrew, pah, no class whatsoever IMO