Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think the royal family are a bloody embarrassment THREAD 2

957 replies

MyOhMySimon · 19/09/2021 06:47

Carrying on from Thread 1.
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4347032-To-think-the-royal-family-are-a-bloody-embarrassment?msgid=110733144#110733144

Haven't seen the OP around, thread 1 is about to run out and someone asked for a new thread.

OP posts:
Blossomtoes · 21/09/2021 14:29

You make it sound as if we’re all going to be sitting in freezing hovels subsisting on gruel while the royal family drive repeatedly by in their Rolls blowing kisses @ponyexpress22. I’m pretty sure if they could survive the 70s, they’ll be all right this winter.

ChurchofLatterDayPaints · 21/09/2021 15:27

Oh the plebs will be absolutely fine. Marie Antoinette would be proud, Blossomtoes. Are we allowed cake? (As we sit glued to the Maxwell trial in November?)

ponyexpress22 · 21/09/2021 15:50

@Blossomtoes

You make it sound as if we’re all going to be sitting in freezing hovels subsisting on gruel while the royal family drive repeatedly by in their Rolls blowing kisses *@ponyexpress22*. I’m pretty sure if they could survive the 70s, they’ll be all right this winter.
That's basically how I do see it yes.
Blossomtoes · 21/09/2021 15:51

@ChurchofLatterDayPaints

Oh the plebs will be absolutely fine. Marie Antoinette would be proud, Blossomtoes. Are we allowed cake? (As we sit glued to the Maxwell trial in November?)
I wasn’t talking about “the plebs”. I meant if the monarchy could survive a period with the economy in utter turmoil, the tumbrels are unlikely to roll this winter. 🤷‍♀️
Roussette · 21/09/2021 16:20

The monarchy can survive anything, course they can! For now anyway
However, the image has been tarnished and change is needed, whether PC can manage that remains to be seen

ChurchofLatterDayPaints · 21/09/2021 16:28

Oh ok, survival in that sense. When the economy's in utter turmoil, just keep milking and squeezing every last drop out of it. To be coherent with the Tories, united front and all that.

Blossomtoes · 21/09/2021 16:31

@ChurchofLatterDayPaints

Oh ok, survival in that sense. When the economy's in utter turmoil, just keep milking and squeezing every last drop out of it. To be coherent with the Tories, united front and all that.
Can you elucidate because I have no idea what that means.
LadyRoughDiamond · 21/09/2021 16:39

“Monarchies tend to fair much better than republics. I dont love the queen and adore Charles and wave little union jack flags, I just want stability for the country. We cannot trust the current Politicians to be head of state. Would you want people like Boris as head of state? Sturgeon? Trump? Really?”

That’s the only reason why I think we could possibly keep the RF - simply because the current batch of elected leaders are so horrendous. Otherwise, I’d get rid tomorrow.

TheKeatingFive · 21/09/2021 16:48

simply because the current batch of elected leaders are so horrendous.

Quite clearly, people’s knowledge of elected leaders is minimal.

There are many good examples across the world.

Yet everyone always reverts to ‘but Trump’, while also ignoring that the beauty of him being an elected leader was that he didn’t get a second term.

ChurchofLatterDayPaints · 21/09/2021 16:55

Sure: the economy's in turmoil so the RF should hand it all back and fuck off, as they are part of the problem.

ChurchofLatterDayPaints · 21/09/2021 16:58

@LadyRoughDiamond So our elected leaders are terrible, let's keep the unelected landgrabbers? What kind of society are you aiming for?

Puzzledandpissedoff · 21/09/2021 17:02

... the vast majority of people don’t care

Ironically, that could kill off the monarchy far more effectively than some "revolution", since with a critical mass of folk who simply don't care their PR is pointless and it could be effectively game over

Strange, really, that while they must occasionally yearn for the days when everyone could be muzzled, not being talked about could be the greater problem

derxa · 21/09/2021 17:03

@TheKeatingFive

simply because the current batch of elected leaders are so horrendous.

Quite clearly, people’s knowledge of elected leaders is minimal.

There are many good examples across the world.

Yet everyone always reverts to ‘but Trump’, while also ignoring that the beauty of him being an elected leader was that he didn’t get a second term.

No I always revert to 'but Sturgeon, Johnson, Davey, Corbyn and Swinson'
Blossomtoes · 21/09/2021 17:05

@ChurchofLatterDayPaints

Sure: the economy's in turmoil so the RF should hand it all back and fuck off, as they are part of the problem.
How would that help? The money they get from the state is miniscule in government spending terms. It’s enough to keep a hospital going for about a month. The economy’s not in turmoil anyway - it certainly will be if inflation goes up, interest rates rocket, unemployment rises, house prices tank and taxes are increased - those are huge ifs, none of which are happening now.
TheKeatingFive · 21/09/2021 17:08

No I always revert to 'but Sturgeon, Johnson, Davey, Corbyn and Swinson'

Like it or not, people did choose them. And the people can change their minds.

I just can’t wrap my head around thinking it’s preferable to have no choice in the matter. You get a Trump in that case and you’re fucked. You came close to getting an Andrew. Til he died.

derxa · 21/09/2021 17:14

@TheKeatingFive

No I always revert to 'but Sturgeon, Johnson, Davey, Corbyn and Swinson'

Like it or not, people did choose them. And the people can change their minds.

I just can’t wrap my head around thinking it’s preferable to have no choice in the matter. You get a Trump in that case and you’re fucked. You came close to getting an Andrew. Til he died.

At the last election I had no sensible choice in front of me at all. Even if Andrew was monarch, it probably would have made no material difference to my life whatsoever.
TheKeatingFive · 21/09/2021 17:17

At the last election I had no sensible choice in front of me at all. Even if Andrew was monarch, it probably would have made no material difference to my life whatsoever.

Campaign for electoral reform then.

I totally agree that it is needed.

And it’s not all about the material difference but the message you send about your country and its values to the rest of the world.

Blossomtoes · 21/09/2021 17:22

At the last election I had no sensible choice in front of me at all

Same. I spoilt my paper. And electoral reform wouldn’t have changed a thing, there wasn’t a party I could have voted for in good conscience.

TheKeatingFive · 21/09/2021 17:24

Looking at it from the outside, it staggers me that people would be happy with someone like Andrew in that position. I can only conclude that people in the U.K. are so influenced by their powerful class system that all they want is a posh person to lead the charge.

They’re delighted if they can give them some fancy jewels, pin some made up medals on them and parade them around town.

It’s literally all that matters. What else would explain the resignation to someone like Andrew?

TheKeatingFive · 21/09/2021 17:25

there wasn’t a party I could have voted for in good conscience.

You could have lobbied someone you respect to run as an independent or stood yourself. These are options in democratic votes.

derxa · 21/09/2021 17:28

And it’s not all about the material difference but the message you send about your country and its values to the rest of the world. Really? I'm proud of this country and its values. It's one of the least corrupt countries in the world. Andrew isn't king but his mother is. She's been a symbol of steadfastness and stability for decades as was her father during the war. You will sneer at this of course.

Blossomtoes · 21/09/2021 17:29

@TheKeatingFive

there wasn’t a party I could have voted for in good conscience.

You could have lobbied someone you respect to run as an independent or stood yourself. These are options in democratic votes.

I live in the second safest Tory seat in the country. Either of those things would be a monumental waste of time and energy. We got a Labour mayor by accident in May because voters didn’t understand transferable votes.

We both know that democracy doesn’t exist in this country in any meaningful sense so why would I put any faith in an elected head of state?

derxa · 21/09/2021 17:33

I can only conclude that people in the U.K. are so influenced by their powerful class system that all they want is a posh person to lead the charge. I'm Scottish. We're all Jock Tamson's bairns.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jock_Tamson%27s_bairns

ChurchofLatterDayPaints · 21/09/2021 17:40

I don't believe you've properly costed that claim, Blossom.

Anyway the sov grant is just the tip of the iceberg. The cronyism, the arms deals, the tying up of vast areas of land & resources... It's all been mentioned upthread.

They're funded by us to increase their own wealth, and that's what they do. Parasites and leeches.

I think leeches can explode in certain circumstances.

Blossomtoes · 21/09/2021 17:47

I don't believe you've properly costed that claim, Blossom

Ah, but I have. The annual budget of University College Hospital, London is £940 million. The sovereign grant for this year is less than 10% of that.

You’re seriously castigating the royal family for cronyism? Have you looked at the current democratically elected government’s conduct over the last 18 months? Dido Harding mean anything?