How do we stop being a constitutional monarchy??

[Griefmonster]

Inspired by another thread.... What steps would need to be taken to stop having a monarch as our head of state?

Does it need to be a referendum and then declare a republic? how would a law be passed? What are the steps? And when was the last time we had a reliable poll on public opinion? And any mid-point steps between what we have now and no monarchy at all?

Hey guys, what a great idea. Let’s get rid of Britain’s dignified and dutiful Queen who is loved and recognised the World over.

Let’s replace her with a Trump or a Biden

Sigh. Let’s point out again these aren’t the only choices. Educate yourself.

I don’t know where you’re getting this idea that the Queen is globally ‘loved’? How bizarre. And what about Charles? 😂

@TrufflyPig

In all seriousness though I agree with previous posters about having to bide our time. The Queen will not live forever and Charles does not have the public support he thinks he does.

Possibly a generational thing too, I don't know many people my age who actively support the monarchy. Mostly quiet indifference or passive acceptance.

And quiet indifference and passive acceptance does not a revolution make.

I just can’t believe people would advocate for something like this at this point in time, what with brexit and COVID.

The amount of money it would cost, and the instability it would bring, I genuinely think it’s madness to even consider it

What I can’t understand is why the royals, in particular, the younger Royals, don’t step down. They think they are so woke and so in touch with the people and yet they still think that it’s ok for them to flaunt their wealth and spend public money so shameless. It’s even more embarrassing for them that they don’t realise that the fact they happened to be born into a royal family doesn’t make them qualified to give advice to the public.
The royal family should be ashamed of themselves.

Unfortunately they are surrounded by sycophantic hangers-on who tell them what they want to hear. Politicians generally won’t challenge them as they are after knighthoods or whatever.
Too much arse licking all around

And quiet indifference and passive acceptance does not a revolution make

Sadly no. I said it before I won't see the monarchy abolished in my lifetime but I do think it's becoming more acceptable to be a republican than it used to be.

It's hard to change the very fabric of society though. The media, politicians, those with power and influence by enlarge support it to a sycophantic level. Its difficult to fight a machine that big.

What I can’t understand is why the royals, in particular, the younger Royals, don’t step down. They think they are so woke and so in touch with the people and yet they still think that it’s ok for them to flaunt their wealth and spend public money so shameless

They don't give a shit about Joe public. They just have a very good PR team.

Why would they step down? They've been raised to this role their whole lives, there is plenty of work for them to do and they mostly get a positive response wherever they go. People tune in from China to watch their weddings.

It may not seem so in pro-republican threads, but they are mostly very popular and most people either like them or aren't bothered about them enough to want the upheaval of booting them. William already made changes in refusing to go to Cambridge and marrying an untitled woman. Yes, I know she's still very upper class and her father has aristocratic links, but it was still a relative difference, a departure from the norms of when he was born.

A lot of people would see an abdication as a rejection of the country and the nation. I'm aware that very many wouldn't, but at this point in time, I see no evidence that there is the public appetite for this. It wouldn't be a popular move overall.

@Lahhdjdknwbjshdhb

Those saying HoS not equivalent to PM ... of course not. But they ARE still in a position of soft power and influence. You can’t get away from that. I would rather stick with people who have been trained since birth to put public duty before anything else, rather than the lottery of electing someone with self serving interests.

Yeah because Peado Andy is such a great role model to look up to! I hope the monarchy dies with Liz. I'm dreading when she dies and the whole country goes weird like they did with Diana.

William already made changes in refusing to go to Cambridge

The refusal was theirs 😆

After the Charles fiasco Cambridge quietly made it clear they wouldn’t be accepting royals with mediocre grades, ta very much

@TheKeatingFive

William already made changes in refusing to go to Cambridge

The refusal was theirs 😆

After the Charles fiasco Cambridge quietly made it clear they wouldn’t be accepting royals with mediocre grades, ta very much

Oh, was it? I seem to recall headlines at the time where he said before starting his A levels that he wouldn't go to Cambridge unless he got the grades for it, which he didn't. I was a kid at the time, though, so maybe I'm misremembering.

At the same time, he has obviously tried to modernise the monarchy in several ways. It won't be anything too revolutionary - there's only so much he can do, really - but it's relative.

I understand completely why people want a republic. But I don't think there's the actual public appetite for it and all it would entail (I think the link that was posted earlier has oversimplified it). I'm more bothered about the PM parking his cronies in the Lords.

@Endlesscleaning

Hey guys, what a great idea. Let’s get rid of Britain’s dignified and dutiful Queen who is loved and recognised the World over.

Let’s replace her with a Trump or a Biden 👍

Yeah, it's a good thing that the Queen will live forever, and that in case she doesn't all of her family are just as respected.

In all seriousness though I agree with previous posters about having to bide our time. The Queen will not live forever and Charles does not have the public support he thinks he does

Okay so the Queen dies and the Royal family are sacked off. I don’t think this would necessarily be done peacefully - come on, trufflypig admit it, you’d quite enjoy storming the palace and stringing up its occupants - as once the mob gets going it’s very powerful - viz the 2012 riots.
Presuming some or most of the royal family survived the coup, would they be banished abroad for many years as happened in Greece and Romania, or would they be made to take up minimum wage jobs, as happened to the emperor of China?

Hmm, seems Cambridge will accept William after all, albeit on a ten-week course tailored for him.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/dec/30/prince-william-student-agriculture-cambridge-duchy-cornwall

Entry to Cambridge at masters levels, particularly for short courses like that has always been very different to UG.

@DrSbaitso

In fact, given the Queen is also the head of state of about 16 other countries, that might mean they have to change their constitutions too? I don't know. It would be incredibly complex. It might be best just to limit their number and their spending power than get rid of them completely, if only because of the paperwork. QC barristers, everything with Royal in its name, the coins, the stamps....urgh.

This. It’s going through a rough time now because of Andrew. He won’t be protected after the Queen dies and I imagine Charles will work hard to draw a line in the sand.

yet they still think that it’s ok for them to flaunt their wealth

I just don’t see this. Give three examples of Prince William ‘flaunting his wealth’. Go….

Ok 😄

1. Private jets and helicopters.

https://www.itv.com/news/2019-08-22/princes-planes-and-private-jets-william-and-kate-snapped-on-budget-airline

2. Fancy villas and holidays

https://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/article/mustique-villa-kate-middleton-duke-of-cambridge-holiday

3. Fancy houses

https://www.hellomagazine.com/homes/gallery/20210709117156/prince-william-kate-middleton-home-anmer-hall-inside-photos/1/

I know they get some things paid for by the state or by friends sycophants but either way their crass display of wealth is hard to take especially when they start lecturing people about shite they know almost nothing about. ( mental health/environment etc)

I think they are so lacking in awareness that they believe the public adore them. It's pathetic. They have no morals

It’snotmeanymore
Lots of rich people have all those things. Do you hate all rich people?
Are all rich people’s friends automatically sycophants?

Lots of rich people have all those things.

Yes and we don’t pour millions of pounds of state money into their laps on top of what they already have.

Important difference.

Thekeatingfive

Who would you like to replace the Queen as head of state?

Who would you like to replace the Queen as head of state?

Follow the Irish example and democratically elect non politically affiliated individuals who have gained respect and standing in their own right.