I don't want to be 'reigned over' anymore

[Yubgftr]

While I totally respect the Queen and how she served the country, I think it's now a good time to end the monarchy as I think modern society has outgrown it.

Just the idea that someone inherits the job of head of state through birthright and reigns over us peasants is crazy in this modern age. Then all the ceremonies, titles, line of succession are remnants of a completely different era and tbh remind me of episodes of The Tudors or Game of Thrones, it's just so archaic and out of place.

I think having to bow and curtsey to people just because they were born or married into a special family also seems ridiculous. Why should I have to curtsey to any of them? Not saying I'd be rude or disrespectful but having to bend my knee to a set of people as if they were deities, it's just insane! I think I'd actually feel humiliated.

I also don't get the fawning and crying outside the palace - by all means be respectful and recognise her contribution but crying about someone you've never met? To me it's OTT

Back in medieval times when there was little education and religion was used to manipulate the masses, I can understand why all the peasants went mad for their sovereign and saw them as annointed by God etc etc but we're much more enlightened now (most of us!) so we need to make way for a new way of doing things.

Even a new national anthem - why is it all about the king or queen and god saving them? Why not about the people, the nation as a whole?

That said, I also hate the idea of someone like Boris Johnson being head of state and I bet that's a role he'd go for if we were a Republic. Swings and Roundabouts!

YABU - God save the king, monarchy forever
YANBU - time to end the monarchy

Why would you put a President in a palace? We have a president, he is well loved, lives in the Presidents residence (it is not a palace!) and he voluntarily takes a much lower salary than entitled to.

QED.

Yabu
unless you work with them or are near them for some other reason, who is making you
curtsey? Are you doing it at the TV?

i can’t imagine how the monarchy impacts you on a day to day basis.

they bring interest, travel and money spends to the uk and are part of British culture

Johnny Rotten? Obviously we are plumbing the intellectual dregs of society. I believe Brian May of Queen called him ‘A right moron and an idiot’.

Stuffy old boring Britain with its ancient, creaking Monarachy.

I really wish we were a modern, vibrant country: The Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Belgium, Japan - these are the examples we should be following.

BINGO!

How about we change the way the monarchy is funded? Those who support them can fund them, we could create a special voluntary tax code for the purpose.

As for all the "if you don't like it you can leave" comments you seem to have "monarchy " confused with "police state". If the OP and others like her don't like living in a monarchy then she (we) can try and change it via democratic means.

I wouldn’t mind someone like Mary Robinson, Mary McAleese or Michael D Higgins as I said upthread.

This kind of thing doesn't help either:
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/sep/11/republican-protesters-arrested-king-charles-proclamation-events

It makes them look pretty worried about the future of the Royal Family tbh - probably more than they need to be.

That said, I think there will be a debate over the next few years. If Charles is sensible he'll give some of it up voluntarily for some kind of slimmed down version.

I kind of don't care because they are pretty irrelevant to me, day to day, But the system we have is massively expensive, archaic and when you think about it (as you do during 10 days in which this is dominating the news!) really creams off public wealth for an unelected aristocracy. The expense of this funeral won't be a great look at a time of financial emergency – nor the suspension of parliament for such a long time when they could be dealing with that crisis.

@Meatshake of course royal children aren't above your children, but royal children are expected to spend their lives serving this country whereas your children are completely free to make their own life choices. Which option would you prefer for your own children, a life of public scrutiny, duty and expectations or the freedom to do whatever they want?

My own DC will enjoy a life of relative wealth and privilege without any burdens of public duty.

Do you really think this is an acceptable response? A british person must be happy with and unquestioning of the monarchy, or they are told to move to a foreign country? Can you people hear yourselves?

It isn’t an option. That’s the problem. Nobody gets to choose for their child to be royal. I

Does it really affect your daily life in any way?

I think having to bow and curtsey to people just because they were born or married into a special family also seems ridiculous.

I doubt you'll ever have to do this, to be honest.

It's quite sad when a lot of the arguments for a republic are based on money, and jealousy.

There are many corrupt republics and dictatorships in the world, where the leaders live a very nice life, thank you, and the plebs live in poverty and under oppression.

This is our history and it's pretty unique. I am not conviced that there is a better option, looking around the world at the mess many countries are in.

The argument that the Royals have too many houses is so pathetic, to be honest.

They are part of our heritage and used for entertaining world leaders. What do you suggest? Give them to the National Trust? Ask people to pay to go into them and buy a cup of tea?

If you are looking for waste of public money, look no further than politicians on the left and the right. I'm not just talking about Boris. The Blairs, John Prescott and others hit the headlines years ago for the public money they wasted on doing up their residences. They waste millions on refurbishments of the homes they live in for far less time than the Royals, who are supposedly very frugal. (Anyone see the photos of Princess Anne's living room? Tatty and outdated.)

I am pretty sure that almost every snr royal would far rather be someone else, living a normal life, than being bound by duty.

All the jewels and castles in the world don't bring privacy, freedom or happiness. I don't envy them for a moment.

I do think that the minor Royals , the hangers on, should be made to work and not be supported by the royal purse. And that is how King Charles appears to want to change things.

The monarch of the United Kingdom is a great gig.

A powerless head of state, a figurehead. You are not partisan nor involved politically (so don’t have one half hating you). You get to do all the feel good stuff (Knight people, open places, hand out trophies at sports events, welcome foreign dignitaries etc.)

You really have to be a moron to screw it up.

In contrast, any elected head of state is partisan (so will be hated by one half). You have to do all the dirty stuff (set laws/tax rates, sending people to war, and face a political opponent on a constant basis)

You will likely be despised by the time you leave office.

The UK system, by sheer chance, works brilliantly.

I think if you went to lived in some of these countries you might want to come back to stuffy old Britain. I’ve noticed the boats in the channel are only going one way

It's quite sad when a lot of the arguments for a republic are based on money, and jealousy.

You’ve missed out democracy. It’s not about money for me. We could have the most bargain bucket royal family possible and it would still be wrong that we have our head of state imposed on us in that way.

Countries with monarchies also include Saudi, Jordan, and Bahrain. Countries without monarchies include Switzerland, France, Portugal, Finland etc. I know where I'd rather live.

That's why he was managed out. Wallis was a gift in that respect.

Nailed it!

The UK system, by sheer chance, works brilliantly.

For who?

The UK system, by sheer chance, works brilliantly.

Does it fuck. It's sheer chance we didn't have a Nazi sympathiser on the throne in WW2, with no way to get rid of him. We're fucking luckily he jumped voluntarily.

@JuneBrowning Anyone see the photos of Princess Anne's living room? Tatty and outdated.

Shabby chic! She's in vogue.

"managed out". And if he'd said no, there's fuck all we could have done about it.

I really wish we were a modern, vibrant country: The Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Belgium, Japan - these are the examples we should be following

Some of these countries have a monarchy.