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

Totally agree with you OP. The family have moved quickly and no one has had space to think - protocol ensures tradition lives on.

But if my way it would now be abolished after Elizabeth.

Yes, I'm fine hun thanks. I just believe the monarchy is outdated. I have an opinion
Is that okay with you hun?

YABU - God save the king, monarchy forever

😂😂😂

There is no justification for the monarchy. It’s mad that it’s continued this long. And people who don’t support it have just as much of a right to their opinion and to live in their country as the people who do.

Honestly, it should be put to a vote. A referendum on the abolition of the monarchy. If the Royalists win, fair enough. With the passing of the Queen, I doubt they would, though.

@Yubgftr
If society, is ment to be enlightened, and we should not bow to a monarch, then by extension why should any human bow to God, especially when all the writings of various religions are all written by humans.

Also if we are not ruled by a monarchy, then how is having a presidential system, any different ?

It's perfectly reasonable to be angry about the flaunting of unearned privilege and power over a populace that was given no choice in the matter and (purely through accident of birth) has no chance of ever joining that elite, an elite which is a remnant of what was once a totalitarian hereditary theocratic dictatorship. Even if the most recent top post-holder seemed like a nice old granny.

Also for the people saying leave, that’s just ridiculous! Citizens can question whether or not that support the monarchy or a republic. Many countries have removed their monarchies, France for example, and it’s certainly hasn’t dinted their popularity as a tourist destination. There was actually a study a while back that disproved that the investment into royal family paid of dividends with tourism.

In 2016, for example, the British Museum was the UK’s most visited attraction, and according to data from the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions, more people visited Chester Zoo and Kew Gardens than Windsor Castle.

I think there needs to better arguments for the monarchy than ‘tourism’….. or to leave if you don’t like it.

I’m a remainer and left of centre politically, and I wouldn’t get rid of the monarchy.

My head says it’s outdated, but my heart says keep it. I quite enjoy it all.

And when I think of the calibre of those we elect - supposedly on merit, as the best candidate - it makes me quite glad we have the royals and the House of Lords, quite honestly. I’d far rather the Queen or King Charles as head of state than Boris, or Cameron. Or - horrors - imagine if it had been Corbyn.

As the great Duke Nukem, once said, hail to the king,

The current system may not be perfect, but I personally prefer having a non-political symbolic head of state to the alternative of an elected official who puts themselves up for the job because they fancy it and have loads of money behind them.
If you think otherwise, you have options. You can leave and live somewhere else or maybe just accept that others have a different opinion and agree to disagree.

Contact your MP and say you’d like a referendum on the monarchy. If enough people ask for one, it’ll happen.

I’m sure there are republicans organizations as well, so get involved with one.

Personally I have no problem with a constitutional monarchy, but if I did, I’d try to garner support for a vote on abolishing it.

I wouldn’t curtesy to anyone. I’m not a royalist but they don’t bother me tbh. No-one can decide what they’re born into. I don’t agree with the affluent lives they live with so much poverty in the country and this winter will be very difficult on so many.

Rather a lot of us don’t ‘bow to God’.

We’re not ruled by a monarchy. We haven’t been for some time. Also, are you asking how a democratic system where a leader is elected is different from a monarchy? Or have I misunderstood your question?

@Justlovedogs or a referendum can be held to decide if we really wish to continue with the whole thing….

To be fair we had 73 years' warning.

The deal is that there is always a monarch - one dies and the next reigns. The king never dies as they used to say.

Thinking time would be for a Republic, where the state is in the hands of its people. Not for a monarchy.

Just go about your day to day business as if they weren't there. I spend no time at all worrying about being reigned over, it doesn't affect me at all.

If in the fullness of time this country abolishes the Monarchy then it will be because the majority want it. I, personally find them fascinating and love the history of it.

I can't believe some people thought that we would be given a while to think about whether we wanted a King or not. There is so much ignorance about how things work.

This

Having an elected Head of State has worked out very well in Ireland, and in other countries.

The idea that anyone who questions the relevance of monarchy in 2022 should leave the country is laughable. What a pathetic viewpoint.

I know how the system works and the historical reasons why. That is precisely my point though. If the monarchy’s role is to serve its people, surely the people should have a say every so often as to whether it wants to be served by a monarch or not!

What I am challenging is the blanket assumption that we all “in one voice” as the proclamations say, want one monarch to automaticallly follow another.

The British people are not politely given a choice. We are forced to protest and cause upset if we want a republic. All I am asking for is a legitimate mechanism by which one could vote to retain or abolish the monarchy which would be triggered each time the previous monarch dies. That seems fair to me in the 21st century.

You are honestly saying that you have never seen a tv programme or film or read a book or newspaper or been taught history where a king or queen dies and they say God save the King/Queen long live the King/Queen?

Do you know how much revenue is brought into the economy by foreign tourists wanting to see Buckingham Palace, catch a glimpse of the Royal family and watch the changing of the guard and all the pomp and ceremony?

Neither do I but its a lot. Would our economy cope with the loss of that? I doubt it would especially in the times we live in. God knows I'm not much of a royalist, I can't even keep their names straight but they do have their uses and do a LOT for various charities.

As others have said, no one is forced to live under a monarchy if they don't like it. You don't HAVE to reside in the UK.

No one is going to declare a vote because we aren't a Republic. The UK is a monarchy, take it or leave it.

Even without a monarchy you will have someone ruling. It’s very naive to think otherwise. No system is perfect, there are certainly worse in the world though.

To be fair we had 73 years' warning

The deal is that there is always a monarch - one dies and the next reigns. The king never dies as they used to say

Thinking time would be for a Republic, where the state is in the hands of its people. Not for a monarchy

Yes indeed but no one was likely to challenge the existence of the monarchy while the Queen was an elderly lady, out of decency and respect.

And you make the phrase «the state being in the hands of its people » sound almost menacing when this could be a standard in built period of reflection for the country literally inter-regnum. Imho we should be self ruling in this day and age!

Lastly all of the above rules and traditions were basically made up and protecting by the current establishment (imho embedding privilege at the heart of the state) who of course are interested in maintaining the status quo. Why are we all so fearful of change?

As someone from the Antipodes you will either be from NZ where there is no prospect of a republic any time soon, or you are from Australia which voted to retain the monarchy in a referendum.

And as an Antipodean you will be aware of the value of pragmatism over iconoclasm for the sake of it.

The constitutional arrangements in Aus and NZ work. There is no need to change them.