That I have a lump in my throat more for the class system than the funeral

[JessicaJoens5]

Sat here with a lump in my throat after watching the funeral but I think it's more to do with realising just how unfair life is and what a lottery life can be.

A lot of people in this country are living on the breadline, children are born into poverty, using food banks, lots of homeless, children moving into hotels whilst their parents wait for a house and so much more. Now this is not a thread to bash the royal family as people but I can't help but feel a bit down at the fact that a lot of their lives are luck - luck to be born into a life of privilege or luck of marrying into it.

Now I'm not saying it's easy to be a royal but I know if I had a choice of choosing to be a person born into privilege with the risk of press following me or another person who is living in a tiny flat or house, struggling to pay bills and having to use food banks whilst working a minimum wage job, I know which one I'd choose.

Not really sure what the aim of this thread is but maybe other people had similar feelings from the funeral?

The poster above you summarised what I meant

It was enforced on 5 billion people? Across the globe? 60% of the worlds population?

How so?

I think it's possible to feel compassion for the royals as well as the impoverished. Imo both are victims of an inherently unjust system . The way that the queen was expected to pose for a photo shoot with Liz truss just two days before her death really bothers me. Inhumane in both directions I think.

Actually if you look closer at the Yougov poll @MarshaBradyo you'll find that the majority of those with the desire to keep the monarchy are in the older age bracket. Direct quotes: "Older Britons overwhelmingly say the crown is good for the country (82%), but just 32% of young people say the same". "When it comes to the new King, 18-24 year olds are divided, with 41% having a positive view and 43% a negative one. Among those aged 65 and above, those figures stand at 87% and 12%, respectively". So although the older generation seem to want to keep the monarchy the up and coming generations are less keen. I think the royal family should listen up or face gradual abolition. Time for reform! You gov pol article dated 18th September 2022.

yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2022/09/17/monarchy-sees-minor-improvement-public-opinion

I haven't been able to watch the funeral because it makes me feel angry rather than proud. What about the service my mum gave the NHS from the age of 16 and is now crippled as a result and has likely had her life shortened? Who is honouring her service to society? What about all the others that have all served society without privilege?! This funeral was STATE funded. I.E we paid through our taxes. All the money and lack of paying inheritance tax (or pretty much ANY tax) for the royal family and yet WE funded it! With our NHS on it's knees I'm sure we can afford that. Where is the big donation from the queen's will to sort out our NHS as a gift to the people? Let's hear it....doubt it's coming though. And the NHS is just one problem for our country, there are many more. I can't understand how they can parade their extreme riches through the streets when ordinary people, nurses etc are using food banks just to survive? Maybe in 1603 but how can that be right in 2022?! I think the funeral has only served to highlight the issue to many who previously didn't give much of a damn about the royal family... For those who have always sniffed their boots it will only increase their love. An interesting paradox..

And that is actually really sad.

Im shocked to learn today that a majority of the worlds population watched this funeral today.

That 5 billion stat is obviously utter horseshit, unless you mean scrolling past an image/20 second video clip counts as watching. Actual “watching”? Probably divide 5 billion by about 10. Still a huge number of course.
No doubt tomorrow the 5 billion will have grown again to about 20 billion, as the BBCMonarchy News gets some cosmologists on to speculate whether any possible inhabitants of the Milky Way’s 1 million Earth like planets may have had an interest in the event.

It depends if we change views as we get older

It seems to be the case with political views

The Queen was, essentially, a very, very, very well-paid diplomat. I don't think she deserved 10 days of mourning when - as far as I can see - her country went to crap during her reign.

Stop with your cold hard facts, please. We still have another 8 years before the average Polish family overtake us.

Exactly this. If we actually got rid of the monarchy, we’d be poorer for it. It wouldn’t benefit anyone. People from Australia flew hear especially to pay the Queen their respects.
They paid for flights, hotels and obviously spent money whilst they were hear. Think how many businesses benefited from foreign visitors coming here over the last 10 days.

There has been a massive decline during her reign. I suppose she was unable to do anything about it.That rather makes me feel if we are going to have a monarch I would rather we had one who could step in and help the people sometimes. Like with this cost of living crisis. It would be great if we had a monarch who said they would not accept this happening to people and stood up for us. Or, as someone else said previously, was able to make a gesture of giving something to the people as Victoria did. It seems they are unable to do anything except make appearances.

@purfectpuss
Way back in the mists of time we were all born pretty much equal; some are wealthy because their ancestors were winners in a game of survival. Whatever happens, some will always be more successful.

well, thank fuck the creators of the unions, the NHS, those who fought for abolition of slavery, end to child Labour and universal suffrage etc etc didn’t have your fatalistic attitude.

France doesn't have a monarchy, people still go, and visit the palaces and things what the monarchy once owned. If the monarchy is the only thing economically that his creating income than the current government need to look at ways in which they can make the UK and more attractive place to create trade. Plenty of Western countries do not have monarchies and are fine without them.

@Dave20
If we actually got rid of the monarchy, we’d be poorer for it.

take a look around.

The huge gulf for me showed when I learnt that the queen has a personal piper employed to pipe outside her window in the morning and to serenade her down the stairs to breakfast. Just wow,

@LucyLastik
yes, it’s a bizarre goldfish bowl life to be born into. A famous life in a gilded goldfish bowl because your ggggg grandfather born 1200 years ago won a battle. I oppose it on those grounds alone. Poor kids.

The queen was from a past era, and in that sense - the funeral with its pomp and ceremony somehow seemed appropriate?
However, It did leave me a sense of distaste (not envy) at the expense- including with the bank holiday, as it seems so out of touch with current concerns and worries affecting a lot of people in our country.
Even though we are an unequal society, I believe most of us would want our society to be more equal and fair. Even the Tories have their supposed levelling up agenda.

I suppose she was unable to do anything about it.That rather makes me feel if we are going to have a monarch I would rather we had one who could step in and help the people sometimes. Like with this cost of living crisis. It would be great if we had a monarch who said they would not accept this happening to people and stood up for us.

Yes! I feel exactly the same. She met the Prime Minister EVERY SINGLE WEEK for 70 years. Did she never think of having a quiet word about the shit that was going down?

YANBU at all

And this is why I can’t watch the funeral and all of the carry on.

Now I have a perfectly nice life - decent job, house, lovely kids etc - but there are so many who don’t have that. And it is all luck. Why should one family be seen as more special than everyone else just because of who they were born? I agree it has its challenges but it’s also a bloody good life.

And for some reason it pisses me off that they get to meet all of the most interesting people in the world just for existing - as though they were on a par with proper elected world leaders, and people who are famous for having real talent etc

It also upsets me - however lovely and dutiful the late Queen may have been (having never met her I’ve no idea) - that all this happens for one woman when so many die every day - people die horrible, tragic, and untimely deaths and all this doesn’t happen. There are people being found in mass, unmarked graves in Ukraine ffs

Sorry- just wanted to get all of that off my chest!

It is sad that those children born into that life will never have the freedom to choose their own path.

George is already being prepped for it. Yes he might have much more than others but basic freedoms? He doesn't have that.

I don't know Shirley - people work really hard in this country for very little. Nobody would have children then - because they wouldn't have enough money.

Oh but they will. Even William does. They don't have to be Kings or whatever.

OMG - get a clue about UK politics!!!! She may have had a meeting with the PM Every week for 70 years but the Monarch is NOT ALLOWED to influence politics ffs, they have to be neutral. Christ I’m so for discussion but SO BORED of people spouting shit🙈.

Many, many children don't really get to choose their own path.
Those kids who have experienced trauma whilst in the womb and have already had parts of the brains damaged, thus facing a bigger challenge from the start.
Those kids who desperately want to change their fates, but are trapped by their families in a cycle of poverty and chaos.

Greyseat - That same Piper played her to rest at the funeral. Very poignant I thought.

I agree. Sad all round