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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Gawping at the royals has to stop

140 replies

MeritocracyNotMonarchy · 16/06/2024 21:48

They are just people - no better, worse or more interesting than any other UK residents.

They're trussed up and put on show like animals in a zoo. No child should be wheeled out like this and gawped at. They're ordinary people in a fairly mediocre, mildly dysfunctional family, just like those found on any street in the UK.

We really need to mature as a country and put the whole pantomime of monarchy behind us. It reflects and entrenches the inequality that is so damaging to the UK. And the characters in the panto look bloody miserable.

AIBU?

Gawping at the royals has to stop
OP posts:
Stompythedinosaur · 17/06/2024 10:58

I'm not a huge fan of the monarchy and would be happy to do away with the institution.

But presumably the current royals can opt out if they don't want to do it and go and live their own lives?

KimberleyClark · 17/06/2024 10:58

KateDelRick · 17/06/2024 10:55

Only 1,000 since the Normandy invasion and seizure of power.
The monarchy is older than that.

I know that, but 1,000 is a nice round number. And actually, in terms of Scotland and Wales the English monarchy is not actually as old as that.

KateDelRick · 17/06/2024 11:08

Ok. I don't know why it would be abolished because of a round number applicable to England?
2066... anything could be happening..

PleaseletitbeSpring · 17/06/2024 13:04

Cooper77 · 17/06/2024 10:57

I can't bear them. God they make me so ashamed. I wish we'd never brought them back in the 1680s. No wonder other countries laugh at us. My patriotism is based on things worth being patriotic about – like Shakespeare, Dickens, Jane Austen and Charles Darwin. I 'celebrate' having two of the oldest and most famous universities in the world on this island, not that bunch of ugly, vulgar, grinning gargoyles. The sight of Anne in that ridiculous hat makes me want to curl up in a ball and pretend to be Spanish or Dutch.

Love this post. I couldn't have put it better!

Troopingthewhat · 17/06/2024 13:22

I wonder if the younger royals - William and Kate’s age ish also think what the bloody hell are we doing, maybe they think it’s outdated and weird these days about their wealth and privileges and they are also curious as to why people want to see them and queue for hours to do it, must be a very weird, albeit a privileged life.

Maybe they’ll be big changes once Charles has gone.

I have been a fan of some of the royals over the decades, Diana, Harry, Kate, Sophie and Andrew’s two girls but I now think it’s all a bit old hat 😱

Might be my age !

ajandjjmum · 17/06/2024 13:38

Cooper77 · 17/06/2024 10:57

I can't bear them. God they make me so ashamed. I wish we'd never brought them back in the 1680s. No wonder other countries laugh at us. My patriotism is based on things worth being patriotic about – like Shakespeare, Dickens, Jane Austen and Charles Darwin. I 'celebrate' having two of the oldest and most famous universities in the world on this island, not that bunch of ugly, vulgar, grinning gargoyles. The sight of Anne in that ridiculous hat makes me want to curl up in a ball and pretend to be Spanish or Dutch.

Gosh - you sound very unpleasant. Maybe you should move to Spain or Holland and save yourself (and us) the trouble of worrying about you.

Perhaps post a picture, and we can judge how you compare to 'that bunch of ugly, vulgar, grinning gargoyles' - bet you're a proper ray of sunshine.

SlowerMovingVehicle · 17/06/2024 13:40

SpudleyLass · 16/06/2024 22:29

See, I could be swayed to a republic but I also feel every argument against the Monarchy can be applied to celebrity culture too.

If celebrity-dom vanished tomorrow or the exact moment we abolished the monarchy, then count me in.

No, only the privacy argument. Although celebs can be annoying I agree.

A lot of celebs pay taxes and some also have talent in their field.

GogAndMagog · 17/06/2024 13:59

I don't relate to Kate at all, bringing kids into dysfunction.

She knew what she was getting into.
Al the luxury servants in the world could not be worth your kids having no freedom and living in the full gaze of the world.

It is utterly ridiculous. Same with celebrities. My DP is always banging on about who he had met, its do boring. They aren't any better than the rest of us. You Tubers and Influencers etc. I don't understand the interest.

It doesn't seem to make many of them happy?

cakeorwine · 17/06/2024 14:12

This is what they brought their kids into.

Imagine everything you get to do because no one is obsessed by you.

It's a goldfish bowl.

Gilles27 · 17/06/2024 14:26

I saw a suggestion recently that they should be available via a subscription. If you paid a monthly fee you'll have access to news and videos etc of the royal family. Those that don't pay don't get access. Sounds perfect to me!

ajandjjmum · 17/06/2024 15:16

Maybe we could follow the subscription idea on all of the things we like/dislike, so that we only pay for what we want? I don't use any local sports facilities, maybe I could have my tax back for that element (probably only a couple of quid a year, but every penny counts!)

hairbearbunches · 17/06/2024 16:03

@Triestre The abolition of the monarchy would help other more scary things the left has in their agenda.

What? Like proper democracy. [clutches pearls] the very thought! This bunch of parasites sit at the apex of the class system in this country. Get rid of them and then start dismantling the hangers on as well.

GreenClock · 17/06/2024 16:49

I’m anti-monarchy for many reasons, one of which is because like the OP, I feel sorry for kids born into the line of succession. But I don’t think that disparaging the regulars on the RF board is ok tbh. Any chance that could be avoided?

But yes, republic all the way for me !

cakeorwine · 17/06/2024 17:25

I wish someone would ask them "What the point of them is?"

Or ask them why they feel the need to release family photos on their birthdays?

And of course, they are perfect. They can't just be a normal family. They have to be seen as perfect by the media.

I can't imagine what it must be like to be them.

And you know the best thing about my life. I may not have much money but I have control over my destiny. My choices. I don't feel this sense of duty to have my life mapped out.

George will probably be King. Maybe he would like a regular life. But Kings can't do that.

His life has been mapped out since birth. So people can obsess over them.
And imagine Charlotte - and how her life is mapped out

Blendeddogs · 17/06/2024 17:26

hastalav · 16/06/2024 21:58

Ten minutes on stage, full make up and costumes. Play the part, exit stage left.

It's a very expensive play isn't it?

This

CassandraWebb · 17/06/2024 17:28

Beenthereagainandagain · 16/06/2024 22:21

I have always wondered why society seems to hold some particular people in high regard for literally no valid reason whatsoever.
they are “special” because their ancestors were “special” but quite how or why any of them are special is a total mystery. it’s completely bizarre.
those “royalists” who devour the royal stories and gossip are responsible for the media hounding Diana which resulted in her death. Wasn’t that enough to show our weird obsession for what it is- stalking on a grand scale.
let’s put the property and the wealth into public ownership, give the remaining royals enough to maintain the existing members but no more generations please. It’s horrible to see young children doomed to an inescapable life of scrutiny, likewise abuse on a grand scale.

Agree with all of this.

AliceOlive · 19/06/2024 13:56

PleaseletitbeSpring · 17/06/2024 13:04

Love this post. I couldn't have put it better!

I love it because it made me giggle. Move over here to the US! You can then have Biden and Trump, who’ve actually been elected and see what feels more humiliating.

AliceOlive · 19/06/2024 13:58

GreenClock · 17/06/2024 16:49

I’m anti-monarchy for many reasons, one of which is because like the OP, I feel sorry for kids born into the line of succession. But I don’t think that disparaging the regulars on the RF board is ok tbh. Any chance that could be avoided?

But yes, republic all the way for me !

It’s become a sport if it’s own. But most of us have a pretty thick skin, along with a great sense of humor. But thank you!!

AliceOlive · 19/06/2024 13:59

Plus there are also tons of republicans on RF. They have their say, too.

CammyChameleon · 19/06/2024 14:02

Gawping is what they're for, even when they ran the country, started wars and got executed, they dressed up so people could gawp at them.

MonsterMandibles · 19/06/2024 14:07

Are you suggesting that the only alternative to Charles III is Cromwell II?
I like to believe there are other options…

Cromwell III (there was a Cromwell II- albeit not for long).

Perhaps if we hadn't insisted on replacing a King with someone who dressed, acted and had the luxurious trappings of a King but with a new title we'd have got further Grin

That and a government spending more in debt that it could pay - perhaps a lesson for the next guys?

KimberleyClark · 19/06/2024 14:07

I wonder if the younger royals - William and Kate’s age ish also think what the bloody hell are we doing, maybe they think it’s outdated and weird these days about their wealth and privileges and they are also curious as to why people want to see them and queue for hours to do it, must be a very weird, albeit a privileged life.

In the Netflix series The Windsors, William was portrayed as incredibly well meaning, earnest and hardworking. He had a “what the hell are we doing” moment and he and Kate organised a referendum vote as to whether the monarchy should be retained, and campaigned for the monarchy to be abolished. Much to the horror of the old guard!

McDonnellsfriend789 · 19/06/2024 16:16

AliceOlive · 19/06/2024 13:59

Plus there are also tons of republicans on RF. They have their say, too.

They have to be pretty brave to have their say tbh. I think we can all name a few really decent republican posters who don’t post on the RF boards any longer because they kept getting rounded on by groups of pro-royalists; every single thing they posted was quoted and picked apart. And, with the exception of one or two posters, it wasn’t done nicely at all and often descended in to personal attacks.

And then there were all the silly posts about cheese, done deliberately, I assume, to drown out other voices?

Just because someone has a different opinion about the RF doesn’t intrinsically make them a bad person.

To take a specific, hopefully non-controversial, example:

You could say that you admire Princess Anne for her hard work and riding that long route, in full uniform, at her age, in the rain, in public view, offering support to her brother. And that opinion would be valid.

But there is another pov, that despite being knowledgeable about the military and holding honorary appointments, Princess Anne has never served a day in her life. The medals and uniform she wears are worn as a form of courtesy. In effect she is dressing up and it is all faintly ridiculous.

It depends on how one person observes the same event doesn’t it? And the influences they have encountered in their life that help them form that opinion.

Both views are valid and should be allowed to be expressed.

LlynTegid · 19/06/2024 16:18

You have a different dictionary from me as to how you define gawping.

You are perfectly reasonable to argue for a republic, but there are many other reasons for you to do so.

McDonnellsfriend789 · 19/06/2024 16:42

LlynTegid · 19/06/2024 16:18

You have a different dictionary from me as to how you define gawping.

You are perfectly reasonable to argue for a republic, but there are many other reasons for you to do so.

A serious reason for me, is that in this day and age, I don’t think any child should be exposed to the public in the way the royal children are and the way they have to grow up under the public gaze with public comment about Louis fidgeting or Charlotte’s hair.

Despite their parents best efforts to keep them away from the press; there are already Instagram accounts analysing their fashion, and newspapers employing lip readers to expose private conversations.

And that’s before you think of the psychological impact on a young boy realising that he is going to be king one day. Who else has their career determined for them at birth? In 2024?

Where is the consent in all of this?

We know that fame can have an incredibly corrupting influence on friendships and on one’s sense of self, especially in the young.

I think we need to ask ourselves what is lacking in us that “we”
need to admire photographs of these young children and follow their progress. Why is it necessary when it must all come at a cost to them, despite their privilege?

And maybe Princess Catherine wanted to dress up and have a day out but I can’t imagine that most people undergoing chemo would welcome the prospect; especially when under long camera lenses all of the time.

The whole thing makes me feel deeply uncomfortable.

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