To never sing "God save the king"

[boombang]

To be fair, I was never going to - I am a republican, and I did respect the late queen, so used to sing "God save the Queen". She came from a long gone era, and she fought in the war.

I have always thought the monarchy should end with her, I have always thought it was a horrible system, grossly unfair to those caught up in it, and very very annoying - I do understand the point about the prime minister using the monarchs authority though, and understand it would be hard to dismantle - not least because it would mean whatever prime minister of the day volunteering to have all that automatic power taken out of his/her hands.

But the events of the last two days have changed my mind, it is beyond annoying, it is an insidious evil

The media outright calling cancer victims "lesser mortals" - the description of someone putting on pretty clothes and waving as "the bravest woman in Britain" and the huge distress caused to thousands of normal people through this.

We shouldn't have a monarchy. We shouldn't have this system where someone is seen as a better, braver, more important person because they are part of the monarchy, and other people being publicly and firmly denigrated, because whatever their situation, however they are feeling, whatever their abilities and whatever their achievements, they are not good enough,

why? no reason, other than not being royal

Kate and Charles, if you read this, I have nothing but good wishes for you. Apart from obviously you are in the best possible position to access treatment and survive cancer, I feel sorry for you - I wouldn't want your lives.

But I have really for the first time taken on board how inherently damaging this system of having a royal family really is

There’s also this list of most visited attractions. Ok, Windsor Great Park is No1, but I doubt anyone is going there because of the royal family per se. The 1st royal residence to be listed is Windsor Castle, at no 25.
Tourists visit the U.K. in part for the history and heritage, sure, but it’s not because we still have actual royals.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_most-visited_attractions_in_the_United_Kingdom

Trying to answer genuinely! I do think we’d be in a better place as a country without the monarchy. However dutiful or pleasant the good ones are, it’s inherently a ridiculous and un-meritocratic way to select a head of state. A baby can be born into the lindo wing one day and regardless of their personality, attributes, intelligence or anything else as they grow up they are entitled to a life of privilege and comfort with palaces, servants, private education etc (albeit with some sacrifices), all at the taxpayer’s expense, and will eventually be king. Whereas a baby born on exactly the same day a few miles away in Homerton hospital may have to fight tooth and nail for a basic education, decent healthcare, habitable housing may find it almost impossible to improve their lives as a result.

Aside from the unfairness what does this message say to young people, especially those born into poverty or lower socioeconomic backgrounds? Does it make us look innovative, forward looking or fair? The UK is still held back unlike any other country by an arcane class system with unwritten rules and barriers, with very poor social mobility and the royal family are the very living pinnacle of this.

Nope. Not quirky or unique, or ‘bashing the royals’. I just happen to believe it’s not a sensible system for a modern country. Makes no sense.

So in order to debunk, they’ve assumed that figure is all down to tourism, which it isn’t….so yeah, doesn’t really debunk anything I’m afraid.

I thought you didn’t have a ‘side’?
You seem very keen to defend royalty.
Since they do very little, I doubt there’s much else that couldn’t be brought in without them. Yes, soft power etc etc. it really doesn’t need royalty. Any investment they schmooze could be schmoozed another way.

Exactly. It's pathetic isn't it? I don't give a rat's ass if someone doesn't like the Royals, and doesn't want to sing God Save The King. And I bet the Royals don't care either. Some people (who hates the Royals) think their views are so terribly important and (correct!) Even when facts and figures put in front of them prove them wrong.

The desperation from some to try and prove that no-one comes here for the Royal Family, and they are not the reason many people come to the UK is hilarious. The hate and resentment is fierce! 😂

And no-one said the Royals are the only reason tourists come here FFS. But it's a well documented fact that they do bring in more money than they cost. The haterz don't care to hear this of course. 😆

100% this. ^ As I said, the desperation (from the haterz!) to disprove cold hard facts and figures is quite amusing 😆

I don’t Hayek res et anyone. Talk about projection!
I just don’t agree royalty is a good idea.

Are you 12? Haterz? Ffs.

I don't believe in God and I don't believe we should have a monarchy, so why would I sing for someone I don't believe in to save an institution I don't believe in saving?

I don’t have a side, just because I’m able to print out flaws in an argument, it doesn’t give me a side. As I said previously, a good portion of royalists and anti royalists often come across as mad as each other.

Full disclosure: if there were a vote tomorrow I'd vote to get rid of the RF because I think we're too obsessed with class in this country and their existence epitomises it. I wish we revered knowledge and expertise rather than bloodlines and a posh accent.

However, I never worry about singing the national anthem because I don't really think of The King as Charles the person - more as a the head of the UK. So when I sing God save the King, I am really singing 'God save the country'. I'd also be up for a change of national anthem - or a new set of lyrics that is less focussed on one role within the country.

It seems pretty clear God doesn't save Kings or Queens and they are just as subject to the whims of fate as many of us - albeit, in the past they were more likely to die earlier than the rest of us and I suspect these days they are more likely to die later.

But, by all means, don't sing the song if you don't fancy it.

Old republican here too. Have never sung it and will never sing it. I'm also an atheist. Totally agree that we need to get rid of this bunch of parasites.

I'm absolutely fine with the monarchy. No issues at all and I am most certainly not a republican.
Boosts the economy, increases the UKs credit rating favourably as countries with monarchies are usually more financially stable and "creditworthy", plus historical value - we are a country with a monarchy.

As for grizzling that its unfair and unequal - that's life.
There will always be people richer and more powerful than you. Make the best of your own life and waste lest time eyeballing others.

Really then? 😂

It gives us a better credit rating is insane. Unless the royal family actually rules they in no way make things ‘more stable’ or ‘creditworthy’.

Obviously there will always be people better off than me. I’d prefer it if that wasn’t because of an accident of birth and didn’t come along with the attitude they were somehow better than me.

I'm not from UK but live here and I think it's so weird that your national anthem is about a single individual rather than about your country.

I will stand respectfully for anyone’s anthem but hell will freeze over before I kowtow to any ‘royalty’ or religious leader in any form. So I won’t be singing anything to any ‘king’ whatsoever… or Queen for that matter

YANBU to please yourself as to what you sing or don’t sing. I don’t think the newspapers are an accurate reflection of public opinion though. I think most people are sorry to hear that the Princess of Wales and the King are unwell but don’t think of them as superior to lesser mortals. They probably don’t see themselves that way either.

It's not, actually.
There's more stability in countries who have monarchies as opposed to republics, because republics can lead to political instability and other assorted nasties such as dictatorships.

Kate probably enjoys at good laugh at some of the nonsense on here! I wonder how many members of the RF have an account on here under some name or other?

I would happily sing God Save the King. I love having a Royal Family. Would you prefer Keir Starmer as Head of State? I'm pleased you're pleased but Mumsnet is hardly a representation of the UK as a whole

Are people on here going to dos when they're asked to sing the national anthem?

It's happened to me once in my entire life, as I recall - at my graduation in 1979 because a member of the RF was present as chancellor of the university.

Your problem seems to be with the media as much as the monarchy. Be a republican if you want, but if the answer to anything is more politicians then you're asking the wrong question.

A lot of the republican movement seems to be rooted in the Left's agenda of levelling down.