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

Logically, having a monarchy is an anachronism in this day and age. I have never bought a book, or waited outside any palace to see any of them, although I have watched the occassional wedding or funeral.
If I met any of them, then I would probably bow/curtsey, as it is a matter of respect to the office of the head of state or whatever, not the person itself.
Would I get rid of the monarchy. When I think of alternatives such as President Blair, Cameron, or President Johnson, then I am not taken with the idea.
I suspect over time, then it will die a death of its own accord.
I think things have blown up massively over the last few years with the advent of social media.
As regards the 'lesser mortals', I have not read the article.
I think all cancer patients (including my DH who is being treated for cancer), have their own personal battles to face, and being rich is no exception.

I’m Scottish so have never had a single occasion to sing it in my life. We have our own (imo) catchier anthem for sporting events etc. Plus, I don’t believe in god, and while I’ve no real issue with any of them personally, I have an issue with the idea of people being born into a role that gives them power over others.

The monarchy finished for me when QEII passed. I don't nor wouldn't sing the national anthem since then.

I'm in the republican camp too. There is a heck of a lot more of us than people realise

I’ve never met an arse licking monarchist who can explain to me how anyone’s life will be made one bit better by not electing our own head of state.

We don't select the head of state now. They succeed by right of birth.

They earned this by being the most vicious thugs back in the day. They slaughtered others who wished to be royal and anyone who objected to them taking over. They then awarded themselves wealth and land taken from their victims.

Eventually everyone was cowed and learned to fall to their knees in their presence and the common people passed that on through their children down to the royalists today. who are now proud to be lesser mortals and get flustered if a royal waves in their general direction.

I say it's more fitting for a democracy to remove them and since they don't actually do any work we do not need a replacement head of state. As a formality you'd just call the PM that, but it would change nothing

The standard argument against is that we'd need to keep paying the Royal Family AND set up an elected head of state with a palace and a life of luxury.

This is not the case.

Since they stole their wealth we could just confiscate it back. I'm fine with them being looked after for the rest of their lives in reasonable luxury, but their descendents could get jobs like anyone else.

And we'd just not replace them at all.

The current royals are not murderers and thieves, but the moment they accepted the wealth and adulation they took on responsibility for it. They were happy to profit from it.

Charles himself has made it clear many times that he considers himself a superior being who graciously allows us to be his subjects. It has taken generations of indoctrination to make people grateful for that.

"When I think of alternatives such as President Blair, Cameron, or President Johnson, then I am not taken with the idea."

Note how well the trick worked. People think "well someone has to be over the government don't they"

My main objection to the national anthem is that it isn't a national anthem. It is not an homage to the nation. It is a dreadful dirge droning on about one person. I dont see why England can't have a decent National anthem, and do as other countries (Scotland/Wales/Australia) do and just play that awful din when the King is present.

• other countries without a monarchy are also available, as are countries with dictators presidents 😄

I haven't sung the anthem since school days. Never have, never will.

Unearned cash!!! I wouldn't want to do their job. They work bloody hard. I wouldn't want their lives either.

It's generally considered that they bring more revenue in than they cost. And that's not just from tourists from abroad it's tourism from within the UK and other factors.

And from knowing someone who worked in the tourist industry for 30 years in his experience a great many of the foreign tourists he deals with are drawn to the UK for the Royal family and what all they represent gives to us as a nation.

I would not sing the dirge. There us no god, and even if there was why - of all the things I could wish for - would I ask it to “save” something as offensive as a monarch.

I heard North Korea is nice at this time.of year 🤣🤣

🤣

Food for thought from the genius national treasure that is Stephen Fry….

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8FWKF-CBlO/?igsh=MWNhNmgxeXdqdzFkZw==

I wouldn't want to do their job either. It must be soul destroying for anyone who has any drive or desire to contribute to society & better themselves. But it is manifestly not true that they work hard.

'It's generally considered that they bring more revenue in than they cost'.

There is no conclusive evidence of any such thing. And imo that is intended to be the case; if we really knew how much the RF cost us (ie if they were no longer exempt - as uniquely, they are - from Freedom of Information laws) there would probably be such an outcry it would be the end of them.

Attempts to attribute revenue from tourism to the RF themselves are spurious. The Royal sites and attractions will still be there independently of the RF - in fact not having them occupying these sites and residences would actually increase public access which would in turn enhance tourism.

I'm by no means a royalist op but reading your post it just made me think that really the villain in your scenario is the media. They create a huge part of the narrative to suit their own political/ social agendas and to my mind should be held more accountable for what they write (though how you do that while upholding free speech is tricky).

To me any public figure who is navigating cancer in the public eye could get the same type of publications about them and I would feel quite sorry for them that they can't just go about it all in peace and privacy. The other people responsible are of course the general public who feed the media machine. I'm not sure that the presence of the royals or the system around it is fully to blame on that one. Many other things yes, but not in that particular aspect.

I don't like having a male queen either

We have the worst national anthem in the world, no question. If I watch an England game I literally have to leave the room when they sing that garbage. It’s a running joke in the family.

Plus as I’ve already pointed out - if Blair, Cameron or Johnson had been born Liz and Phil’s eldest we’d be stuck with them. A president can be voted out. Though I agree I don’t see the need for anything other than a PM.

That doesn't make sense. They wouldn't be the same people would they!

But someone just like them. If there are people you wouldn’t want as head of state, then the only logical system is to have an elected head of state so you can get rid. It’s only luck that Andrew isn’t King.

I do believe the monarchy has a place, but have no respect for Charles, the queen did such an exemplary job. Not sure about William but hopefully he will be better.

I’m pro-Royal but I’m not sure I’ve EVER sung God Save the Queen or God Save the King. When do people sing these?

You sound very clever, original and unique. Well done. Look forward to further insights.

Cute right 🤣🤣🤣