Could this be the end of the Royal family?

[BeijingBikini]

I don't mean if they die of the virus...

But there's nothing like a lockdown to really highlight inequality. I saw an article yesterday about Kate + William "isolating" at Anmer Hall, having done a photoshoot where they pretend to be on the telephone and writing ("working").

I think if people are going to have to spend months at home, in small flats with kids, still going out to work or trying to WFH, queueing for supermarkets with empty shelves......that could definitely breed some discontent. Or if people catch it and have to be treated in makeshift hospitals, not getting an ambulance until they're struggling to breathe, while the RF can be whisked away to a private hospital for treatment. I've already seen a lot of comments along the lines of "why don't they offer up their many palaces to be used as hospitals, rather than doing newspaper articles".

Opinions?

Leighhalfpenny - Do you even know who the Queen is? Go and actually educate yourself on her duties.

Err, yes. I've lived in this country for over 40 years so well aware.

Still don't class them as work. Or even anything more strenuous than wave and smile at the same time. Wow, she can co-ordinate the muscles in her face and arms at the same time.

Yes I continue to be really disappointed by the royal families response to this crisis.

So I would have expected the Queen to do filmed statements to the nation. For Prince Charles to donate Duchy food. He could have donated it to a Food Bank and the younger royals could have helped to pack it up. The younger royals should be doing much more. So one day a week delivering food parcels to elderly and vulnerable.

It's all very well saying that the Queen and the others work hard. I can imagine that it's both tiring and boring meeting hoards of foreign dignitaries and various others - but it has been their choice. They could have had a much more low key role.

The Queen came to the throne as an attractive young woman with a young family, and rather seemed to epitomise the sense of newness and promise for a country struggling in the aftermath of a gruelling war. I was just musing what would have happened if George VI had lived another 20 years? Would the Queen be viewed rather as Prince Charles is now, with the Royalists drooling over him and others saying, well, what does he do? Ditto with William who is also likely to come to the throne as an older man.

Well I suppose it depends on how far you go back

The rumours about Savile were an open secret for years. It's hard to believe none of HMQ's advisers was aware of them or unable to make the most basic of enquiries.

all-out of - How is the Queen expected to do televised statements during a lockdown?

How is the Queen expected to do televised statements during a lockdown?

It need not be televised. As already pointed out, she can videocall from her bedroom and have it broadcasted quite easily.

Lifesabeach - Hahaha, I think too many people on here live their life through social media. You'll be expecting the Queen to do selfies next. Some of the suggestions on here are priceless.

It's hard to believe none of HMQ's advisers was aware of them or unable to make the most basic of enquiries.

Can the Queen actually refuse to grant someone a knighthood? The newspaper links mention the Cabinet Office.

Time for you to do some cutting and pasting Clavinova to find out.
I would imagine that hints as to the suitability of the said person, could be dropped.

"Does the Queen decide who gets an honour?"

"No. In line with the Monarch's other duties, she acts on the advice of her ministers, who present her with a list of nominees each year for her approval.The Monarch's power to decide disappeared in the 18th and 19th Century, as government by a cabinet of ministers headed by a prime minister developed."

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19407451

Peregrina

This shows then that a) the Ministers making the decisions about who to offer Honours to, should have been more diligent and
b) further proof of how useless the Monarchy are.

I don’t recognise knighthoods. The whole idea is ludicrous. I’d admire anyone who refused one.

audreysview - So you don't think that David Attenborough or Michael Morpurgo deserve to be awarded for their outstanding achievements? How sad.

@audreysview I agree. There are much better, more meritocratic ways to recognise achievements and public service than titles. Names like "Order of the British Empire" and gendered titles like "Sir", "Dame", "Lord" and "Lady" are incredibly pompous and old fashioned. I wish we could get over this embarassing obsession with harking back to the "good old days of empire".

@Mamamia456 I could flip your point though and say, so you think those unsavoury characters and celebrities SHOULD be rewarded? How sad.

Mamamia, it can be done, not that it has to be. The PM seems to manage to talk to the masses whilst in isolation.

@definitelygc

I agree. It's completely outdated and ridiculous. Why do they award actors? They're not doing anything for anyone else, just pursuing their own egos and fame.

Nobody should be expected to bow and scrape to anybody in 2020. I think there are a lot of people stuck in the past that struggle to move on.

So you don't think that David Attenborough or Michael Morpurgo deserve to be awarded for their outstanding achievements? How sad.

Of course, republics don't award medals and honours, do they?!

Wolfgirrl - I didn't say that though did I? Nice try though.

Lifesabeach - So now you're comparing the PM to the Queen haha. This thread is definitely keeping me amused.

After reading through hundreds of royalist posts on threads like this, I've drawn my own conclusion as to why people support the monarchy.

They're stuck in the past.

They like the romanticised idea of a king or queen, and associate them with patriotic days gone by, a bit like what people see when they watch Call the Midwife or attend a street party. They struggle with new times, things moving on, they like things to stay the same and for their fantasies to be upheld.

They cant contemplate that the royals are anything other than decent, dutiful, charitable people because if they are wrong about that, all their ideas about life in the UK come crashing down a bit.

So whatever they do, an excuse will be found.

I think the problem lies with people in the UK accepting that moving on isnt necessarily a bad thing, when things change it is usually for the better. We can't stay stuck in the empire days forever.

@Mamamia456

People here didnt say Attenborough shouldn't be rewarded. Nice try though.