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Will the monarchy die with the Queen?

28 replies

Countingthegreyhairs · 19/11/2007 10:13

This subject came up over Sunday lunch yesterday. We had some Belgian and Italian friends to lunch and they were wondering about it.

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HairyIrene · 19/11/2007 10:15

here's hoping
but doubt it

they are not called The Firm for nought

Saturn74 · 19/11/2007 10:15

If so, then poor Prince Charles has been on the longest job training scheme in the history of the universe, for nothing!

harpsichordsahoy · 19/11/2007 10:16

no, not a chance.

artichokes · 19/11/2007 10:20

No way. For the Monarchy to die a huge amount of legislation would have to be passed as almost all existing Acts are written on the basis of our current constitutional settlement. The way Parliament works would have to be radically reformed and even the way we appoint PMs and Ministers.

For all that legislation to be introduced and passed there would need to be a Government in place with huge political will to get rid of the Queen. Non of the current poltical parties have that will and none would dare even approach the subject at the moment. The Monarchy is here to stay.

Countingthegreyhairs · 19/11/2007 10:38

It's interesting that you are both so emphatic Harpsichord and Artichoke.

It's not pleasant to speculate about someone's death (and I think the Queen has done a good job for this country) but (to my own surprise) I found myself saying that I thought the UK would have difficulties accepting Charles as King, perhaps in a decade or so.

I understand about the constitutional and legislative implications but surely in a Parliamentary democracy those need to be supported and driven by the will of the people?

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harpsichordsahoy · 19/11/2007 10:40

yes, I am aren't I
I think it is just very very unlikely. there just isn't the stomach for it. The people of this country have long memories and a strong emotional attachment to the monarchy. from a historical view point, I don't think they are necessarily wrong about this

hunkermunker · 19/11/2007 10:42

I hope not.

I think we'd be a poorer country without the monarchy. What do you have instead? President Bland Middle Manager? No thanks.

lucy5 · 19/11/2007 10:42

lets hope so!

harpsichordsahoy · 19/11/2007 10:44

let me bandy around a few suggestions:
President Thatcher
President Blair
President Major
President Sugar
President Hunker

hunkermunker · 19/11/2007 10:46

Let me take a moment to consider your options, Harpsi.

Hell no.
Oh, dear God no.
Bland alert.
You're fired.
Now you're talking

Countingthegreyhairs · 19/11/2007 11:42

Mmm, I'm seriously undecided about this one

The thought of a President turns my stomach slightly and in terms of history/stability/continuity/tourism/military marching bands, gold coaches, and pages walking backwards wearing knickerbockers, I think the monarchy is a good thing

And there is an argument that the UK is such a creative country because there is the traditional hierarchy to rebel against.

However, having lived in mainland Europe for some time now and observed their royal families living relatively simply, working, riding their bicyles, and carrying out their duties with warmth and humility, it does make you look at the UK royals in a slightly different light.

There's been so much change in the UK over the past decade that I think many people may consider the monarchy to be too much of an anachronism in ten years time.

After all, the class system in England is alive and well. Is that something we want to perpetuate?

Having said all that, it's sometimes all too easy to destroy something and incredibly difficult replace it so desperately trying here (on very little sleep) to think of some acceptable Presidents;

President Stephen Hawkins
President Shirley Williams
President Matthew Pinsent
President Tanya Byron
President Ken Clarke
President Tim Collins

?????

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Countingthegreyhairs · 19/11/2007 13:12

Just thought of some more:

President Betty Boothroyd
President Jonathan Porritt
President Bruce Forsyth (just kidding)

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Tortington · 19/11/2007 13:14

i hope so. but it wont we will hav dull dull charles from cuckoo land and his mistress as our queen

Tortington · 19/11/2007 13:14

well not real queen they will keep her as the duchess of dull

noddyholder · 19/11/2007 13:15

fingers crossed

Countingthegreyhairs · 19/11/2007 14:22

So it's pretty evenly divided for and against

still undecided ....

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Countingthegreyhairs · 19/11/2007 18:47

Oh and forgot President Steve Redgrave too ...

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crapcook · 19/11/2007 19:56

Prince Charles will not be as respected as the Queen when he is King.

But William would be - people like William. Let's just hope that he doesn't end up screwing his love life up like his dad. That is all Charles will be remembered for.

And for talking to plants.

crapcook · 19/11/2007 19:56

Although I am a big fan of Prince's Trust and Duchy Originals I have to say.

SenoraPostrophe · 19/11/2007 20:07

but countingthegrayhairs, none of those people would be elected would they?

we would be saddled with someone like Blair. but on the other hand, we'd also have a prime minister and power would be less concentrated than it is now. Because the queen only has theoretical power - she'd never use it unless the prime minister started taking public baths in custard or somehting.

on balance, I say up the republic. I might even write to chazzer and suggest he decrees the end of the monarchy just after stepping up to the throne.

Countingthegreyhairs · 20/11/2007 12:05

lol Duchy Originals!!

No - I agree SenoraPostrophe - we WOULD end up with a boring politician although if it hadn't been for the small matter of the Iraq war I think Blair would be an OK candidate actually ... (looks around and takes cover )

... and I'm all for custard baths in high office ...

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NoNameToday · 20/11/2007 12:18

I hope the monarchy continues.

SenoraPostrophe · 20/11/2007 22:08

The Iraq war has made me more staunchly republican actually for this very reason. without a president, the British Prime Minister has a truly astonishing level of power. and it's not right, it's really not.

and much as I do think some of Chazzer's hobby horses are worthwhile, others (like the architecture thing) are not and more to the point the man is political without being accountable. It is not right.

SenoraPostrophe · 20/11/2007 22:09

you see the whole thing has made me start repeating myself all over the place.

policywonk · 20/11/2007 22:16

The English aren't very good at overthrowing are they (speaking with my Welsh hat on. We're not very good at overthrowing either, but at least we give it a bit of a go every now and then.) They've only overthrown once, and then they changed their minds.

I suspect it won't happen.

I do find the monarchy/president debate interesting. Senora's point about the president being a brake on prime ministerial power is interesting. I live in fear of a Sun-reading president, though. You just know it would be President Garry Bushell, or President Frank Lampard. It would be President Political-Correctness-Gone-Mad!

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