AIBU to suggest the Royal Family is no longer required

[cocktailclub]

I feel they have become irrelevant.
Who cares that a 95 year old can't have Christmas at one of her country homes? It's headline news that she's staying at Windsor castle. What a joke.
The whole lot of them are pampered lazy entitled and should just be phased out.
We will still get money from tourrism because the history is fascinating. They can all live out their lives in luxury but enough is enough. They make political statements, break the law (allegedly) and require a whole heap of financial support.
Get rid .

'Yeah, he really should have a face transplant and go and live in the Brazilian jungle rather than be Harry, grandson of the current monarch'

No no you're missing the point. You said 'like Harry who pays for himself' as if this was some great achievement, when in fact the only way he can pay for himself is he keeps selling stories on his family and exploiting his royalness for wonga. Nothing to be proud of.

That's strange... haven't seen a sold story on his family ? No idea what wonga is but I'm not down wiv da kidz like you I'm too old
I've got all the point I need!

Well the last time we didnt have a monarchy things didnt go too well!

I love the Royal Family but feel they shot a massive hole in their own foot not being able to welcome Meghan and allowing the media ( Daily Fail which I read because I'm a hypocrite) to narrate a Meghan vs Kate storyline. To be fair Kate could have come out at anytime and said stop, but she didn't- but still promotes anti bullying charities. Meghan is not blameless but they had to set up life elsewhere because of what happened .. not good for brand England .. I absolutely love the Royal Family but am wavering in my flying the flag this year mainly because they got it so spectacularly wrong

@doubleshotcappuccino good post. sums up pretty much how I feel.

All these anti Harry posts reflect the problem. What could he have possibly done to get you so riled up I wonder ?....

I'd rather have the Windsors than a President Trump, Corbyn, Sturgeon or Johnston

They are a waste of space, but how many presidents aren't? And think of all the Commonwealth countries that still have the Queen as their Head of State. They'd have to convert their Governors-General for a load of orange, politicking snake-oil merchants, too.

I really despise the royal family, but the alternative ain't great.

YANBU, and I would have liked voting to have been enabled.

I agree

I guess votes for women and legalising homosexuality were minority views at one time, but things move on. Most people no longer believe in the divine right of kings or in absolute monarchy. I think constitutional monarchy is damaging to the idea of meritocracy/

The Royal Family now are some kind of ultra rich soap opera for most people. People invent them as characters and then want to bitch about them and be disappointed in them just like their favourite soap characters.

From a constutional and national point of view, they are deeply anachronistic and anti-meritocratic. From a human point of view, the institution seems exceptionally cruel to me. You only need to look at the endless news coverage and posts on here about Harry and his wife.

@ShippingNews

And what would you replace it with ? The Monarch is the head of state, so then you'd have....who ? An elected president ? Look around the world at the elected leaders of republics and then tell me how awful it is to have a monarch.

Yes @ShippingNews let’s look at Ireland which would be the model the U.K. would likely adopt (ceremonial head of state)

Mary McAleese - excellent stateswoman, currently speaking out about progression in the Catholic Church. Wonderful president re-elected to serve a second term.

Mary Robinson - excellent president, accomplished lawyer, also re elected for a second term. Champion of women’s rights and human rights in general, went on to do work for the UN.

Michael D Higgins, wonderful kind warm man. Currently serving a second term. He has used his time in office to address issues concerning justice, social equality, social inclusion, anti-sectarianism, anti-racism, and reconciliation.

1 residence for the president and a salary of €250k per year. No financial support for families or children.

No layabout sexual deviants, arrogant people, unintelligent siblings, children and grandchildren living a life of luxury, no multiple residences, no bowing and scraping to ordinary people who think they are special.

@Inabitoftime

Oh so true. I really rate Michael Higgins and Mary Robinson before him. I get fed up with posters saying... we'll get Trump or Putin! Well... we don't vote for the RF and we don't have to vote for the likes of Trump or Putin

I think we need them more than ever to provide some consistency and a unifying influence

Arf.
If they were a soap they'd be off air for far-fetchedness before the ratings were ratified.

I think Charles's plan is to streamline everything to the monarch and their direct heirs which is a good thing imo

Buying in to his pleb-pleasing plan which coincidentally but happily doesn't impact his own bloated lifestyle doesn't make it any more sane or palatable.

I'd rather have the Windsors than a President Trump, Corbyn, Sturgeon or Johnston

All but one of the above can be voted out. Spot the difference.

Yabu

I agree with you OP. Outdated parasites. The tourism is to see the buildings/palaces, not to see the royals - fuck me even UK citizens are barely afforded that ‘honour’.

It is morally bereft to have headlines wailing about her cancelled Christmas plans. In one of her many residences. That remain empty until she visits.

I have a problem with one white family being selected to be the heads of state and have all the trappings of luxury generation after generation, forever. At least with a elected President it can technically be anyone no matter their birth or background.

@Strugglingtodomybest

I agree OP, and said similar when the news was reporting on what the queen might say in her speech on Christmas Day. Who cares what she might say for goodness sake?! How is that news?

Exactly. Why is her speech even news? I doubt she writes it anyway and why should it get such prominence? Most of the family are a disgrace and their staggering privilege knows no boundaries along with their behaviour.

@Bunnyfuller

I agree with you OP. Outdated parasites. The tourism is to see the buildings/palaces, not to see the royals - fuck me even UK citizens are barely afforded that ‘honour’.

It is morally bereft to have headlines wailing about her cancelled Christmas plans. In one of her many residences. That remain empty until she visits.

Yep. Cancelled Christmas plans but won't be lonely, hungry, without care and support or Christmas gifts. By all accounts her homes are cold but not because she can't pay for her heating. Nothing like the situation faced by thousands of older people in the UK. Oh and not that many people who don't have their own personal medical team and chef even live to 95..

@CathyorClaire very true about Charles. Desperate to protect his own future.

I like the Queen. She represents everything that is good about Royalty. She is dedicated and honest and has led a blameless life which makes me respect her and admire her.
She means something. The world loves her. It is because of her that the UK is respected and looked upon as something special. She has upheld a decency which is an example to all and her faith in God is unwavering and steadfast.

The behaviour of some of her family is questionable to say the very least and I find it impossible to look up to people who hide behind the monarchy and think themselves above the law.

The treatment of Diana by Charles, and the fiasco with his son, to say nothing of the scandal with his brother, and the reports of certain members of the family who are lazy yet live a lifestyle we could only dream about are undeserving of the titles they use, and the privileged lives they continue to lead are unpalatable to me

I'd vote them out tomorrow if I could.

@MajorCarolDanvers

I'd rather have the Windsors than a President Trump, Corbyn, Sturgeon or Johnston

Boris Johnson with a big majority has more power in the UK than Trump ever had over there.

The presidency is all about checks and balances. Hence Trump delivering very little on all his rhetoric (the wall etc).

The monarchy has no power in reality. It's all for show.

Pertinent discussion in the Guardian today:

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/dec/27/the-guardian-view-on-the-queens-jubilee-time-to-face-change

To sum up, the public and parliament should have some input into the future shape of the monarchy. Suggesting the setting up of a select committee to explore:

Constitutional, political & military roles
Finances & accountability
Laws of succession
The coronation ceremony & oath, including the religious dimension

A very interesting article, as are the comments below, some very well put.