Why do you love The Royal Family?

[pedropony76]

For those that love The Queen & The Royal Family, can you actually explain why?

I often see MNetters saying ‘Oh I love The Queen, I love this member and that member’ but no one ever says why. I came across the video of Stacey Solomon saying she doesn’t get why the country is so obsessed with this family as it could be any one of us born into royalty and I totally agree.

For me, when I think of The Royal Family, I instantly think of colonialism and how many of the jewels on the Queen’s crown has been stolen from different countries. I understand not everyone thinks like this but why do some love the members of this establishment as if they’ve done anything to better your life? I’d love to hear people’s views. I’ve tried to have this conversation in real life but everyone I know couldn’t care less about The Royal Family so I’m none the wiser.

Here’s the Stacey Solomon clip for any who haven’t seen it before

For me, when I think of The Royal Family, I instantly think of colonialism and how many of the jewels on the Queen’s crown has been stolen from different countries.

I feel the same. I actually liked that Meghan came into the picture. In a way I thought it might make things slightly different and people may view the RF in a different way, until she was treated terribly.

More recently the Caribbean tours which were quite distasteful and just smell of Colonial undertones from a mile, just cement my feelings.

There's not a single person I know - (except one old lady at work) white or black who celebrated or watched the events. None of my workmates British or otherwise celebrated or where interested in even discussing their festivities. They all did something different, hiking, beach, relaxing with family etc.

My MIL likes the queen so I imagine she is the only other person I know who will have watched. I get the feeling most people who work and pay taxes couldn't care less.

Hahahaha the video - who is the woman with the stripes, she's completely off her rocker! "Kate's going for the proper job" Hahaha you have to laugh really! So pathetic!

What's your question, Novella?

PersonaNonGarter · Today 15:42
I love them because they are part of Britain good/bad/weird history. Their story is our story and their evolution is all about how we have all grown up and changed.
I am one of those people who loves visiting castles and NT properties and reading books about history. I think we are so lucky to have it walking around opening fetes.
also, it makes the UK a lot of money in tourism so I thank them for that

Absolutely agree!
And I certainly don't feel like a serf or a forelock-puller, which seems to be what some are afraid of being forced into. You'd probably have to curtsey if you married into the Family, but I don't think it's demanded if the Queen opens your local hospital - tho' it might be polite.

ILoveCreamCrackersMe · Today 16:10
They'd still make money even if they didn't exist. The French killed off their RF years ago and they continue to have no problem attracting tourists to their palaces.
The tourist argument is irrelevant

All those tens of thousands in London last week would have come anyway? Really?
And I've been to Versailles - mostly empty, little sense of history. (Though Marieanntionette's cell in the Conciergerie was atmospheric, chilling.)

@MaulPerton my question was prompted by this stream of consciousness from Wonderwine :

‘Putting aside any particular current RF members, I think the concept of separation of powers is good in any democratic society. The British monarch rarely uses their power, but they still maintain an important influence and I believe can veto things if it all really goes tits up!
I don't think the democratic vote ever delivers the best leaders - look at Trump, Johnson etc. Power invested in a single president or prime minister is inherently dangerous e.g. see Putin’

( I’ll let someone else pick apart the fact that elected reps differ from Putin and for dismissing democracy well I’m sure monarchists would love to see that concept off!)

As Wonderwine stated this ‘ separation of power’ was of benefit to her subjects I asked her to point out a time when the queen used this power for the good of the general public .
I have not had a clear reply .

I'd agree if the Royal Family was something anyone could apply for every 4 years.

Like an elected president ?

minus the millions of course

The only reason to remove the monarchy would be if they tried to use the power they "theoretically" have

Royal assent is a formality and has been for centuries. They act in their own interests so they know full well refusing it would lead to their own abolition and even they are not that stupid. They are however adept at successful lobbying to have proposed laws changed in their own interests. Suggesting they are powerless is disingenuous.

And who wants the President to open a cats' home in the Shires?

Cat charities can and do raise more money than royal charities. Hardly surprising when charities with royal patrons have a very mediocre 24% in a year show rate and the patronages have been shown to have little to no impact on donations.

Don't The Crown Estates own much of central London? Would we confiscate that?

They 'own' it in much the same way the royal ancestors came to 'own' the rest of the Crown Estate via wars and land-grabs. Why not confiscate claim back?

Exactly - why do they get to be the only Royal family. It's a bit archaic. Campaign for the job so it can be given to the best man/ woman

The land should be given back to the families it was stolen from.

Remarkable that people thing she's put herself first regularly but kept quiet about it:
www.google.com/amp/s/www.theweek.co.uk/951912/queen-used-little-known-law-to-hide-private-wealth%3famp

Is her work real work?

*remarkable that people think she hasn't put herself first.

A few tens of thousands coming to a specific event is in no way comparable to the millions who come each year. How many foreign visitors come for sports or festivals? Same thing.

France beats us hands down for number of international visitors.

Mosmuma
The land should be given back to the families it was stolen from.

That would be equally rich aristocrats. The Duke of Westminster, maybe, who is richer than the Queen

CathyorClaire
Don't The Crown Estates own much of central London? Would we confiscate that?

They 'own' it in much the same way the royal ancestors came to 'own' the rest of the Crown Estate via wars and land-grabs. Why not confiscate claim back?

In the last few centuries at least the Royals seem to have bought their properties on the open market. How far back would they have to have "grabbed/won" it for it to be confiscated?

They don’t make a lot of money in tourism - if you look at the top most visited attractions they barely feature. It would be great to put that argument to bed.

I’m pretty shocked that a PP thinks democracy is a socialist principle 😂. News to me.

I love history - have a degree in it and read up on it, study it constantly. But I don’t want to live with the historical mistakes of the past. Power through birthright is a nonsense that should have been abolished years ago.

As for the gushing about the queen - it leaves me totally baffled. If I ask anyone what has she actually DONE no one can tell me one thing. She seems a very unfeeling person for the most part and certainly has very limited ability to connect with people (Diana showed this beautifully which is why she was so disliked by the RF).

I’m impressed and delighted that the younger generation are seeing through the smoke and mirrors in a way that my generation seem entirely unable to do. An elected president works brilliantly in Ireland and I look forward to the day we see one here.

@BadgerB so all those people in London over the weekend were international tourists? That’s interesting. So the British public aren’t interested then? 🤷‍♀️

I think you are incorrect about the Crown Jewels being stolen from the ‘Colonies.’ Many of them pre-date Britain’s first ‘colonies’ , the materials were either sourced locally ( gold) or purchased within Europe. Some of them would have been the spoils of war, I suppose, but not war against people in Africa, Asia or America.

The more recent sparkles were largely gifts from other monarchs or governments, I believe indigenous governments in Asia were particularly likely to gift some of their wealth, presumably in hope of favours in return. The Kohinoor diamond was looted by so many different invaders ( none of them European ) it would be impossible to establish a’true’ owner : Mongols??. Afghans. ?? Persians ? They’ve all had it by right of conquest i.e. loot.

Im not a great fan of the monarchy, I think the current lot are rather inbred and suffer from silver spoon syndrome. But I think there are better arguments against a constitutional monarchy than inaccurate complaints about colonialism.

I think people from the colonies missing their jewels and other forms of wealth would disagree. It's important to learn world history not just the toned down version of history presented in the UK.

Not necessarily - Some of the land was owned by a group of regular folk. "The Crown Lands were auctioned off by Parliament to fund Cromwell’s murderous war in Ireland". Some people are campaigning to get their land back - I don't think it will happen.

Mosmuma
Not necessarily - Some of the land was owned by a group of regular folk. "The Crown Lands were auctioned off by Parliament to fund Cromwell’s murderous war in Ireland". Some people are campaigning to get their land back - I don't think it will happen.

Cromwell eh! That noted Royalist.... I believe he also sold off the Crown Jewels, some of which have never been recovered, and melted down medieval gold works of art. To expunge all traces of kingship. A good Republican (?) though ahead of his time?

In the last few centuries at least the Royals seem to have bought their properties on the open market. How far back would they have to have "grabbed/won" it for it to be confiscated?

The Crown Estate isn't owned by the royals so I've no idea why you're bringing their privately owned property into the debate. Although even their private funds have been amassed at huge cost to the public purse.

The properties comprising the Crown Estate are well documented and administered by a public body already so we don't have to go very far back at all to identify them.

So this is being 'worked up'?? Ha ha ha! I LOVE how the sheep following little plastic flag waving monarchists have absolutely no examples of how the parasites that they worship are earning their living.