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The royal family

What would happen if William abdicated?

39 replies

strawberrymilk7 · 10/12/2022 00:26

If the PoW decided that being King wasn't for him and either never became King or abdicated would Prince George still be next in line? Or does that cut off the whole line?

When King Edward abdicated he didn't have children so it was a bit easier.

OP posts:
PlaitBilledDuckyPuss · 12/12/2022 19:10

EdithWeston · 12/12/2022 19:08

The Divine Right of Kings was abolished in the Glorious Revolution of 1688.

Abolishing something in law doesn't stop people believing it.

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 12/12/2022 19:27

Abolishing something in law doesn't stop people believing it

Who do you think still believes in it? Divine Right of Kings doesn't mean that the monarch believes they are appointed by God - it means they believe as well that they are not accountable to anyone but God - not parliament, the people or anyone else, and that being divinely appointed any attempt to remove them is a sacrilegious act. The queen once said that if Britain no longer wanted the monarchy 'We'll go quietly.'

donquixotedelamancha · 12/12/2022 19:28

Otherwise, they're just random rich people leeching off the public, aren't they?

Yes, yes they are.

He probably does think he is the best man for the job.

I don't think we should underestimate personal greed. You don't have to think you are chosen by God to want as much power as possible, lots of people are motivated by that.

However I honestly think it also doesn't occur to them they have a choice. Charles and William are not clever, had very emotionally stunted upbringings and were trained from birth that this is their duty. I doubt they are riven by internal debate on the ethics of it all.

JustSomeoneSomewhere · 12/12/2022 23:09

However I honestly think it also doesn't occur to them they have a choice. Charles and William are not clever, had very emotionally stunted upbringings and were trained from birth that this is their duty. I doubt they are riven by internal debate on the ethics of it all.

This, basically. Never underestimate people's ability to mix up "is" and "should".

Comparatively trivial example: I grew up in a religiously quite mixed place, and I grew up knowing that "we" were protestants and that catholics were "different", a little weird and somehow wrong. Also: that we envied them because they had a lot more religious holidays.

Here's the thing: not a single adult in my family was, in fact, a believing (never mind practicing) member of any church under the rather large umbrella of "protestantism". People's actual beliefs ranged from "will get married in church" to "won't even have the kids baptised - they get to pick when they're grown up". The latter, in fact, were my own parents - so despite "us" being "protestant" and it figuring in our identities, I personally, technically, never even was.

I genuinely didn't figure this one out until I was in my teens. And comparative speaking, it was a very inconsequential insight: neither my own future trajectory nor that of my family or future children was at stake. The worst consequence I "suffered" from realising I wasn't nearly as "obviously protestant" as I had grown up to believe were a few days of intense head-scratching followed by the acceptance that humans will human.

Point being: I don't think we should presume deep thought when "just convention" is a reasonable explanation.

onlylarkin · 12/12/2022 23:26

I don't believe for one minute that William would set George up to have all that responsibility and attention on his 18th birthday. William got to experience some of his life in school, as a pilot and having kids.

I would like to believe that the Queen having to take the throne at 25 affected her life personally and as a wife and parent, would put him towards the mindset that his kids need that space to grow up as well.

He seems like a great parent (both him and Catherine) and it is apparent that they love thier children. He wouldn't abdicate for their sake.

One theory I would love to have a discussion on is this, what would it look like of the UK citizens voted for a Republic? What happens to the Royal Family? The Duchies? I thought about starting a thread, but not sure I have the stamina to take the heat right now. It is a very divisive topic right now.

EdithWeston · 13/12/2022 08:33

PlaitBilledDuckyPuss · 12/12/2022 19:10

Abolishing something in law doesn't stop people believing it.

Yes, I've noticed a lot of posters who cling to the idea, despite fact of abolition, and no evidence whatsoever that anyone still literally believes in it three centuries later.

The idea that Christians often believe that God has a role in any or all aspects of life is far to be broad to be a useful argument for the continuation of a specific political arrangement.

WinnieTheW0rm · 13/12/2022 08:37

One theory I would love to have a discussion on is this, what would it look like of the UK citizens voted for a Republic? What happens to the Royal Family? The Duchies? I thought about starting a thread, but not sure I have the stamina to take the heat right now. It is a very divisive topic right now

They would continue with all the property and titles, for the king is monarch in over a dozen other places. And so we can move away from the monarchy if we wish, but we can't destroy it for all the others.

antelopevalley · 13/12/2022 11:03

@onlylarkin why do you think William is a good parent?
I am curious how people form opinions like this. He is a stranger to us. We only see him at public events occasionally interacting with his children. Maybe he is a great dad. Maybe he is a Disney dad. We would have no way of knowing.

donquixotedelamancha · 13/12/2022 11:03

we can move away from the monarchy if we wish, but we can't destroy it for all the others.

None of those countries pay for them. I'd be delighted for Canada to take them off our hands. They can play dress up as much as they want on someone else's money.

antelopevalley · 13/12/2022 11:22

Loads of countries have talked about getting rid of the British Monarchy as Head of State. And if they care enough Charles and Camilla can go and live in one of those countries.

antelopevalley · 13/12/2022 11:24

@donquixotedelamancha Yep!! Charles and Camilla can live in Canada and Canada can pay for it a;ll, including all the hangars on and rent free and subsidised apartments. Lets see how much they want them then.

onlylarkin · 13/12/2022 19:38

antelopevalley · 13/12/2022 11:03

@onlylarkin why do you think William is a good parent?
I am curious how people form opinions like this. He is a stranger to us. We only see him at public events occasionally interacting with his children. Maybe he is a great dad. Maybe he is a Disney dad. We would have no way of knowing.

You do have a point. I don't really know. I still do not think that he would force George into the position at aged 18 by abdicating.

GoingtotheWinchester · 13/12/2022 19:42

@PlaitBilledDuckyPuss brilliantly put and hail from a fellow Republican 😄

GoingtotheWinchester · 13/12/2022 19:46

@onlylarkin i don’t really care what happens to them tbh - just so long as they’re nothing to do with me!

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