Surely this is the death knell for the Royal Family?

[Woodenheart33]

Surely its now over for the Royal Family. Any notion that they are in some way special or noble is completely gone now. They have all gravitas of a problem family on Jeremy Kyle. Why would anyone bow to them or look up to them is beyond me. There is no longer anything regal about them!

Novella4 · Today 14:37
@BadgerB
'Royals less expensive) than a President'.
Don't be so ridiculous

A quick Google shows this - others may know more than me, but I believe this is the usual breakdown -

The monarchy turns over the income from the royal estates to the government, which then gives back around a third of it in the form of the civil list - allowances for the Queen and designated members of the royal family. Even without counting income from tourists, who buy royal family souvenirs and take tours of various castles and royal museums, the government makes a profit from the royal family.
The US has no such money coming in from presidential property because that doesn’t exist. Money from touring the White House goes directly to the government. The White House is the property of the people, not of any President.

Unless you intend a revolution to confiscate the royal families properties?

At least presidents can be voted out!

We could still generate income from the palaces etc. The RF could all live in one palace.😀

What income? State owned hotels? Office blocks?

Tourists still visit Versailles.

Not fucking Versailles again. Every single time it’s Versailles. Think of something more original, ffs.

Blimey @Blossomtoes nind your language, it’s not becoming of a royalist. You must be exhausted. You’ve been defending the RF for days now. Take a break .

I’m not exhausted at all, but thank you for your concern. I am very sick of fatuous arguments - and Versailles.

Versailles is a good example and that might just be why it’s been suggested.

And equally, why people who assume the royal family are a net financial gain for the UK don't like it being mentioned.

It’s the sheer inability to think of anywhere else. What’s wrong with the Taj Mahal or the Pitti Palazzo? It’s always, unfailingly, Versailles. I don’t think we have anywhere to compare with it anyway. Apparently Buckingham Palace is looking distinctly shabby these days.

@Blossomtoes just in from work, quick look on Mumsnet. This is not my life’s work.🙄

I expect Boris Johnson, or any number of other self serving politicians, would happily retire from politics and become some kind of ‘neutral’ figure head 😬

It's logical that people look to the example geographically closest to the UK, but you're correct that Versailles is only one of many palaces with no royals that still attract rather a lot of tourism.

I’ve been to Versailles, simple as that.

The property, on its own, isn't really the point to be honest! The assets that belong to the individuals in the family belong to them, they are not the state's to utilise.

It still leaves the question of dismantling a constitutional monarchy and how difficult that would be.

Is it hypothetically possible that the RF can be improved on? Of course it is.

Is it worth the decades of uncertainty, division and cost associated with finding out for certain by going through with finding out? Not in a month of Sundays in my view.

I will absolute guarantee that there will be big crowds, lots of cheering and lots of support for KC and William at the Coronation. Absolutely guarantee it. People will actually feel more support for them than before H constantly vomited his never ending complaining.

There will always be saps ready to bow and scrape to people with nothing other than their birthright over us. I just don’t get it. This is not the dark ages. Time for modernisation.

H now has lower support from public. If that was ever his aim

Right, but that doesn't actually address any of the issues raised does it? It's easy to come up with ideas when you don't actually engage in any of the detail of how the proposals will actually work.

My DH comes up with lots of ideas for apps but hasn't the faintest clue whether his ideas are possible and even if they were he has no app building knowledge or ability. It won't surprise you to discover that we are not sitting pretty on a fortune generated by apps.

It is time for modernisation and I think the RF is more aware of that than anyone. I’m more than happy to see a more informal and slimmed down structure. There are plenty of models in the European monarchies for them to consider. Personally I think the “bowing and scraping” view is very old fashioned and we’ve moved well past that.

The people that queued for days to walk past a coffin is very reticent of bowing and scraping. Camping out to watch a royal wedding? What are these people thinking?

For the last few years I was leaning towards believing U.K. should be a republic although I can see some pros of a constitutional monarchy. I think though Harry has behaved v shoddily to his family and I would not want the Royal family to collapse just because of his behaviour. So I am probably giving the monarchy a reprieve for a few more years in my mind!

I wish Republicans would turn their gaze onto the House of Lords, IMO that's a bloody disgrace. Not elected but still lots of power and £300 a day just for attending.

I wish Republicans would turn their gaze onto the House of Lords, IMO that's a bloody disgrace.
Not elected but still lots of power and £300 a day just for attending.