Abolishing the Monarchy

[tigger2022]

A few people on different sides of the debate have expressed an interest in discussing/debating this, so I thought we could give it a go…

Abolishing the monarchy?

My personal view: I used to be a staunch republican but have since completely changed my view. I think the constitutional monarchy is a slightly odd system, but seems to do the job, and I can’t think of another country’s system which is actually preferable. I also find myself less & less convinced by republican arguments…

Thoughts?

@Gracewithoutend , I too hate sport and I've had a lifetime of avoiding it on tv!
When I was young there was nothing else on Sunday mornings or afternoon, so a book or walk was the only option.

It isnt just the blanket coverage on the BBC , it is the sycophantic tone .
Mournathon probably had the opposite effect to that which they intended though. It was ridiculous

And btw, for all the talk of Elizabeth being such an important figure , there is not a word about her now . No lasting impact whatsoever .

The BBC needs to to do much better in this area- there is a notable lack of balance in their ‘royal’ reporting .

I did notice that after the complaints had begun to build the BBC added some info about Republic on their website .
Their reporting on the wrongful arrests of protestors and their coverage of the protests left a lot to be desired .

I haven’t relied on the BBC for news for years but I did check during those weeks in Sept ( was it sept ? Sorry I don’t remember ) and it was all worse than I expected

It isnt just the blanket coverage on the BBC , it is the sycophantic tone .

Oh heavens. They wore black. Let's not be hushed and respectful when someone dies. Someone of such significance, they caused the greatest gathering of heads of states from across the world in one place ever seen.

While we're at it, let's ban football for being too patriotic and too positive and about home teams' chance of winning international cups. Ooo, and the biased commentary for the home teams against foreign teams. The awful excitement shown when a home team scores a goal or wins a match. It's disgusting. How dreadful of the BBC to allow that. 🙄

I’m afraid I disagree and had to stop engaging, I probably should have done so earlier but I’m far from perfect. Let’s all try and get back on track and not let those who seek to disrupt the conversation ruin it. Abolishing the monarchy or keeping it does not need to involve sexist, cruel or degrading comments about the women in the family. Either it’s a good system or it isn’t. I think it’s a working system and doesn’t need to be changed.

She was the head of state for 70 years. The coverage of the D of E and Diana were OTT but not for the head of state imo

Are you suggesting that Charles is commissioning and paying for these reports?

When the company in question has been awarded a coat of arms ten days before a launch event and the Director of Partnerships at the Prince's Trust is a speaker at said event it's not unreasonable to wonder who's behind it.

They showed different things on BBC2 during the day and on BBC 1 in the evening. Or you could have watched the iPlayer or listened to the radio

Auntie herself disagrees with you:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-62941138

Abolishing the monarchy or keeping it does not need to involve sexist, cruel or degrading comments about the women in the family.

It's not sexist, cruel or degrading to highlight someone later dubbed the laziest royal's (quite an achievement) patchy and string-pulling work history and draw conclusions from it.

Are you suggesting that Charles is commissioning and paying for these reports?

When the company in question has been awarded a coat of arms ten days before a launch event and the Director of Partnerships at the Prince's Trust is a speaker at said event it's not unreasonable to wonder who's behind it.

Companies buy coats of arms. They're not awarded by the king.

They showed different things on BBC2 during the day and on BBC 1 in the evening. Or you could have watched the iPlayer or listened to the radio

Auntie herself disagrees with you:

Overage stopped at 5pm. You couldn't occupy yourself til then? You could gave come on MN. There were several bbc radio stations that had no coverage. There was the iplayer and you could have used the red button or watched sport.

Companies buy coats of arms. They're not awarded by the king.

From the College of Arms website:

Arms and crests, badges and supporters, are granted by letters patent issued by the most senior heralds, the Kings of Arms. They act according to powers delegated to them by the Crown and all grants are therefore made under Crown authority.

Clive Cheesman, another speaker at the launch jolly is a senior herald.

Overage stopped at 5pm

It resumed at 5.50pm and was subsequently only broken by the somewhat unappealing screening of 'Paddington 2'

https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/how-watch-queens-funeral-live-tv-coverage-start-time-schedule-bbc-itv-sky-channel-4-1864098

I think you are very very confused. The King is a constitutional monarch and has no say in policing decisions.

Also, the King and Queen attending Royal Ascot generates £££ in revenue for this country; it is a massive international event. Trooping the Colour is a moral boost for the army and attracts 1,000s of tourists.
The Knight of the Garter ceremony rewards people who have served this country.

Why would you object to the King playing his role and boosting the economy. I think this country currently needs all the help it can get.

The king has nothing to do with awarding coats of arms. He's the king, not the king of arms. The Crown covers a massive amount of things. His Majesty's Revenue and Customs collects money for the Crown, too. But Charles isn't using a quill and ink into the middle of the night toiling over the country's accounts! Do you think he's planning out the Crown Prosecution Service's case over the £120m cocaine haul found last week? Or he's bobbing around on an HM Coastguard boat rescuing refugees?

Paddington 2 is a cracking film. I detest Hugh Grant and even I say he was robbed of an oscar.

The king has nothing to do with awarding coats of arms.

No he doesn't but it's a side issue to the point I'm really trying to get across which are the royal links with the firm putting out the puff pieces.

Also, the King and Queen attending Royal Ascot generates £££ in revenue for this country;

Do you have a link to figures confirming this?

On the subject of Ascot it would have been quite nice to see a monarch allegedly in favour of modernising the monarchy cutting all ties with horse racing and the cruelty involved rather than celebrating it.

Oh. Meant to post this link:

https://www.peta.org.uk/blog/6-things-they-dont-tell-you-about-royal-ascot/

The topic of the thread is whether the monarchy should be abolished. Several posters from both sides of the debate have previously expressed an interest in debating this topic on MN but were worried a thread would quickly get derailed. Let’s try again!

I found an interesting blog from a Canadian perspective:
https://matthewjamespelletier.medium.com/are-republics-more-democratic-than-monarchies-ec2273d29d36

I had a quick look at the ( Canada focussed) article .
I would firstly say that correlation does not mean causation .
It is not possible to confidently state that countries with monarchies are more stable . All it tells us is that a population is passive- and the UK population is extremely passive . The uk has the highest inflation in Europe , rip off energy prices - the French would be out in the streets .
Also I seen to remember the uk democratic ranking falling as a result of the illegal prorogation of parliament.
I mean the queen was a fat lot of good wasn’t she ? What was the point ?

I've been watching Ascot coverage and it's been magnificent. The Wales's were presenting prizes and the world's press photographers were there.
I've got 3 retired race horses in my field. What do you do to help?

cutting all ties with horse racing and the cruelty involved rather than celebrating it.

If you’re concerned with animal cruelty I hope you never eat farmed salmon or most chicken products.

A whole new argument! Maybe a new thread!
Shocking, how many horses die because of this stupid gambling sports.
https://www.horsedeathwatch.com/?fbclid=IwAR0lIIDuw3Fi3nhWkoaezOIUvC6BXurJkNl3GGxlVo-E7VMQyS76YkNLygw

All that glamour is a psychological tactic aimed at women - to make them feel "included", "special". Reality - it is just about the love of money.

You'd have to ban all horse owning then. Horses can break a limb cantering around a field with no one on their backs.

Duh, as if that happens on a regular basis. I am aware through the RSPCA that many horses are left in fields unfit for purpose and suffer greatly. You cannot make excuse for a cruel sport

Which events were on every BBC channel in the last 5 years? Last week's Trooping of the Colour wasn't on all BBC channels, was it? Was the coronation on all BBC channels? The late Queen's funeral ? - on all? no alternative at all on BBC?
I think the death of Prince Philip was, indeed, on all BBC channels at certain points and that really was OTT, but, and correct me if I'm wrong, I don't think the other times have been.

What royal links? Because he has a coat of arms? Tesco has a coat of arms. What links does Charles have with Tesco? Should I be writing to Charles that I'm very unhappy that Tesco discontinued vegetable satay with peanut sauce? Would he be able to sort that for me?

You cannot make excuse for a cruel sport

Wiseflower would you ban all horse sports?

Which events were on every BBC channel in the last 5 years?

Even if they were - which as you say, they weren’t - anyone who can’t get through one day without television needs to find a hobby or get out more. Or seek help.

The Monarchy should be abolished. The archaic system is set up and anchored in military, church and parliament to ensure it has hereditary power forever! 😈Crafty lot!
If royal power is gone, there will be more room for real people who have achieved through their own strengths and not because they were born a royal.
Real achievers will understand real issues that are raised in Charity organisations for example. What does Prince Andrew or anyone know about real life when they have had a silver spoon from birth? Perhaps King Charles shows some empathy at times? But he appears to have a double life, double standards 🤖
If you are an ardent Royalist, I am not stopping you and it will stay for centuries guaranteed!