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 agree with some of your points, but not all.

But I'm afraid I must save more comment for later as I think I have just broken my big toe! Seriously, I cannot put my toe on the ground and it is swollen. Just like that. Maybe it's something simple, but have to see where the nearest minor injuries place is, thankfully never having had to use them before now!

If I were KC3 the doc and the x ray machine would come to him lol 😂

I’m a republican, primarily because I believe that in a democratic society the people should be able to choose who becomes head of state. I also support the abolition of the House Of Lords, the aristocracy, the antiquated honours system etc etc.
My preferred replacement for the monarchy would be an elected figurehead President with a mainly ceremonial and apolitical role, similar to the role in Ireland & Germany. Mr William or Mrs Catherine Mountbatten-Windsor, as they would then be known, might be ideal candidates for the job.

As an Irish person looking at the U.K. system, the first thing that jumps out is the narrow source of Prime Ministers. They come from a very small pool

The House of Lords is pointless now. I do prefer the Irish idea of people from various backgrounds going in, unfortunately it also contains a lot of failed MP’s given their jobs by the government as a sop.

One good thing about a monarch is that they have been trained for the Job. In ireland Ronan Keating and Dana ran for it and dodgy Bertie ahern and Gerry adams are currently talking about it.

it’s very easy to talk about tabloids being the bogeyman, this discounts society’s role. They could not exist without society’s support. Perhaps you trust the British public to vote in a good person as a republican president, but I certainly don’t

As an aside if the RF stepped down, they’d be taking the duchy of Lancaster and Cornwall and quite a lot of property and jewellery etc with them. the British public would probably be worse off.

He has his own medical centre in his,spare room. 😉

Oh no. I'm so sorry. I've broken lots of toes but not my big one. I found icing it was the best way. No anti inflammarries as they tend to slow healing.

Good luck. x

Have you ever been to France/Paris on Bastille Day? I have.

Now there's pomp and pageantry, no different to what we do.

Yes. Good post.

And my suggestion on these boards in the past was a Nobel Laureate with a term. That covers... Economics, Peace, Literature, Physics, Chemistry, English Lit, and more.

I also support the abolition of the House Of Lords, the aristocracy, the antiquated honours system etc etc.

Barelyliterate how would you abolish the aristocracy? (Other than guillotining them/line them up in front of firing squad which may be what you meant).

I agree with tigger, can't think of a better system. BUT I would like to see an end to Party politics. No parties, like Jersey.

I heard someone talking about Portugal recently "They got rid of their monarchy in 1910- and you can see how it destroyed their tourist industry....."

It's funny, I was reading about a Canadian woman, a smoker who lived til she was 117 - you can see how smoking kills you. 😄

That’s a bit drastic! I would simply abolish the concept of titles & peerages, so that for example, the Duke of Devonshire would legally become plain Mr Cavendish. Of course he could still choose to call himself Duke of Devonshire if he wished, as could I, but that would be just a name. It would have no official or legal status or recognition or privileges or entitlements.

I love the tradition, pomp & ceremony! I also like most of the royals and think they're doing a good job. I love being British and having the most famous royal family in the world, tourism to this country always includes or begins with a trip to London / Buckingham palace /changing if the guard etc. I think that's wonderful.

I do agree that the RF needs to keep evolving and modernising, working for worthy causes etc. to stay relevant and acceptable.

I wish them well and wouldn't wish to trade places with them.

Portugal has rather different weather to U.K. though.
if Portugal and the U.K. literally swapped geographical positions and climates they would absolutely be wishing they had kept their monarchy!

Could I just say how lovely it is to have such a civilised thread on MN? People expressing their opinions and (as yet) no sneering, personal insults, put-downs or extreme frothing at the mouth about anything.

This is how it should be, but usually isn't! People on this thread seem to have considered, nuanced opinions on both sides of the discussion which deserve respect. So different from some others which rapidly descend into bun-fights.

Sorry for digression...

@CoffeeCantata
So agree and long may it continue!

This sort of discussion about the Institution as a whole is interesting.

but that would be just a name. It would have no official or legal status or recognition or privileges or entitlements.

BarelyLiterate thank you for answering my question. What privileges or entitlements do titled people have - apart from 90 of them being in the H of L?

Roussette are you going to answer my question about the RF’s possessions?

@Barbadossunset , I'm not an expert but every thing that belongs to them personally will be theirs still , anything like Buckingham palace will belong to the state, so us normal citizens won't be getting a big payday.
And will still need to pay for its upkeep.

Yes please

And will still need to pay for its upkeep.

Jeff - yes. After World War II the Labour government co side red nationalising some of the largest stately homes - Blenheim, Chatsworth etc.
Not so much because they really wanted them but because they liked the idea of confiscating property from posh rich people and booting them out.
In the end they were persuaded against it because of the vast cost of upkeep.

Sorry, I didn't realise you addressed a question to me, I didn't get a notification. I will scroll back and look for it

’considered’ not ‘co side red’.

Roussette 17.53 yesterday.

Yep 👍.

Ahh found it. No @ which is why I missed it.

AFAIC this is the finer detail. I really can't set in stone what I think should happen to 'their own things'. If you mean the tiaras and jewellery, art collections worth millions, stamp collection worth over £100M, this is an interesting article. Some privately owned, some owned by tthe sovereign but only on behalf of us. If there was no sovereign I imagine that would cease and it would be held by us, the public.

I apologise, I can't answer your question fully, I am not an expert in procedures but I would imagine some arrangement would be agreed whereby historical pieces are handed back to the nation and personal gifts would be kept. Whatever happened they would still be fabulously wealthy. The line is blurred between what is owned by the sovereign on behalf of the nation and what is owned by them personally.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/apr/14/jewellery-worth-hundreds-of-millions-in-the-kings-private-collection