One year into King Charles's reign, how do Britons feel about the monarchy?

[MamoruHisaishi]

https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2023/09/04/one-year-of-king-charles-how-do-britons-feel-ab

I think that generally constitutional monarchy brings stability and, after the experience of Brexit, I would hope that if change was ever a realistic possibility the alternative would be clearly explained before a vote so we knew what we would be getting. I doubt I will need to worry about it in my lifetime though.

Reading through the thread though I did start to wonder what the country would look like without a monarchy. I think a lot of people would be very very uncomfortable without the royal family providing cover. A couple of examples, the royals draw a lot of tabloid fire, those column inches would need to be filled: they are the focus of criticism for vast wealth, which vastly wealthy people who contribute nothing to the country would be brought into the light if they weren't around: they are protection against someone like Trump trying to undermine democracy, albeit a very leaky one but I think the outcry over proroguing parliament would have been less if it hadn't been focused on the way Johnson lied to the Queen.

Sugarcoatt · Today 09:14

There’s nothing we can do about it, so how I feel doesn’t matter. If there was a referendum I would vote to get rid. But there isn’t and won’t be.

Since the comments on this thread are mostly in favour of abolition of the monarchy, is that a reflection of general opinion in UK?
If this is the case then maybe Keir Starmer should offer a referendum in the Labour Party manifesto.

I think that generally constitutional monarchy brings stability and, after the experience of Brexit, I would hope that if change was ever a realistic possibility the alternative would be clearly explained before a vote so we knew what we would be getting

You see, this is the kind of reasoned position I really admire
Admittedly it's not my view, but it's a hell of an improvement on "They bring in more than they cost", "They have no power" and "Didn't such-and-such look nice"

The whole point of the Monarchy is that it is not a single personality, but a dynasty. The Queens only job of any consequence was to ensure that, if we have to have a Head of State and family imposed on us unquestioningly, that they are decent people and know not to take the piss. I don't mind Charles, but if people think he is unsuitable to be King, and Andrew most certainly is unsuitable to be his replacement, she failed in her duty. If we are to pick and choose which Royals would be good Heads of State, why restrict ourselves to one unremarkable not particularly bright family? They know that once you start picking and choosing and deciding one person would be better than the other and removing titles, they will be finished. That's why they dont do it.

10.35@MrsLeonFarrell - interesting post. That's my serious comment.

Very seriously, after a year of Charles, I do not feel any differently about the monarchy. I still caper feudally up the hall every evening but instead of bowing and scraping and fawning and forelock-tugging before curtseying to a picture of her late Majesty 27 times, I have now added a picture of Charles and Camilla to the wall, and I curtsey 14 times each to ER and C/C.

Womens' Institutes usually have a competition each month at their meetings. I wonder if Sandringham's branch has a feudal capering competition once a year.

I'm away to my piece of land now, to hoe the turnips. I'm a land-owner, but not titled. Oh, dear Keir, if you get 'in' next year, don't snatch it from me.

Soviet style collective farming wasn’t a great success

Wasn't that down to the theories and influence of that whackjob Lysenko?

I believe this ‘ a monarchy provides stability’ argument is a complete non sequitur.

I could just as easily state that the monarchy has survived because our society is stable .

Someone mentioned ‘titles’ and land .

What the big deal about banning hereditary titles? Germany Austria France Italy - titles are either illegal there or not recognised

Yes titles and ‘royalty’ are both made up nonsense but unfortunately in the UK , they also create an entrenched class system which hampers growth and innovation. It is a problem for economy .
It all needs reform - the so called ‘royals’ , the House of Lords and titles .

The uk needs to stop looking backwards

Yes titles and ‘royalty’ are both made up nonsense but unfortunately in the UK , they also create an entrenched class system which hampers growth and innovation. It is a problem for economy . I'm sure we had royalty and titles during the Industrial Revolution

I think they missed a trick by failing to walk gracefully into the sunset of their own accord after the queen died. I think they've now condemned themselves to an already undignified slide into oblivion

We've had the planted teasers about the 'slimmed down monarchy' proved a lie with Charles spending even more profligately as king than he did as PoW.

We've had the planted teasers about Andrew being booted out of his mansion to provide yet another house for the Duke and Duchess of Dolittle come to nothing.

Andrew is being slyly rehabbed and is now endorsed by Willy.

Willy skives at every opportunity and the whole lot fight like rats in a sack.

If this was a soap it'd never get commissioned.

@derxa in what way did the Industrial Revolution solve the entrenched class system in the UK?

I was replying to the pp who thought that class system and royalty stifled growth innovation. Well it clearly didn't during the industrial revolution when the class system was much more entrenched than it is now.

It's not part of modern world
I don't think anyone thinks so. Something we can't change, just something you got to put up with. Miss the queen ..she was history but still here...

Looks like at least nine Britons are convinced that Charles is Not Their King.

Tide's a-turning.

Only in your head

Only in your head

Arf.

Windsors could and should have gracefully called it a day when QE2 died.

As it is they've condemned themselves to an unrelenting spotlight and a slow and graceless decline.

The tide’s been a turning since Edward v111, Diana , Andrew , Queen Elizabeth’s death yet ……. They are still here and crowds still greet them .

Just can't understand why we kowtow to a family who are privileged purely by birth. They have never done a proper day's work in their life. Never need to worry about paying their bills or how they are going to feed their children. Don't tell me it's hard work being a member of the royal family when all they have to concern themselves about is turning up. They are an outdated bunch of leeches who live off the hardworking people who pay taxes so they can continue enjoying a lifestyle that most people can only dream of. I expect some will say they don't have the freedom that we do to live our lives. They are free to change that anytime but I doubt they would. They know when they are on to a good thing.

What is the alternative? Get rid of them then have all sorts of groups fighting for a share of the spoils?

Would the palaces, antiques, jewellery etc., be sold off? The greed of some would result in anarchy and the UK would be left with nothing of value whatsoever.

Stop looking at the monarchy in terms of people/individuals. There's a lot more to it than that.

Yes be careful what you wish for in getting rid of the Monarchy. Lots of people saying Brexit would be fine blah blah, look what a shed load of crap that turned out to be...

They are totally outdated and laughable now. Queen Camilla?? Never thought that would happen, it was always to be Queen consort. They have really showed what they think of the public with that move.
Time to get rid of them all.

Quite indifferent, find them pretty boring. The whole Kate vs Meghan and waiting for Andrew to go the US courts kept it juicy for a while, but that’s all seems to have died down.

Thought Charles have would kept things lively after getting caught taking cash wrapped in fortnum & mason carrier bags from the Qataris, but that was all successfully brushed under the ermine with his toothpaste squeezer conveniently was thrown under the bus.

Tbf, they probably prefer to be seen as boring and uninteresting, no scrutiny that way.

‘Queen Camilla’ playing table tennis in Paris this week was sooooo embarrassing 😳 Honestly if they are ambassadors for the U.K. we may as well give up!

it was always to be Queen consort

So many fail to understand this. There are Queens Regnant (Elizabeth 2nd; Victoria ) and Queens Consort ( Elizabeth, later the Queen mother; Mary, wife of George V... etc) And, of course, Camilla
Kate will be Queen Consort.

It isn't a "lesser" title. Queens Consort are still called by their name.