I was an ardent Royal fan, but Andrew back today, WTH

[DistingusedSocialCommentator]

I still admire HRH Prince of Wales & his immediate family.

I was a fan of our King, that is until today. Why on earth was
Andrew allowed back on the scene?

I do not like being treated like a fool, nor do millions of others in the UK.

The time has come to have a referendum if the Monarchy is to remain.

It should be remembered that it wasn’t actually Diana’s death itself that nearly toppled them. It was the press taking the heat off themselves - originally people were solely blaming the photographers and those who bought the photos - and planting the seeds of disrespect about the flag which then grew into the blaming of the royal family. It was the media sainting Diana to protect themselves that need did for them. And is why, imo, they play such a cat and mouse game with the media now.

It was somewhat ironic in that for once the RF was doing exactly as Diana would have wanted them to do - centring on the boys in private at balmoral and had to stop because of the very media that had been slating her the week before.

I certainly agree with you about the press. That is a very good point. Although without the press and media they would be gone I suspect as to many people (particularly but not exclusively foreigners) they are just like a reality tv show.

To be fair though we have little idea what Diana would have wanted them to do. We only know what we are fed.

I think they’d be less likely to be gone without the press. Without them they’d just be plodding along and the majority of the country wouldn’t give them a second thought.

To get rid of the monarchy would mean a mass campaign for change and a raft of changes in the political system - many people in the uk have never ever gone out to vote. There’s zero appetite to change the system, and hasn’t been at any point in my lifetime.

Dianas death and the press (on behalf of the government imo) getting people a bit her up over the Windsor castle repairs is as bad as it’s ever got in recent times

I guess we will never know in our lifetimes. The press need them as they sell copy (or website clicks nowadays) and I do think they need the press to promote their image. I think you are right that if they were not in the press they would be forgotten about - but in the end (maybe after a few generations) people would just not see the point of them. Unfortunately in any circumstance it is difficult to see how we get rid of them and as I said previously there will never be any political will from parliament to do it.

This thread was making me happy and now it makes me a bit sad.

I’m not a royalist so these pictures of Andrew grinning and licking his lips like a naked 17 year old just did a yoga demo for him, made me quite pleased. They’ll help the republican cause (although in truth, like a PP, I don’t think the monarchy will be abolished in our lifetimes).

I hate the idea of Andrew’s alleged victims seeing the pictures, though, and thinking wtf. That’s the only thing that would sadden me about them.

You make valid comments, IMO

Being an ardent royal fan but being turned off by Andrew makes no sense. You do realise that if Charles and Di had been part of the 1 in 7 couples who have trouble conceiving, he would be next in line for the throne?

The money argument is nonsense too. People want to see the trappings of royalty not Princess Anne. We would make more money if we nationalised Buckingham Palace and let people visit it properly.

Yes you are ight @HumanBurrito on both points.

The main issue I feel is that the Windsors no longer unite the country ( I am not convinced that they ever did) . We are at below 50% support in some polls . More importantly the trend is resolutely downwards in terms of support.

Yet the Windsors still rake in billions for …what exactly ? Providing clickbait for tabloids? They can do that without their life of unearned luxury and being placed above the law.
If recent weeks have shown us anything it’s that the Windsors ( quite rightly) are not respected .
What is the point ?

An unconvicted man should be allowed to walk down the hill with his family to attend the memorial sevice for his cousin. Andrew is named after his grandfather, Prince Andrew of Greece, and has known Constantine all his life - so friend and family.

Andrew did not officially lead nor represent the BRF.

Some media have chosen to misrepresent Andrew's reason for being there by focusing on certain photos, and also reporting on his past poor behaviour in articles.

I find the reporting very disrespectful to Constantine and to the BRF.

Your first line says it all.
Andrew defenders do more damage to the Windsors than any republican argument .