Prince Louis the photographer

[PrettyFlyforaMaiTai]

Kensington Palace have released a photo of the Princess of Wales photographed by her youngest son, Prince Louis. It is to mark World Cancer Day, which is tomorrow.

How cute!

The position of President of the UK would always attract a power hungry narcissist with vast sums of money behind them, people should be very careful what they wish for it could be someone completely unsavoury, I would imagine even the staunchest of republicans on here would reminisce and go all misty eyed over Queen Elizabeth and King Charles if Boris got the gig.

I can imagine Carrie Johnson being up for it though personally I would prefer Dillon the dog 🐶

Agreed. We'd certainly find out the best contender for a sharpest elbows competition. That's another point isn't it, for the last few 100 years the monarch is just there, born to it (although a lot of second sons and eg the late Queen as fairly unexpected occupants of the throne) Maybe knowing that they didn't actually hustle for the job is another plus point.

#voteDillon.

Definitely Dillon for President! ❤️ I was pondering the thought of a President of the UK over my lunch and I had this realisation, if we had had a republic in the 80’s I think we could easily have had that National treasure, working class lad done good who worked tirelessly and selflessly for the sick and underprivileged and raised vast sums of money for good causes, who mixed with ordinary people and the great and good alike, President Saville.

😱 Bloody hell @BigWillyLittleTodger , don't even think it!

It’s a scary thought isn’t it but totally possible, that vile man would have relished the position and Margaret Thatcher who was in his thrall would have supported him.

It doesn't bear thinking about @BigWillyLittleTodger . But yes, he was extremely popular in the 1980s and had national treasure status for the charity work. And he would have wanted the power for sure. So anything is possible.

Funny how that does not happen on Ireland. They have not had to manoeuvre an actual Nazi from the Head of State position, unlike Britain.

Its just classic scare mongering. Imagine any scenario you can and pretend that could happen, whilst ignoring what has happened with the Royal Family.

Ireland, always Ireland!
Any where else that republicans would like to hold up as sparingly used proof ( not France again please) , that the U.K. should dismantle hundreds of years of culture snd history for?

@jeffgoldblum Always Ireland because it is our nearest physical neighbour and is culturally the closest to Britain. That is why people always quote it.

Yes - of course Presidential systems can work brilliantly. I don't think anyone would disagree with you.

But is it worth changing a system which works well as it is? What isn't working for you which would work under a Presidential system? As pps have said, making this massive change to the constitution etc etc would take the best part of a decade, as Brexit has. Why, in a world which seems more unstable with every passing day, would the UK want to embark on such a disruptive - and to some, traumatic - project?

I know; it's the principle. I think doing things because of some abstract principle doesn't always turn out well.

I'm for pragmatism; it it works, leave it alone. The RF carry out their ceremonial and official duties very well - state visits in particular are hugely successful and beneficial to the UK and most people's morale is boosted by having Sophie, Anne or even someone higher up the food chain to cut their ribbon and give them some recognition and publicity.

There are so many much more serious issues we are facing - and I don't think KC and his family are one of them!

Well, Irelands president, has further inflamed anti semitism criticism of Ireland, he is supposed to be non political and yet he wades into a very divisive political situation.

@CoffeeCantata What is not working well?
The total lack of transparency around financial issues, the work they do (Andrew's work as Foreign Envoy has been kept secret and FOI rejected. The only reason we know about some of it is because of wikileaks, and what we do know is pretty OMG), the fact it is hereditary so it is an act of chance who we get (we did get a Nazi Monarch who is alleged to have passed movement of British troops to the Nazis. Luckily he was having an affair so this was used to get rid of him. But if William got very close to Putin and passed on UK secrets, we have no mechanism to get rid of him), the lack of transparency over the influence they have on laws (we know they are personally exempt from lots of laws and have had changes made, but it is all done privately).
Is that enough for you?
If the Royal Family were just given a transparent salary and they turned up at events a fixed number of times a year, I would not give a shit about them.

@CoffeeCantata , indeed!
So boring, same arguments same countries used. Every single time as proof!
A lot of people like having a monarchy, it's our history and has been for hundreds of years, it's part of our culture, it singled us out , it's part of our national identity whether people like it or not !

Like us or hate us most countries know the name of our king or queen, I couldn't name half the heads of state from other countries .

Republicans are welcome to their opinions, others are welcome to prefer a monarchy, without having it shoved down our throats on every single thread, this thread is about a photo!
Not dismantling the monarchy.

@jeffgoldblum couldn't agree more.

I think there are 'mechanisms' to get rid of bad apples. They always have been got rid of. There is no chance that a loose cannon or a downright criminal member of the RF would be allowed to continue unchecked. PA won't be allowed out on public business any more, will he?

...should have added...

I'm sure the security services watch the royals carefully and anyone involved in activities which threaten the UK would be picked up quickly and action taken. And the RF know they exist because of a 'contract' with the rest of us - they're not going to do anything controversial because their existence depends on doing the will of the government of the day and toeing the line.

It's better than Brooklyn Beckham's effort

@JoyousGreyOrca all good arguments for reform and improvements to the current system, which I think is the best way forward.

It's like turning a battleship with an ancient institution like the monarchy.

I think things will change a lot under William - and as Charles gets older I hope those changes start ahead of William's time.

I don't think it can be underestimated that his choice of spouse grew up in a middle class family. I know they were a fairly wealthy one but Kate not being part of that aristocratic family mindset growing up will make a difference on the decisions they make as a family.

I'm sure the security services watch the royals carefully and anyone involved in activities which threaten the UK would be picked up quickly and action taken.

That didn't work with Andrew and the Chinese spy did it? He carried on regardless for a long time. From about 2019 if I recall.

I thought we were discussing a photo.

"I think things will change a lot under William - and as Charles gets older I hope those changes start ahead of William's time"

Eveyone said things would change with the current king and there would be a slimmed down monarchy.
I'm seeing little evidence of it

How much further would you propose to slim it down?

It's already happened organically! The Queen and Prince Philip both gone, Andrew in disgrace and Harry plus Meghan in a flounce!

Then there were Charles's and Catherine's respective illnesses.

The RF are monitored from birth. Yes, I'm sure some stuff does not come out but in the nearly 200 years of monarchs since Victoria became Queen (Edward VIII who was King for about 10 minutes excepted) there have not been any who you could say were genuinely appalling people who used their power for ill. Even their worst critics are not able to come up with one shred of evidence that any of them are in the same league as a great many Presidents we could name very easily.

They have monitoring and scrutiny that very few people ever experience, or would want to, unlike most putative elected presidents who would have a lifetime to screw up before election. I agree entirely with @CoffeeCantata that in some situations action would be taken for the public good but frankly, if anyone can seriously imagine a hypothetical like William getting close to Putin and passing on state secrets, I despair.

I thought he was generally considered too lazy for such activities anyway, can't have it both ways

There are zero mechanisms to get rid of criminal Monarchs or Heirs. Zero.
They kept trying to bring Prince Andrew back in to public view. He is still a Counsellor of State. There has been no action to remove him. He also still has his titles.