How will the Royal Family end?

[JoyousGreyOrca]

The Royal Family will end. Not yet obviously. But within the next generation.

People often assume institutions like this fall slowly and gradually. We see a bit of that already happening with the reduction in "working" Royals, far less favourable poll results than when Queen Elizabeth reigned, and the willingness of the media to be more critical of the Royal Family.

I have seen people commenting assuming this means the Royal family will end soon. I think they misunderstand what is happening.

But society is changing and the deference that Queen Elizabeth attracted can no longer be taken for granted. Colonies are no longer happy for the Royals to carry out cosplay colonial tours on their soil, and increasingly they will remove the King as their Head of State. But I think when the end comes it will be sudden and unexpected. Similar to the fall of the Soviet Union. A clear weakening of the institution, but then a sudden, and shocking fall.

The aftermath will be very messy though as the Royal family try and fight for as much of the states wealth as they can, using the courts if they need to.

I agree with your second paragraph.

I can’t look for the threads or comments now as I’m about to be out today but there have have been a few most certainly. One springs to mind as to when the king should be gone or some such.

TulipTiptoer · Today 07:29

There is no point in discussing Harry and Meghan on this thread because it will just turn into all the rest of the threads on the royal family board and it is so very boring
Surely we are talking about the current royal family, the monarchy, the future of it who is working and who is not and how it will survive or not.

Maybe not, but it's disingenuous to pretend that H & M have had no effect on the monarchy as it currently stands.

When their sillier supporters on here ask 'Why do you care?', or why they're so often brought up in discussions, they are either too daft to see, or too dishonest to admit, the huge negative impact these two have had on the RF and on the UK in general.

They've accused the RF of racism to the world. Although they've since tried to retract this terrible accusation - which was based on so many lies and misunderstandings - mud sticks and has caused all kinds of problems both at home and abroad, and these things are being exploited by hostile powers, particularly Russia. Just one example: countries may well want to leave the Commonwealth - sure - but it's the way in which they may now leave that's so damaging. And China and Russia have a vested interest in fomenting anti-British feeling in these countries in order to step in themselves, where their influence on world politics is not necessarily going to be benign.

@CoffeeCantata
That is such a good and interesting post with lots of points for discussion. I agree on the William reluctance and what we have to think is ...this is George in a few decades. Yesterday someone said George was being trained from birth and that really struck a chord, how awful, how sad is that. I totally agree on the abdication and I blame QE2 for this. I know it was her life's work and there was a religious aspect to it but she should have abdicated at 70, Charles could have had 20 years at the top job and abdicated himself. More than one European Royal family have done this, it is not unheard of.

There is never any refreshing or resetting of the royal family, it is just all dusty and antiquated because each monarch keeps going until death

Maybe not, but it's disingenuous to pretend that H & M have had no effect on the monarchy as it currently stands.
Yes they have had an effect but I think Andrew has had a far bigger effect...to quote you...a huge negative impact
Let's agree to disagree on this one perhaps ☺️

Personally, and this might not go down well, I think there is a rift between Charles/Camilla and William/Kate because what son would not step up to help their 76 year old father who has cancer..

I too get some small hints of this at times. The main one I can remember is when there was an announcement made about her taking a week off to rest. William at that time had had a few weeks off, as is quite typical for him. It felt like a subtle dig?

I think they do disagree on what monarchy is about - William and Kate clearly don't want to be out and about on a daily basis - time will tell on who is right.

Personally I think that the answer is a bit of a balance between the two and that William and Kate don't understand the extent to which other royals are propping them up, I don't know whether they will still be as popular in 20 years time when there are no older royals doing things, and when the "glam" factor is gone But there's no way to know.

Luckily for them they have three very photogenic children who will bring the glam factor in 20 years time.

Poor sods. Imagine what it's going to be like for the girlfriends//wives of George and Louis.

They should be able to lead more of a normal life because it's just barbaric what they are put through and as for the married-ins if they are female, just awful. It won't be a problem for whoever Charlotte hooks up with.

It depends - their kids might take the William and Kate approach of not doing many engagements at all in their 20s. One might do a Harry.

The thing is though that none of the things the RF do are necessary or important. Attending an opening or shaking someone’s hand at a premiere aren’t important. Turning up to look at a factory or even attending a rugby match don’t matter really. When the older Royals die they will stop doing what they do, but it’s all smoke and mirrors really. The RF are vastly wealthy, they only play at being figureheads to look like they’re doing something. None of their activities matter one jot. Questions will be asked if W and K aren’t seen to be doing much other than than going on holidays and living in their swanky houses. However what they’re doing is completely unimportant really. Maybe they just need to be figureheads living off the tax payer and the rest of the RF can go and get jobs and live normal lives. I’m

Yep. It will be Diana vs Fergie, Catherine vs Meghan all over again unfortunately. There will probably be comparisons of Charlotte and the royal girlfriends and wives too. I can just imagine the “breath of fresh air” articles already.

William and Catherine did the low engagement approach and are currently the most popular members. Maybe it will work for them too? I like to think that their more family centred, kids first approach will stop any of them doing a Harry but I suppose only time will tell.

Meltedcandlewax · Today 07:59

The thing is though that none of the things the RF do are necessary or important. Attending an opening or shaking someone’s hand at a premiere aren’t important. Turning up to look at a factory or even attending a rugby match don’t matter really. When the older Royals die they will stop doing what they do, but it’s all smoke and mirrors really.

I strongly disagree!

I think all these things are incredibly important. It's been said a hundred times before but what the RF are supposed to do is 'shine a light on others' achievements' - rather than try to grab the limelight themselves (which celebrities do - that's the difference).

I know from personal experience that people working in charities, industries and all kinds of organisations, particularly in the less glamorous roles or places, really do appreciate a royal visit. Even if they're not royalists they know that the publicity is hugely beneficial. And the royal visit is a way of showing general, national appreciation. Government ministers and top civil servants don't have the time for all this - and most people (whatever your personal view) would rather have a royal in a nice frock to shake hands with.

And the soft diplomacy - the state dinners, carriage rides, receptions etc etc. They really do matter and make a big impact on the foreign dignitaries/heads of state who visit.

Indeed

As I say I find it really intriguing that apparently the less they do, the more popular they are. Wouldn't work at my job 😂

But I do think that if the entire royal family is doing very little in 20 years that's different to now where William and Kate can do very little but the rest of the family pick up more so the overall profile is higher

It’s crazy looking back and seeing how popular Harry and (to an extent) Meghan were, even after Megxit. Imagine what the royal family could have been like if they were still a part of it? It was only after the Oprah interview that their popularity really plummeted.

It makes me think that George, Charlotte and Louis will be equally as popular in the future, unless they get caught up in a scandal or spectacular self sabotage themselves like Harry and Meghan did.

He may not want the role, but like all of them, they sure love the perks. They may want to be farmers/ helicopter pilots etc but they would never in a million years be able to live on their salaries. As we have seen with Harry, the reality of getting a gas bill ( and having to pay it out of their own pocket) is anathema to them. Even their Aristo mates have to do things in order to pay the bills and keep the Stately Home running. William and Kate play act ' just like you' but when you have a choice about whether you cook the dinner or not as some kind of cosplay, it's much more fun.

know from personal experience that people working in charities, industries and all kinds of organisations, particularly in the less glamorous roles or places, really do appreciate a royal visit. Even if they're not royalists they know that the publicity is hugely beneficial. And the royal visit is a way of showing general, national appreciation. Government ministers and top civil servants don't have the time for all this - and most people (whatever your personal view) would rather have a royal in a nice frock to shake hands with.
William said he's not going to do that. He went as far as to say he didn't think there was any benefit to it ( basically dismissing everything his family have relied on for decades to justify themselves) Even now, most of their patronage don't get and Royal visits. The schmoozing dignitaries, yes, that is useful, but if William is going to do two things and Kate is doing one thing that so far has put out a few soundbites about early childhood, then that's not enough. I can't see how they will be able to get their kids to open shopping centres when they aren't doing it.

I don't think they do intend to get their kids to do it, I think they think it doesn't matter if no one does it

Maybe they are right - it's hard to say without trying it.

But at the moment, I think they think it will work because they are popular without doing much and I do think that isn't the same thing because right now there are a lot of older royals still doing it

I also think they are benefitting from the Harry and Meghan situation. There are endless articles slagging them off, most press and press traffic is related to them. But Harry and Meghan are really a spent force, and their children will likely never know the RF. Once interest in them wanes and the older Royals are dead or too old all that's left is William and Kate and their children. There is no one to act as a Human Shield or to keep the press occupied, and if they are hardly doing anything then what is there? Are they willing to subject their children to press scrutiny and put out stories about them in order to preserve the Monarchy on the basis that preserving the Monarchy keeps them all on the gravy train a bit longer?

He may not want the role, but like all of them, they sure love the perks. They may want to be farmers/ helicopter pilots etc but they would never in a million years be able to live on their salaries. As we have seen with Harry, the reality of getting a gas bill ( and having to pay it out of their own pocket) is anathema to them. Even their Aristo mates have to do things in order to pay the bills and keep the Stately Home running. William and Kate play act ' just like you' but when you have a choice about whether you cook the dinner or not as some kind of cosplay, it's much more fun.

Only up to a point. It's a complex situation because they will have been brought up in a particular way and with obvious material privilege, so will be used to it (through no fault of their own). But you can be comfortably wealthy - country house, pied-a-terre in London, nice cars, private school, nice clothes - without the level of expenditure it takes to run the palaces etc. So I think, say, William would be very happy to trade those millions for a better work-life balance.

But then i do roll my eyes when people go on about the 'cost' of the monarchy, as if the RF sit there letting gold coins trickle through their fingers. Most of the millions go on staff salaries etc - it's basically an industry which employs a lot of people. Personally I have no problem with their clothing allowance (except for Meghan's outrageous demands during her brief time in the RF...shocking exploitation on her part) or their horses and carriages. I enjoy it all and consider it good value for money.

Unfortunately they don’t need to sell their kids to the press. The press will get the stories themselves. If Louis, for example, ends up getting himself in situations like Harry did as a teenager/young man, the press will have their headlines. They’re already setting up the narrative of serious shy George (like William, The Queen), bossy Charlotte (Anne) and mischievous Louis (Harry). People like a good gossip or low key scandal (naked billiards anyone?) it’s part of what makes them fun to watch.

I must admit the whole Megxit/ Harry and Meghan saga has been great entertainment for the past few years.

. So I think, say, William would be very happy to trade those millions for a better work-life balance.

How much better could it get?!

Gosh, good value for money? I think completely the opposite. The SG going up I think it was 43% for what? Less of them doing royal duties, less visibility but more money
Yes thousands work within the Monarchy, maybe it needs a cull because it is not there to provide jobs for people

As for the horses, parades, pomp etc, that would still happen whether the royal family were there or not. Look at France..they do flyovers, marches, bands, massive military parades, the whole shebang without a monarchy

this is the first one I have seen in ages. makes a nice change to have a different topic that the normal threads.

I do find the "oh W&C are popular" followed by a random poll odd.
polls are not facts.
its all depends who is asked.
it like when you watch pointless, they ask 100 people a question and how few people answer correctly.
as I have said previously I don't know anyone who has ever been polled.

Well... yes. His work/life balance is something that ordinary people could only dream of. And yes I know he is expected to keep going until he drops, but why not start the modernisation of the monarchy with abdicating when he is 70. Lots of people work until they are 70. Then George could do the same.

LOL! 😂