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 just think in fifty years no one will care one iota what they are doing, and no one will even know their names. This is already the case with most young people. They are a complete irrelevance to most people. Eventually due to lack of interest and support, they will be cut to the bone, and then perhaps will start to get rid of some of their houses and land. I wish we would have a revolution or at least a public vote on whether to keep them. They have no relevance any longer.

It didn't stop people calling 'end the monarchy' every time there was a scandal during QE2's reign, though. It won't happen. They (and their advisors) know how to survive. It is their number 1 job.

I think that the institution will change over time, as it always has, but I don't currently see much public will for removing it entirely.

People are wondering on this thread about William and doubting whether he'll be a good King. Exactly the same used to be said of Charles who is far more popular than many expected. These things go in cycles as each generation is replaced by the next, popularity waxes and wanes, but I don't think they are close to being replaced.

If Brexit taught the country nothing else it taught us that we need to be extremely clear what we are voting for when it involves a large constitutional change. I simply don't see a clear, well supported plan and until there is one there is nothing for people to get behind.

I believe that people are clever enough to realise that removing one family is not going to do anything to help with the wealth inequality in this country.

I know some people call for it. That does not mean it was ever a realistic option.

It will come from Government. As this country becomes more diverse and multi cultural, so that will be reflected by the MPs representing their constituency and there will probably be a push to become a Republic.

I would guess in 50 years time,at the most, the Royal Family will not exist in its current format.

@MrsLeonFarrell Charles is not popular even now. But he does make sure he goes to lots of events and is seen to be doing his duty, even though he has cancer.

family trees and family history goes on forever.
you can no less get rid of the royal family than you could get ride of all the "jones" in the world.
the core group are incredibly wealthy and most likely their wealth works for them and any "work" will be for mental stimulation and personal enjoyment.
do you say or think the same of other wealthy families?

Doubt it will. Unless we get invaded by another country and they take over. Hardly likely. The royals won't give up. Why should they.

He is far more popular than was expected though. It is not that long ago people was demanding that the succession skipped him completely and that William succeed the late Queen.

I agree that there will be fewer and fewer people who care what they are doing.
I was struck at Queen Elizabeths funeral, most young people had no idea who Edward and Sophie even were. And there were tiktok articles circulating about the "secret" fourth child of Elizabeth. Edward and Sophies foreign tours often get little or no articles in the media and there is very little interest in them at all. Just indifference.

If this happens to William and Catherine as the older generation die, it only takes one crisis to finish them off.

William will be a very popular king. Think it's safe for another century and who knows what will happen after that

I love a crazy conspiracy as much as the next person but you don't even seem to have much of a theory OP.

At least come up with something interesting.

Those calling for the succession to skip were most Royal family supporters who never understood why the family were not going to end the principle of hereditary succession. They can not. It would be their death knoll.

Eventually it will end but not within our lifetimes..I'd give it at least a century to go. And I don't think it will be some sort of dramatic revolution...they'll probably just become less relevant and a referendum will be called.

Even if William becomes unpopular i think Catherine will be extremely popular and it will reflect on him.

Just googled Charles popularity. It's around 52% and has been around that for years. I don't see that as a sign they are in their way out.

They will not end .

I don't think William will be a popular King. His work ethic is totally lacking and having a glamorous wife won't be enough because really, in the end, they are just rich aristocrats that we are suppose to look up to. I think Kate will cut back totally on all her public appearances so William has to carry this and his record for supporting his 76yo father with cancer shows he won't be capable.

I think the whole thing will shrivel and die out but not for decades. And how it will happen, god alone knows.

I do think that a generation ago those young people that weren't bothered about the royal family changed their tune the older they got (not me I hasten to add! Completely the opposite for me) But I think that loyalty from those younger to older people will dwindle and fast. My adult DCs don't care a fig for the whole shebang and I'd put money on it, that that won't change.

p.s. Interesting question @JoyousGreyOrca

Honestly in the annual £1.2 trillion expenditure of the UK £500 million is nothing.

Yes really. You understand their work for charities don’t you, they are just not as vocal about it. They are getting there but unless you read about them it can go under the radar.
I don’t think the UK has any appetite as a whole to rid itself of the monarchy in favour of a president.

I can see Australia etc getting rid of them, but I expect they're safe for as long as I can see into the future in the UK.

Not with a bang but with a whimper. 😉

Jamaica is removing the King as Head of State. Other countries are talking about it.

I agree. I think in the past work ethic was not so important because there was more automatic support for Royalty.
That automatic support is dissipating and literally dying out. They will have to prove their worth. And I do not think William realises this. So he will not change what he does.

At the moment the popular media is very supportive of KC and the Wales. If they were to really focus on the negative side of the RF- the huge wealth they have negative sides of the individuals bad tempers bullying that sort of thing. A continous drip drip in the papers could start to turn popular opinion against them.