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.

This was William's 2023 visit to NYC:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/20/nyregion/prince-william-new-york.html

Well yes, obviously it can be done. Anything can be done. Are you claiming the British people will take their cues from Jamaica and a handful of other, independent countries that run themselves (and have done for decades) and just happen to have a (largely absent) head of state that's British? Do you think people know or care enough about this in the UK for it to start a similar fervour over here against the RF? Who is leading the charge? What's stopping them now? What is Republic's model of future governance if it's they who want this and want to persuade the public?

Scandal isn't a problem it's I difference. We're heading that way now, to som many younger people they are completely irrelevant. That's what will end the monarchy, hopefully in my lifetime.

I imagine as @BemusedAmerican , is in fact American she knows all about trump and his support!
It was obvious a tongue in cheek, witty comment.

Is this like a Mystic Meg thing??

How will the royal family end? Someone, a monarch or heir will die, (or possibly more than one person) and the next few in line decline to do it, or still be children.
Someone further down the queue may accept but by then it's seen for the racket it is, and their position as the head of state is fatally compromised.
It will be better for us, and better for the individual(s) concerned too.

I've never seen any visit by William which hasn't had a significant crowd unless it's been a private one.

That really is not true. There are not always significant crowds to see William. I think there is far more for Charles.

There was a lot of support for the Queen, then that diluted down to Charles, he can still pull a crowd but nowhere near his Mother... now it's William with even less.

It has been pretty clear that Trump likes beach-front property.

Not a problem for other countries to want out of the commonwealth. The RF doesn’t represent power and domination anymore.
What’s your issue with having a monarchy?

I agree. There has always been scandal. They are part of a dysfunctional family, there's bound to be. (And there will be far far more scandal hidden and under wraps)
Irrelevancy is what'll see 'em orf!

What’s your issue with having a monarchy?

😅 That's like asking someone to explain quantum physics in one short sentence!

The issues are vast

I'm frankly astonished at how good the RF's PR machine is - and presumably also compliant media - in making almost everybody forget how very close Charles was to Jimmy Savile. Thatcher too.

Disgusting as Andrew is, there is a lot of talk that Charles is also very far from blameless. The very first new tenner with Charles on it that I saw had a word grafittied on his forehead - one that rhymes with a very popular British swimwear brand.

The Commonwealth is a completely different issue though. There are plenty of countries in the Commonwealth who do not have the British monarch as their head of state. There are even countries that were never colonies of the British Empire in the Commonwealth. It is largely an economic pact. Jamaica may well choose to stay in the Commonwealth even if it ditches Charles as head of state.

Well... Charles's mentor was Mountbatten after all....

I don't know many young people over the age of seven who like the RF tbh. I have young university educated adult children and none of them, or their friends, are remotely interested in the Royals.

It's an interesting question you ask JoyousGreyOrca!

I don't like to speculate about the marriages of people I don't know, but if William and Catherine's marriage was to falter, I think that would be a significant blow to the institution.

Otherwise it would have to be something that really smashed the illusion that they are serving us rather than themselves! Or that the image they portray to the public is in total contrast to the reality. A story exposed by a serious, respected, historian like Andrew Lownie, exposing some bombshell or deception or other; involving something really incriminating. They have all of their tax records and probate issues nailed down fairly tightly; I would start looking there!

Edited: the thought occurred to me that Prince Charles is in danger of damaging the RF by not changing anything at all atm! I think if you don't adapt and change you ultimately render yourself obsolete! I know he has probably been concentrating on his health and fair enough but it's not as though he didn't have a long time to prepare for the job!

And it is absolutely okay for them to do that.
Other countries are entitled to do what is best for them.
It doesn’t stop the RF being the RF.

@Sallyslider653
I agree with all you say.

They have the opacity with their finances well nailed down as you say. And the media kowtow to them as pictures of garden parties and Kate in a gorgeous dress sells papers and generates clicks. The royal rota follow them around like lovesick puppies desperate for a few crumbs to generate those clicks and no one will rock the boat and ask questions. They are protected.

Perhaps your circle is far removed from my circle.
Unfortunately when it comes to removing the RF it’s every circle that counts.
I still can’t see why they need removing anyway.

I am not claiming this will bring the Royal family down in the UK. I am saying it weakens the institution. Institutions come down not by one issue that weakens them, but by many things.

How will it be better?

I actually think you're wrong about William and Catherine - I think they understand very well that they rely on the good will of the majority, and their reign will be very different to those that preceded them.

It doesn’t weaken the RF. You seem to think they have the power they did a hundred years ago.

Soon, I hope. Leeches and nonces.

None of us will ever know. The House of Windsor will still be the monarchy for the UK at least for much longer than any of us will be alive. Australia and several other countries may choose a different and resident head of state though.

what on earth gives you that idea?