The Yorks 2 !

[jeffgoldblum]

Sorry missed end of thread !
had a slight hiccup.
anyway thread 2 ready for tomorrows new article. 😁

I had one of those red hats with the long black tassels in my dressing up box as a child..

Those are fantastic! I loved seeing the Swiss Guards when I went to Rome. Those stripey costumes are just great!
I swear the Puritans among us want to get rid of all the colour and theatre in life.

Oh yes - I forgot about the Swiss Guard! I think the uniform was designed by Michelangelo. We’d all be the poorer if these Monty Pythons moments disappeared from our lives.

I know. What was the first thing my Australian friends wanted to go and see? Changing the Guard at BP. Then the Yeoman Warders at the Tower.
Theatre/pageantry. Every country does it, even republics.

I’ll try and introduce something into my Republic. The difference is that in a Republic people would choose to do it-in a Monarchy they have to. Which is much more fun.

Oh, you'd have referendums? Or maybe Microsoft questions?
I think plenty of colour and stuff for people to look at and enjoy. Before anyone says "bread and circuses" - yep, the Romans knew, and they had one heck of a Republic.

I think if you told the Yeoman Warders they could choose to wear their uniforms or not, you might get short shrift!

If George decides he want to be an accountant and the others can't be bothered, please, please lobby for the continuation of historical ceremony and costume in our culture. So many things are a reminder and a reference to our history, which despite what some people would have us believe, has lots to be proud of in it.

I don't think the House of Lords nowadays has the same hereditary component (it's very small proportion, and disappearing by natural wastage), but things like Black Rod banging his staff on the doors of the House of Commons to summon the MPs into the Lords for the monarch's speech. It's there to remind us that the monarch isn't allowed into the Commons after Charles I entered and tried to interfere in its business. All part of the story of how Parliament developed, and the symbolism is very powerful.

I agree, @CoffeeCantata ..we are ruled by Parliament, not the monarch. In spite of some of the wilder claims on here!
I'd also keep the Woolsack in the HoL, the reminder of what created England's early wealth.

They were his Royal Naval trousers.

Quite! And the British parliament isn't called the Mother of Parliaments for nothing. We achieved our system gradually without a bloodthirsty revolution like the French or Russian revolutions. OK, we had the Civil War, but that was nothing compared to the horrors of those revolutions. All other developments have happened fairly peacefully, through evolution, and I think we should be proud of that tradition.

We have a monarchy still, but as long as they pose no threat to democracy I don't see the problem. It's like saying 'I like the beef and Yorkshire pudding but don't want those carrots'. OK - leave the carrots.

I don't mind my couple of quid a year for all the fun I get out of watching the various daft ceremonies.

Article in the Telegraph

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2025/08/12/most-britons-support-stripping-prince-andrew-royal-titles/

Is it safe to assume everyone knows by now how to use archive.com, to read paywalled articles, or is that utter foolishness and naivety on my part?

It's mainly the ostrich I feel sorry for, Cathy

Imagine laying down your life - not that the ostrich has the least bloody say in the matter - just to see your backside ponced around atop someone like that

Thinking about it - I suppose it would be best if he remained “Prince” Andrew for purely practical reasons. That’s the way people will inevitably refer to him - or “the former Prince Andrew” possibly, but that’s a mouthful. Realistically he’ll always be PA.

But everything else needs to go, and soon.

But I will love not seeing beautiful frocks ruined by heirloom jewels and clashing orders.

With a republic you won’t see many by beautiful frocks full stop!

It doesn’t always work, particularly for Telegraph articles I have found. No idea why. Probably depends on browsers 🤷‍♀️

Of course I will! Monarchies don’t have dibs on posh frocks.

I agree with you about the slightly frumpy jewellery and orders and I think crowns rather spoil the look with most elegant gowns too, from a fashion viewpoint.

But, like Elizabeth I with her heavy, jewel-encrusted dresses, the late Queen's 'Opening Parliament' outfit was really a huge vehicle for diamonds, pearls, embroidery and heavy silk. It wasn't just a dress - it was a big Girl Boss outfit and perfect for the occasion. The late queen was very special too, in that I don't think she was vain, or even cared much about her clothes from a fashion or chic viewpoint, especially in later years. She was just happy to look the part and gave the impression of being above the trivialities of fashion.

Not to any level of a monarchy by any stretch of the imagination, men in grey suits all the way!

It’s a terrible thing to lose!

You're an ELO fan and I claim my five pounds 😁

the former Prince Andrew

'Pronce' (stolen great typo from another thread!) formerly known as Andrew?

Further to my previous comment, I agree that Pronce Andrew is a perfect title.

I hope in the republic, as well as the silly costumes, we can also keep some of the weird titles that not one knows what they mean - the highlight of the coronation for me was seeing some ordinary dude wandering along with 'Rouge Dragon Pursuivant' as his title. Fuck knows what that is - I dont want to look it up because it is too glorious in its ridiculousness to mess with by introducing reality.

I agree and although we’re being silly, there’s a serious point here (at least the way I see it).

When I think of losing the monarchy I’m saddened and it’s hard to put into words exactly why, especially in a way that anti-monarchists would understand. I think It’s for two main reasons: the connection with the past and the Monty Python ridiculousness of it all - which are probably the precise reasons they don’t like it!

I love history and I like things to evolve gradually rather than be changed traumatically. I think dramatic, radical change is hard for most people to cope with. But yes, if we become a republic one of the things I fear is losing all the ceremony , fun and spectacle and replacing it with something boring, sensible and banal.

I genuinely think the British reputation for humour, irreverence and individuality which has made the UK so prominent in popular music and fashion over the last 80 years is all tied up with our history and culture. Some of the European nations are much more sensible than us, but would you have hadThe Beatles, Stones, or punk rock developing there (spontaneously) or Mary Quant, Zandra Rhodes, Alexander McQuuen etc etc? Crazy though it sounds, I think our rebellious creativity as a nation is linked to our apparently archaic traditions, including the monarchy. The Sex Pistols’ wouldn’t have had much impact if they’d sung ‘God Save the President’, would they?

Let’s not destroy what makes the UK special.

Andrew . Again.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-14994613/Prince-Andrew-barks-foul-mouthed-rant.html

What a little charmer. Oh for a butt of malmsey…or at least the power to chop off his head.

By the hair on my head
Ill be last on this thread!

(I think?)