I would say up until the last few weeks that had been my prevailing view also. I was a pragmatic Monarchist, although not particularly enamoured of any of them (perhaps I feel some affinity for Catherine) I saw Andrew as a mercenary buffoon and sometimes families are unfortunately just saddled with those. I was one of the people who lined up to see the Queen lying in state, and I will say during that occasion there was really a uniting, good feel in the air, thousands upon thousands of people of all cultures were there showing respect. That uniting factor seemed to further justify the Monarchy's existence.
Now however, I've had to re-evaluate. The thing that is the sticking point for me isn't even how much money they are given. Or the grace and favour living arrangements. If they're fulfilling their roles as a crucial function of the constitution, I'm happy to overlook a certain amount of excess.
The major glaring problem, the huge vacuum that has been exposed these past few weeks and which means that I really cannot in good faith keep supporting the Monarchy (certainly not in it's present form) is the fact that we quite clearly cannot ever hold them to account for serious wrongs, or errors of judgement whatever you want to call it.
We can see that it is virtually impossible. Now this also happens with corrupt leaders, true, but I cannot support the right of any person in a liberal democracy who is also taxpayer supported, to literally be untouchable and unaccountable in any meaningful way due, not even to their office, but their bloodline.
Voluntarily giving up the use of your titles is not the definition of being held accountable. It's not a nice experience, granted, but it's not justice. It's not how society works for the rest of us, because you don't usually get to choose the terms of your punishment. You don't usually get to avoid police questions. Yet I'm watching Parliament refer back to the alleged perpetrators family for guidance on how to act. Parliament is now engaged in a damage limitations exercise by throwing us the bone of scrutiny over his lease! Not his egregious behaviour. At no point are the police even questioning him.
The hammers of justice in this country quite routinely falls on the vulnerable. It falls on institutional scapegoats, drug addicts and people down on their luck committing shop theft, abused and coerced women hiding stashes for their partners, people struggling to pay their rent or bills earning a little extra to make ends meet and so on. All whilst the most powerful get none of it. The police looks the other way because they're Royal.
The former French President Sarkozy is going to prison? Fantastic that that can happen and some justice can eventually be served. At this moment, I envy the French!
This cannot happen with the RF.
Lastly, I now increasingly think it is cruel to expect a family to live like social commodities. All that expectation and privilege has been quite destructive to them. Instead of normal fr(m)aternal and sibling relations, they are often forced into competition and confrontation. Charles has to punish his brother for e.g. They have the newspapers writing tattle stories every week. And I accept I could be way off the mark and there's room for maturity, but poor George looks like he has his 2 x great grandfather's sensitive disposition, and I think the role of king would weigh negatively on him, and he has no choice at all in the matter because of when he was born. I truly think they would be a happier family without the roles.
I can support William and Kate, but I won't support their children becoming more casualties and the institution continuing past them. Hopefully Gen Z and Alpha will set them free.