How does the monarchy need to change after Andrew?

[mids2019]

I was reading about Prince William's conversation of mental health in men with others and it struck me how open (relatively) about struggles he may have had with emotion. Such openness in my mind would be inconceivable 50 years ago so are we going to see a RF that is more open and much more willing to be presented as human with greater insights into family life?

Maybe it's a case of the RF having to show the public they have nothing to hide in future with increasing scrutiny of the institution. Certainly the concept of majesty on imho has drained somewhat and there is a need for the RF to rebuild its reputation.

For me as the King is elderly and has been ill it will be William who will have the job of revitalizing the monarchy and looking to how it can presented to a newer possibly less deferential generation. The RF are going to need some good PR.

I want the next monarch chosen lottery style - all uk citizens over 18 have the chance. I would love to see a Shannon from Burnley on the throne. More than these bloody lot.

For a bunch of people that can’t sing or dance and we didn’t elect, they are taking up a lot of the news and gossip columns. I wish they would just go away quite frankly.

Just axe the lot as public figures,m. They are irrelevant in the modern age. The days of the monarchy being respected are gone, they are flawed, entitled people. Respect these days is earned not a given.

William is an insufferable, parochial man, who is part of the issue. What's he actually done? pretty much bugger all, he had the best education money can buy but has achieved little, does half the number of engagements his father who has had cancer does. All the one's he does seem to do align with his interests or are close to home, and now he and Kate have shut themselves off in their forever home. I'm sorry she had cancer but she has had top medical treatment and no financial worries - try being a single mum on benefits with kids and cancer, it is brutal. They are happy to take the benefits of being massively overpaid and entitled public figures but want none of the responsibilities.

One lot of footage had the main Royals and a lot of other people stood on steps and I imagine C&C arrived. The whole lot of them were bobbing up and down like a game of whack a mole!

The bowing and curtsying makes me laugh - it just looks so silly. There are some great pictures of Fergie curtsying to QEII where she’s practically on the floor. I’m amazed she managed to get up again without toppling over TBH!

On all these RF threads, I’m beginning to see the people who want the royals gone, for the good of the country, and the ones who are reacting to current events, without giving any thought about the processes or the length of time needed.

Yes, let’s all have another Brexit shitshow. I swear some people get their information from the likes of instagram or TikTok or whatever the current trend is.

For me it seems a good time to step back and take a deep look at the UK with a view to becoming a modern democracy and republic.
Let’s not go as far as the French - pay them off, let them keep some of their vast wealth then move forward to a more equal and equitable country/ies.
I would like a full open investigation into Andrew MW and the rest of them then a referendum on whether to keep or get rid of them.

I’ll happily vote for @MrsLeonFarrell to chair a Crown (not Royal) Commission.

My overwhelming feeling is that I would like not one single child more brought up in this distorting, strange system stuck between politics, the super rich and the media. I feel truly sick at the idea of little George being forced into this. Though no doubt he will cling on to it just like the others do.

I don’t mind the RF and I suppose value the alleged political neutrality of it as an institution, but conversely I don’t think I would mind it being replaced.

Given that none of them seem to be able to keep themselves out of scandal and trouble (and possibly illegal activities) I think it's time they all go.

My parents generation (boomers) are the last ones to really like the Royal Family, but that generation are dying out and the next ones seem to be either ambivalent about them or against, no one my age (40s) or younger seems to want them.

My overwhelming feeling is that I would like not one single child more brought up in this distorting, strange system stuck between politics, the super rich and the media. I feel truly sick at the idea of little George being forced into this. Though no doubt he will cling on to it just like the others do.

I could not agree with you more. I remember seeing that lovely boy a few years ago and thinking... what a life, to have everything mapped out for you. No hopes, no aspirations, no following dreams. Just horrific as far as I'm concerned. I very gently posted a mild version of this and Royalists were unpleasant about it. I just think the whole Monarchy idea is changing rapidly because what I felt and spoke about back then is now a much more common view.

And no NewAgeNewMe I am not on Instagram or TikTok. I know it would take 10-15 years to unravel and I just think it's not going to happen. However, huge change is what I would advocate for. If that did happen, they could limp along for a generation or more.

First answer nails it.

Can we all wake up from this childish fantasy that the RF are remotely like us? They have the top PR, image management teams who are working overtime to hope the Epstein scandal blows over and then they go back to the status quo.

The RF are all complicit in a £12 million+ cover up which was taken from taxpayers money. They knew the truth of Virginia Giuffre's claims.

They are desperate to hang onto the privy purse despite having £1billion in assets, a number they also closely guard. Taxpayers money is spent on Andrew's security detail for example even now.

OP, please wake up. The RF is a rotten institution and their PR team do a good job of fooling you and the majority of this country into thinking they are anything like us.

🤣🤣👏

Are you saying that going to Fashion Week and the BAFTAs wasn’t noble service? I think it involved great sacrifice and we should be grateful for it!

Edit: typos

A common view? Perhaps in your circles? I have to say this topic is one that I never hear discussed by colleagues, friends etc and I have a wide range of acquaintances. I imagine it's like the algorithms. Pigeons of a feather flock together.

I said a much more common view.

Not a common view. Accuracy is important.

All I am saying is... even on mumsnet the view of the Royals has changed somewhat. No way could non Royalists speak out like this before.

Try as you might to dismiss it, it is fact that some people have changed their views somewhat. I have seen poster after poster saying they used to really like the Royal family but they have changed their views.

And the phrase is 'birds of a feather'.

My god this is INSANE. Why does it continue??!

Maybe we need to send all these proposals to the government. Some great ideas here, but the powers that be need to be aware of ground level sentiment!!

This. I completely agree.

Actually there have been frequent moments when there have been surges of antiroyalism - the most notorious being the execution of Charles I, but also the succession of George IV, probably one of the most worthless individuals in history. And the disappearance from public life of Victoria, and the abdication of Edward VIII, etc etc. There have always been enough people who can see the benefit to them of sucking up to and reinstating one highly manipulable individual into a public facing role that it has survived, plus I am not alone in being susceptible to the pantomime and the ‘harmless gossip’ bit. But I can’t help wondering if some of these might have been less awful if not brought up as a prince. Given the numbers of not very likely heirs who succeeded and proved fairly disastrous, it seems only to make a limited difference.

Oh I think pigeons is more appropriate 😂😂😂 it sounds better !

I feel really conflicted about whether or not we should have a monarchy and aristocracy at all.

On the one hand, it seems to me utterly absurd to consider that we all are supposed to believe that we have God's anointed monarch in this day and age who simply by the very fact of their birth has a constitutional role and therefore gets to live in castles and palaces.

On the other hand, the monarchy is a huge part of our cultural heritage and they attract tourists, spearhead lots of charities, seem to have uses for diplomacy etc.

The ongoing saga that has been the late Queen's second son, should have been dealt with years ago. I don't think it reflects well on anyone in that family that this has gone on for so long and it brings the whole institution into disrepute.

I have yet to be swayed either way, but get increasingly less enthusiastic the older I get.

😂😂😂 your post reminded me of this

I don't understand why. This is a thread 'does the monarchy need to change after Andrew'.
There is a decent discussion on here about that subject. No one needs to accuse anyone of anything as far as I'm concerned. Are you uncomfortable with the discussion, is it not going your way?! 😂

Yes you do hear it on here but as I said I never hear elsewhere.

I was specifically talking about here as my post said.
I do hear it elsewhere too, amongst family members in particular.

What accusations? What on Earth are you talking about? 🤷‍♀️ Anyone can say whatever they like.

As I said algorithms I imagine.