Has the royal family finally passed their use by date?

[SydneyRover]

From knucklehead prince Philip a collective effort to disown Diana a disloyal dishonest Charles who interferes in the country's politics to prince Andrew and a lame queen not to mention the other clingons. There could still be all the parades but just have a representative like a president, if the only good reason being offered is tourism then it's not really good enough is it?

''In a pre-recorded interview with Emily Maitlis, understood to have been the result of six months of negotiations with the royal household, Andrew also said he had “no recollection” of ever meeting Virginia Giuffre, the woman who claims to have been coerced into having sex with the royal by the financier Epstein''

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/nov/15/prince-andrew-on-friendship-with-jeffrey-epstein-i-let-royals-down

[bpoolrover]

Not sure why you would call a 90 odd year old woman lame but everyone to there own

[Donnywolf]

From a straw poll at the Pub last night (just listening inn - sic) - there was a discussion going on about what some of the people called our horrendous / uninspiring / dirge of a National Anthem

I agreed and said well one way to get rid of it is to become a Republic and we would not then be singing God save our Queen (or King) and there was a perhaps not surprising discussion on what the Royals "do" for us v the Republic debate and I would say it was another polarised result - slightly more than half in favour of a Republic

[Axholme Lion]

The Queen has given a long lifetime of great service to Britain and visits from her have always carried a lot weight with foreign Government Leaders being her host. She has given far more than many, many politicians. I am not an over the top monarchist but she has been great for Britain.

[Axholme Lion]

From a straw poll at the Pub last night (just listening inn - sic) - there was a discussion going on about what some of the people called our horrendous / uninspiring / dirge of a National Anthem

I agreed and said well one way to get rid of it is to become a Republic and we would not then be singing God save our Queen (or King) and there was a perhaps not surprising discussion on what the Royals "do" for us v the Republic debate and I would say it was another polarised result - slightly more than half in favour of a Republic

Who would you prefer President Blair or Chairman Corbyn?

[IDM]

Given that they have no real power, they are harmless IMHO.

I find myself siding with AL here, in that it is good for our country to have a figurehead-head of state who is always non-political.  The personal qualities of the individuals is a different matter but I can’t see any problem with the Queen.

[SydneyRover]

If the queen cannot get a legal opinion about what the pm is telling her from the attorney general to give her an option of declining an illegal proposal what is the point of having one when we could buy a rubber stamp from the pound shop?

[Axholme Lion]

She carries a lot more clout in the eyes of foreign heads of state than some two bob career politician. There's nothing more that they like better than being invited to a banquet at Buck House.

[SydneyRover]

Excellent idea, what do you reckon we could get for her?

[The Red Baron]

I don't think there is any great appetite, even on the Left, to get into the issue of the Monarchy while the present Queen is on the throne. However, after her death I think it could become a live issue.

I think people tend to look at this issue from the wrong end. Rather than "Should we keep/ get rid of the Monarchy?" we ought to be thinking how we want to be governed. As Head of State do we want a respected figurehead or do we want an Executive President, as in France or the USA? If we want the former then I really don't think there's a massive case for doing away with the Monarchy, although there is a strong case for it being pared back a good deal.

To be honest, I think there are more important issues than who is our Head of State. The whole question of Perogative Powers needs looking at , as does the House of Lords, which should either be totally abolished or replaced by an elected second chamber.

[SydneyRover]

I think what's left of the UK should go to a model with a figurehead being appointed/voted so they can be removed in adverse circumstances, withbthe lot we have now, when they screw up big time just spend more money on PR and ride out the storm. It's unbelievable that these are the people that the country is supposed to look up to. How do you answer your Kids when they ask 'what did prince Andrew do?'



 

[DonnyOsmond]

The royal family put in a shit tonne more money to the economy than they take out. It'd be foolish to get rid.

[SydneyRover]

As I said earlier you can still have the pageantry and a lot of the buildings belong to the state and with the current state of affairs especially if charges are laid against Andy (not sure whether he can grab the immunity stick) it may be good time to consider the options after the election.

[BillyStubbsTears]

The royal family put in a shit tonne more money to the economy than they take out. It'd be foolish to get rid.

So they say and it may well be true.

That's not the issue for me.

I've long thought that the concept of the Royal Family is a major drag on us as a country. It's something that gives too many of us a false sense of the relative importance of Britain. And I think (no evidence, just a gut feeling) that while ever we have a Royal Family, we as a nation have something of an air of entitlement going with it. Put bluntly, I'm not sure we work as hard as we maybe should.

[Axholme Lion]

The royal family put in a shit tonne more money to the economy than they take out. It'd be foolish to get rid.

So they say and it may well be true.

That's not the issue for me.

I've long thought that the concept of the Royal Family is a major drag on us as a country. It's something that gives too many of us a false sense of the relative importance of Britain. And I think (no evidence, just a gut feeling) that while ever we have a Royal Family, we as a nation have something of an air of entitlement going with it. Put bluntly, I'm not sure we work as hard as we maybe should.

I'm not having a dig at you here BST, but surely any British citizen should think that Britain is important. If we don't think that then why should anyone else? I believe there is nothing that cannot be achieved by our nation and people given the chance.

[BillyStubbsTears]

AL.

Yes. Of course. And I do.

My post was not in any way saying that our country is not important.

I meant that I think there's a large number of people who feel that we're entitled to be the best BECAUSE we are British. And the whole Royal pomp feeds that attitude.

You're only the best if you work like f**k and make the right decisions. I don think we've done enough of either of those things for a long time.

[bpoolrover]

I personally don’t see any problem in the royal family, some traditions are best off left alone, millions of people get enjoyment out of the royals so for me no need to change

[scawsby steve]

I totally agree with all the pro-monarchy posts above. However, there's no doubt that Prince Andrew has done them no favours with all this business, and it will be interesting to see the outcome of it, if any.

[keith79]

Erm no

[Bentley Bullet]

People who just select the negatives about something and simply ignore the good things are kidding themselves as much as those they are trying to convince.

[Filo]

People who just select the negatives about something and simply ignore the good things are kidding themselves as much as those they are trying to convince.

Jeremy Corbyn?

[knockers]

I love the royal family, especially Charles and camilla

[Bentley Bullet]

People who just select the negatives about something and simply ignore the good things are kidding themselves as much as those they are trying to convince.

Jeremy Corbyn?

It works the other way round too! People who just select the positives and ignore the bad things are kidding themselves as much as those they are trying to convince.

[glosterred]

From a straw poll at the Pub last night (just listening inn - sic) - there was a discussion going on about what some of the people called our horrendous / uninspiring / dirge of a National Anthem

I agreed and said well one way to get rid of it is to become a Republic and we would not then be singing God save our Queen (or King) and there was a perhaps not surprising discussion on what the Royals "do" for us v the Republic debate and I would say it was another polarised result - slightly more than half in favour of a Republic

Who would you prefer President Blair or Chairman Corbyn?

They’re plenty on here who would like to see Komrade Korbyn as president or Chairman

[Filo]

From a straw poll at the Pub last night (just listening inn - sic) - there was a discussion going on about what some of the people called our horrendous / uninspiring / dirge of a National Anthem

I agreed and said well one way to get rid of it is to become a Republic and we would not then be singing God save our Queen (or King) and there was a perhaps not surprising discussion on what the Royals "do" for us v the Republic debate and I would say it was another polarised result - slightly more than half in favour of a Republic

Who would you prefer President Blair or Chairman Corbyn?

They’re plenty on here who would like to see Komrade Korbyn as president or Chairman

Corbyn for me, my vote could never facilitate another Tory govt.

[Bentley Bullet]

A Tory victory would be facilitated by Jeremy Corbyn.

[Glyn_Wigley]

From a straw poll at the Pub last night (just listening inn - sic) - there was a discussion going on about what some of the people called our horrendous / uninspiring / dirge of a National Anthem

I agreed and said well one way to get rid of it is to become a Republic and we would not then be singing God save our Queen (or King) and there was a perhaps not surprising discussion on what the Royals "do" for us v the Republic debate and I would say it was another polarised result - slightly more than half in favour of a Republic

Who would you prefer President Blair or Chairman Corbyn?

Who says there has to be a President?

[Glyn_Wigley]

The royal family put in a shit tonne more money to the economy than they take out. It'd be foolish to get rid.

If the Royal family weren't there, the shit tonne (sic) of money would already be in the economy without the need for them to put it in or take any out.

[bpoolrover]

There is tradition to take into account and to be fair they raise a lot of money for charities as well as tourism

[drfchound]

The OP is showing a serious lack of respect.