[southlad]

I just wondered your views on the Royal family in modern times.

Why these days are so many people indifferent about the family? Is it because they were born into wealth or maybe because people don't understand what they do or it is because they use alot of tax payers money?

When talking recently to some elderly people (70+) they said that when they were younger the Royal Family made people proud to be British and the majority of people respected the Royals. So if this was the view 50 years ago, why not today?

Do you respect the royals? Do they make you proud to be British (if you are)?

If people are so indifferent now, what will it be like in 20/30/40 years time?

[cultureman]

The Royal Family is a historical anachronism. As such not desperately important one way or another.

[Peter the Great]

I just think the arguments for having a monarchy don't stack up. There is no proof they bring in tourism. Tourists visit the buildings and these can be left open to the public even if the monarchy was abolished and people seem to be brain washed in to thinking that The Royal Family are less corrupt than politicians this is nonsense. Our Royals are more corrupt than all the politicians put together.
Also don't believe the spin that they cost the taxpayer about 69p per person. Firstly they cost alot more than 40 million a year and even if this figure was correct they divide the cost by how many are living in this Country. It doesn't take a genius to work out that many people don't pay tax. If the Goverment come up with this spin they would be critisised straight away.
I personally don't have respect for them. They haven't worked hard to get where they are and we are always told that a modern Britain is supposed to be a fair, tolerant Country but i don't think that is true all the time nobody can become head of state unless you were born in to a certain family.
On the subject of the older generation being more in favour of a Monarchy. Well that's not always true. I know of many people in the older age range that don't have anytime for them. Look at Tony Benn for example who is in his 80's.
You have got to remember as well that there were many treason laws that prevented people from saying anything against them in the past.

[Richard46]

Even 69p a person is a huge amount, Head of state should go out to tender every few years and every family could put in bids. We could drive that down to about 1p each in no time and it would be more entertaining.

[jon8769]

My grandad was born in 1907. He died several years ago.

However, I remember that when he was alive and the subject of the royals came up he was quite sure about his feelings: "bloody parasites!".

[kimindex]

Originally Posted by Richard46

Even 69p a person is a huge amount, Head of state should go out to tender every few years and every family could put in bids. We could drive that down to about 1p each in no time and it would be more entertaining.

The winner of Big Brother could be head of state for a year.

(Joking....but just being born the eldest child in a family as a qualfication to be head of state is a joke, as well)!

[Biz]

Originally Posted by southlad

When talking recently to some elderly people (70+) they said that when they were younger the Royal Family made people proud to be British and the majority of people respected the Royals. So if this was the view 50 years ago, why not today?

Possibly some people don't understand what it's all about. Perhaps they've forgotten, or never knew what happened in Russia - it isn't likely that the best will rise to the top,

Without the Royal Family, we would just be a little offshore island because that's the way we're going, but the Queen and her family lend us a little romance. They represent stability and I'm happy they're there..............a satisfactory distance from me so that I don't have to bow and scrape.

I don't envy them at all - it might all look glamorous, but I'd hate to be The Queen - always surrounded people who are all deference to her face - she has no way of knowing what her staff and friends really think of her or whether they are bitching behind her back; what's more she still has to keep to a timetable.

Everything considered I'd say I'm having a much better life and I hope they stay around during my lifetime.

We'll never agree, will we Kim?

[blueblade]

I'm not convinced that people are as indifferent to the Royal Family as the OP indicates.

A referendum on their future would be very revealing, and may surprise many.

[Kaylan]

Originally Posted by blueblade

I'm not convinced that people are as indifferent to the Royal Family as the OP indicates.

A referendum on their future would be very revealing, and may surprise many.

Agreed.

Too much of our national heritage has been dismissed by the muppets in charge.

[kimindex]

Originally Posted by Biz

Possibly some people don't understand what it's all about. Perhaps they've forgotten, or never knew what happened in Russia - it isn't likely that the best will rise to the top,

Without the Royal Family, we would just be a little offshore island because that's the way we're going, but the Queen and her family lend us a little romance. They represent stability and I'm happy they're there..............a satisfactory distance from me so that I don't have to bow and scrape.

I don't envy them at all - it might all look glamorous, but I'd hate to be The Queen - always surrounded people who are all deference to her face - she has no way of knowing what her staff and friends really think of her or whether they are bitching behind her back; what's more she still has to keep to a timetable.

Everything considered I'd say I'm having a much better life and I hope they stay around during my lifetime.

We'll never agree, will we Kim?

Which is part of the reason why we shouldn't have them.

Well, I'm sure we agree on more or less everything else!

Originally Posted by blueblade

I'm not convinced that people are as indifferent to the Royal Family as the OP indicates.

A referendum on their future would be very revealing, and may surprise many.

How do you think it would go? I'm a republican and, unfortunately (for me and other republicans), I think it would, at the moment, go heavily in favour of the RF. Might be different after a few years of Charlie and Camilla.

[queenofthenile]

Nobody will be indifferent to Queen Camilla

[Biz]

Originally Posted by kimindex

Which is part of the reason why we shouldn't have them.

I'm not sure that I understand that.

Originally Posted by kimindex

Well, I'm sure we agree on more or less everything else!

Aww - that's the Kim I know and love.

[kimindex]

Originally Posted by Biz

I'm not sure that I understand that.

I mean that it's cruel on the RF themselves.

Aww - that's the Kim I know and love.

Aw, shucks!

[Artymags]

Originally Posted by blueblade

I'm not convinced that people are as indifferent to the Royal Family as the OP indicates.

A referendum on their future would be very revealing, and may surprise many.

It would certainly do tourism a lot of harm if we got rid of royalty and all the pageantry.

[Stiffy78]

Originally Posted by blueblade

I'm not convinced that people are as indifferent to the Royal Family as the OP indicates.

A referendum on their future would be very revealing, and may surprise many.

I'm not indifferent. I can't stand them.

[blueblade]

Originally Posted by kimindex

How do you think it would go? I'm a republican and, unfortunately (for me and other republicans), I think it would, at the moment, go heavily in favour of the RF. Might be different after a few years of Charlie and Camilla.

I think it would go in their favour by about 60% to 40%. As you say, that might reduce when Charles becomes King, with Camilla as Queen.

Originally Posted by Artymags

It would certainly do tourism a lot of harm if we got rid of royalty and all the pageantry.

It would, without a doubt. Especially the Americans.

Originally Posted by Stiffy78

I'm not indifferent. I can't stand them.

Opinions vary.

[darkjedimaster]

Originally Posted by Stiffy78

I'm not indifferent. I can't stand them.

Agreed, they are an overrated tourist attraction, the head zombie sits on her wrinkled behind doing sod all except the odd public appearance & make people slit their wrists from boredom on xmas day.

The moment they are all gone is the moment that the word Great gets put back into Great Britain.

[zx50]

The main thing I don't like about the Queen is that she expects you to bow to her. If bowing's not law, then why does she allow people to bow before her? This is the thing that gets on my nerves the most with her.

[U96]

Jesus gave,but the royals took.
To the tower with all of the monarchy.

[zx50]

Originally Posted by blueblade

I think it would go in their favour by about 60% to 40%. As you say, that might reduce when Charles becomes King, with Camilla as Queen.

I certainly hope Camilla does not become Queen. I think Charles should hand the throne to whoever's next in line.

[Ameri]

Originally Posted by zx50

I certainly hope Camilla does not become Queen. I think Charles should hand the throne to whoever's next in line.

I can't see Charles doing that. He's all for tradition, so he will want to follow the tradition of becoming monarch when his mother dies.

And if Charles becomes king, then Camilla will be queen and that will be very interesting. Bring it on.

[Dan Fortesque]

Originally Posted by zx50

I certainly hope Camilla does not become Queen. I think Charles should hand the throne to whoever's next in line.

If the establishment think Charlie will damage the monarchy even more & they think William will be a better bet in the long term, then he will be got rid of. Not as violently and as obvious as Diana though.

[zx50]

Originally Posted by Ameri

I can't see Charles doing that. He's all for tradition, so he will want to follow the tradition of becoming monarch when his mother dies.

And if Charles becomes king, then Camilla will be queen and that will be very interesting. Bring it on.

I think there'll be a LOT of protest in Britain if she ends up becoming Queen.

[Biz]

Originally Posted by darkjedimaster

Agreed, they are an overrated tourist attraction, the head zombie sits on her wrinkled behind doing sod all except the odd public appearance & make people slit their wrists from boredom on xmas day.

The moment they are all gone is the moment that the word Great gets put back into Great Britain.

Of one thing I'm sure - The Queen would never dream of being so disrespectful of you, though no doubt she'd feel saddened by your ignorance.

[Dan Fortesque]

Originally Posted by darkjedimaster

Agreed, they are an overrated tourist attraction, the head zombie sits on her wrinkled behind doing sod all except the odd public appearance & make people slit their wrists from boredom on xmas day.

The moment they are all gone is the moment that the word Great gets put back into Great Britain.

And all this loss of tourism malarkey is just another fear tactic from the monarchists. A lack of royalty never stopped the tourism trade in France and I believe tourism would in fact increase if all the royal residences were opened up to the public.