Meghan and Harry

Bit unfair to say “all” pensioners plead poverty . Too many of them say nothing , just do without and get on with it . I think there’s more pleading “poverty” from the younger generations who spend what’s available on the best phones , sky subscriptions, tabs, etc then say they need the food banks to feed the kids

 

Fair enough was generalising, and I do agree about young'uns these days. Going to Bright House etc. for the latest super duper tv and stuff to keep up with the Jones's and end up paying £3k for a tv that is £500 cash. The telly will break down before they have paid for it. Even when I was young I would save up for things and have never had a loan or h.p. If you haven't got the money to hand you can't afford it imho.

 

Absolutely. Though those who want to pay £3k for a telly , by all means go ahead , more fool you. Just don’t expect me to stock the food bank so you can have the necessities for free.

 

Gelders, if I could press like more than once I'd press it one hundred times.....well said that man.

 

you’re very kind sir !

 

Agree completely. The French did the right thing with their royal family.

 

I've come across this dissection of the British monarchy, given by David Starkey, which I found well worth the time watching it.

Not only is it humorous it is at times highly irreverent but always based upon historical facts - not flights of fancy.

Having said that his description of what he thinks Diana would have turned into, if she hadn't died, ("a 45 year old showing signs of substance abuse - not a pretty sight") in partial answer to a question @ 52 minutes ("Was she assassinated and if not why not?") I thought was brilliant!

He, quite clearly knows something about her lifestyle which I'd never seen in the public domain!

Well worth a watch imho.

 

We did it first by about 150yrs and then made an ar*e of it when we invited Good Time Charlie back in 1660.

 

Except that this was replaced by

The Terror. (A number of different constitutions) Republic
A dictatorship
The return of The Monarchy
The Second Republic
Another Napoleon ( Second Empire)
Third Republic
Vichy France
Fourth Republic
Fifth Republic

Given the current state of France and the unrest of the citizens you have to wonder if a Sixth Republic is a possibility.

So assuming that we were to dispense with The Monarchy, what would you have in it's place.
A republic I assume.
A president, either in the style of Germany where The President is merely a titular head of state.
OR
A President who rules, rather like The USofA has.

Would either of these be cheaper options?
Would you trust the incumbent more than our current Head of State.

On the face of it either of these options would at least get rid of the Extended Family.
But looking at the current state of The USofA I doubt it's that certain.

What is certain is that the tourist industry would take a hit without the 'Royal Events'.

Personal view.

It will only be worth changing the current system when there is something better to put in it's place.

To date I have not heard of anything that qualifies as better.

 

Wouldn’t use the French as a yardstick mind, they can’t get over us being better than they are. Try reading ‘1,000 years of annoying The French ‘ to get support for this theory

 

That's a great book!

 

I think the pomp and ceremony that comes with the Royal family and everything associated with it is an important part of our national identity. No one does it better than us- just look at how shambolic Trump's inauguration ceremony was in comparison to the things that we do here. Without the Royal family we wouldn't have that identity and I think that is something to proud of.

And we're not as bad as some places. A friend of mine who is married to a Thai girl took me to an event at the Thai cultural centre once. You had to pay proper observance to the national anthem and some other goings on associated with their Royal family and, as I understand it, you're not allowed to be rude about or criticise their king. At least you can say pretty much what you like about our lot.

 

We could try the Russian approach. Looks like a great, fair system. same bloke in power for 25 years ensuring no corruption at all

 

I am led to believe that Vlad is the richest person in the world...various proxies hold his loot for him...not that he would do anything to anybody that screwed him!

 

I've little interest in the Royal Family but don't mind them bumbling around entertaining factory workers, opening hospitals and bringing in tourists.

They're a bit like Stonehenge ...

... a bit grey and lifeless but durable and quite harmless.

 

I just thought of Griff Hosker, I liked his books.

 

I'd never heard of him but I've just looked him up and I might give him a go. Looks good!

 

https://www.thepoke.co.uk/2020/01/15/contrasting-headlines-kate-and-meghan-clue-to-sussexes-plans/

 

Interesting when you put them side by side isn't it.

I wonder how it would look if they did something similar for Diana and Fergie

 

It's impressive how within two years she's managed to entirely cut him off from his family and friends, remove his royal status, shrivel his income to handouts from his dad, whisk him away to the other side of the world and turn the public against both of them. Bravo.