The world as we know it is changing drastically before our eyes. 2020's are going to be studied as a period of great change by generations to come. First covid, then the war in ukraine, which however it ends will change the geopolitical landscape of Europe and likely the world, forever and now the end of the Queen's reign and whatever happens to the monarchy now.
Rest in Peace. Though the monarchy is not something I agree with, no one could disagree that she was a fantastic representative of our country and wonderful person. Very sad news
TIOON7, whilst I wholeheartedly support your statement, you should perhaps check your spelling of 'public'.
no readers on when i wrote it from my phone. Edit: I hope I managed to inadvertently raise a smile on a sad day.
Just to follow up a question I posted on the Queen's thread about people who would rather have a republic. Would anyone like to give their opinion on why the country would be better off with a president or why we should just do away with royalty. I'll give my reasons for why I like having a monarch as head of state a little later and anyone else who feels the same way as me can also say why.
OK I'll answer my own question. What I like about having a monarchy by IOAG. Firstly, I'm a great believer in maintaining traditions and customs handed down throughout history. Britain has had a monarchy for around 1200 years and although now they are only a symbolic head of state their position is a living portrayal of this country's history. Many foreigners identify this country with the Royal Family and are, I think, quite envious of our institutions. Mainly though, for me it's the pageantry that is involved. Below are some of the great events that are unique to this country and I think they are a fantastic part of British traditions (after fish and chips). Anyone who would prefer a republic to these magnificent state occasions lacks a sense of enjoyment in my opinion. For me it's not about unquestioning loyalty to this royal family, (the Windsors are not particularly endearing I think) but more the position they hold and what that entails. Yes, they are privileged and aloof but I have no sense of subservience or resentment, they don't effect my life in anyway. The enjoyment I get is purely from these state occasions. Trooping the Colour. please log in to view this image please log in to view this image State opening of Parliament, please log in to view this image The Order of the Garter please log in to view this image please log in to view this image
I like the fact we have. King or Queen , I like the trooping of the colour . No real time for the likes of Beatrice and Eugenie, even less their Dad . Princess Anne is fantastic I think . Anyone who in her position can go on a question of sport , clearly has there feet on the ground . Yes they are born into privilege, but spend their whole life in a goldfish bowl .
I am with you on this. They apparently cost us a lot, but they don't - they bring more to the country in tourism etc than we spend. It will be a difficult time though as the Queen was the wise old owl that IMO was the glue that kept it going. Charles will have to adapt and change - I wish it went straight to William as he and Kate appear more like the rest of us. Charles though has had 70 years to practise so hopefully he will adapt. I know from working with Americans that they are so jealous of our history and tradition - they don't all admit it, but they are. They don't get the political neutrality of it all and keep saying 'ah but surely they influence all the policies and you can't even vote them out'. On that note, if we were a republic with a president, do you trust the general public after the last few years to vote in a normal person! The beloved Queen is gone, but I am really looking forward to a cracking coronation next year, when we can showcase to the world what makes us as a nation great.
You don't what? Want a republic? Want to give an opinion? Want to do away with royalty? Want to talk about it? Lyrics by Rod Stewart
I think this is the perfect time to begin our transition into a modern nation, where accidents of birth, or whether your greatx30 grandfather was mates with William the Conqueror, don’t give you any advantages over the rest of us. The historical traditions of murder and mayhem which led to one family or another being in charge until they were overthrown doesn’t seem to me a very fair way of choosing a head of state. As long as we have the monarchy, we will have all the rest of the privileged upper classes. Every other country with an elected head of state still does very well on the ceremonial front, and it’s a complete myth that the monarchy has any benefit to the tourist industry. It simply isn’t true. I would go for an elected head of state serving a 7 year term, but who would have no political power, similar to the Irish President. My nomination as our first President would be Michael Palin, although Bill Bailey would do a good job too.The House of Lords should be replaced with an elected second chamber, and both Houses would be elected by PR. One of the reasons the Queen is revered in the majority of the Commonwealth nations is because those countries became independent sovereign nations under her reign, so that the old colonial, imperial yoke was lifted from their shoulders while she changed into a purely ceremonial figurehead. That being the case, Charles, through no fault of his own, simply can’t ever command the same degree of love and respect that Elizabeth did. So he becomes even more irrelevant to a modern world. The thought of my country indulging in rampant obsequiousness and forelock-tugging over the coronation makes me feel physically sick. Will that do?
****ing pathetic cancelling everything because of this. Why can't I go to a comedy show because a 96 year old died ffs. I know this will upset people but frankly, **** the monarchy. Nothing against them personally but it's mental they carry so much importance in 2022 in a so called progressive society. People actually crying are incredibly moronic ****s too.
I'm moving this to the off-topic thread, where there is currently a debate on the value of having a monarchy or not.
A little story about my grandfather, which illustrates perfectly how I feel about the Royal Family. My grandfather, a carpenter by trade, ended up as the postmaster in the village shop and post office in Bryanston, just outside Blandford Forum in Dorset. He kept up his carpentry and as voluntary work crafted many of the pews in the parish church, which sits in an idyllic location on the banks of the River Stour. He painted pictures too, one of which I proudly possess. When he died in the early 1960s, as a mark of respect and gratitude for all his voluntary work, the villagers placed a bench with his names and dates at the top of New Road, which runs up the hill from Blandford to the turning into Bryanston. In 1977, to mark the Queen’s Silver Jubilee, the village marked the occasion by placing a bench… at the bottom of New Road. I think the villagers got things the right way round, and my respect for the Queen as a person leads me to think that she would agree.
