Abolish the Royal Family?

Question

Should we abolish the Royal Family? What (or whom) should we replace it with?

Raymo51: For God's sake, the question was straightforward yes/no with no hint of my preference within it (I did NOT say "we should abolish the royal family), and as such it is your answer that is arrogant.

I admit that my question was probably in a more light-hearted vein than you would wish. However, If you want to get constitutionally-technical, I see no reason why we could not vest power within the "Crown" (which is pretty much what happens anyway) but replace it's constitutional head with an elected presidency.

I'm not going to argue over the pros & cons of this other than to say as to whether or not we get a buffoon for president, that one would be for the people to decide...

And what's all this **** about my army, revolutions and a bloody civil war? Do you think my name is Oliver Cromwell? Give me a break!

Answer 1

Yes we should but this is too big a debate to go into on this site but the arguments put forward for retaining the monarchy are as redundant as the institution itself. Briefly

Economics: The USA, Germany and a host of other countries have economies as strong or strong or as strong as our own. A strong economy is not based on monarchy.

They bring in tourists: Yes they do. But so did Red Square and Lenins Tomb and so does Tianenmen square so the tourist argument could could just as well be ued in favour of Communism.

They do a good Job. No ne actually species what thias job is. But even if they do they dont need titles and castles to do it.

The people love them. Fine then they shouldn't be scared of being elected to their positions then.

It's traditional and part of our heritage. So is putting people in the stocks, Burning at the stake and **** fighting but we dont do these things anymore. If we always relied on tradition we would all still be wearing bearskins and worshipping oak trees.

I would replace the Monarchy with an elected institution. Call it what you will.

By the way. I am English, Ramos or whatever his name is talks about your country and your army. Suggesting he is not. His whole answer smacks of the uninformed. It would be useful to know what countries the answerers come from.

You may or may not agree with this but it is my honest thought out View. If you get the chance it would be interesting to know your own opinion.

Sorry if this goes on a bit but like I said it's a big debate.

Additional. In the part about tradition I refered to a barbaric sport involving fighting birds. Yahoo obviously interpreted this differently and asterisked the word out. Hope this clarifies the proper meaning of the word.

Answer 2

The question is academic and may I say rather arrogant. You or your army couldn't abolish the Royal Family if you tried - it would take a bloody full scale civil war & revolution involving countless loss of life, but of course, you will have envisaged this before asking such a flippant question!
The Monarchy in the Islands of Britain has been in place for well over 1000 years and if you think for one minute that people will sit by whilst idiots try to replace it with a buffoon for a president (no one in mind) you are sadly mistaken!

Answer 3

No, we should not.

We have a proud heritage, and would change our future far too much by abolishing them. We are in the United Kingdom, Our Air Forces and Naval forces are Royal, There are Royal conservation Societies. I signed on for Queen and Country,. Not President and Country. We are losing our national identity evey day, what with being part of the EU, and (some people say) the Next state of America. We almost accepted the Euro, and then some say we should abolish the Monarchy. I say no. Keep the Pound. Keep the Monarchy. Keep the United Kingdom a Kingdom. Back off, Brussels.

Answer 4

Firstly, the royal family can be seen as subsidising the tax payer through the Duchys of Cornwall and Lancaster. I dont have the figures to hand but it does add up. So why get rid of them?

Secondly, Parliament would have to create an act that abolished the monarchy as previous acts provide for the monarchy through the civil list. That then means the queen would have to abolish her own powers.

The major stumbling block as I see it is that there isn't really a viable alternative. I wouldn't want to see President Blair going around the place, and the Royals provide a good disaster recovery starting point. In the event that our elected representatives were wiped out, the prerogative powers otherwise given to Parliament would revert back to the monarchy who could then exercise them again to call elections and the likes.

That and I like the system as we have it. Its quaint.

Answer 5

WHy abolish them, OK, so they don't have the power that they used to, but they are a figurehead in the Country. People worldwide recognise the superiority of the Royal Family and pay them more hommage and respect than their own.

They do more good than harm and bring in a lot of tourism. If it wasn't for the Royal Family, who else would you have to be a figurehead for this Country?

Maybe we should just sink into obscurity and hide, cos that's what I feel like doing at times, I am truly ashamed of this Country and what it stands for at this time, but the Royal Family are not something that I can say that I am ashamed of being GREAT BRITAIN at it's best.

They are only human and have their faults, but they value this Country and all it stands for.

Answer 6

No Bloody way - what do you want in the place of the Royal Family ,? a bunch of ****,s such as we have in this Cabinet , I can just imagine Cherie Blair wearing a Coronet , or that Fat Prat Prescott , waddling around Buckingham Palace , screwing all the Maids , or Mouthy Beckitt , parking her Caravan outside the front entrance , surrounded by hundreds of shacks for illegal immigrants - just think about it - the alternative is to diabolical to contemplate

Answer 7

As an American that is one thing I envy/admire/respect about your country. I find it facinating. I think you are a very classy nation and I would hate to see the royal family abolished. Besides what kind of job can you get after being the Queen of England?

Answer 8

I think that there is a certain amount of heritage in having a royal family... without this the status of our nation would decrease.

More practically the Royal family attract a roaring tourist trade so in principle so long as they are generating more money through tourism than the tax payer pays for them then they are woth keeping.

Answer 9

How extraordinary that they get so much support here. The last English king was Richard III.
It really isn't appropriate in a modern democracy to have a bunch of over privileged and over opinionated lame brains as technical heads of state. What is Prince Andrew for?

Answer 10

there is little point in abolishing them, there very good for the economy and there would be outrage from a lot of the traditionalists in the country. but the fact that they are government funded and held high on a pedastal the moment they do a bit of charity work is beyond me. if i didnt have to work and was handed everything on a plate, i do none stop charity out of boredom!
it would be nice if they were a little more talkitive as well.