Why do people so vehemently defend the monarchy?

Question

Surely it is irrational to regard so highly people who's ancestors simply had the biggest stick.

Answer 1

What an interesting question! I once posted a question asking the Brits what they thought of the Queen, and some of them told me that they preferred to have a monarch instead of an elected president as head of state, because there's more stability and you also never know what you're going to get when you elect a president. That being said, though, I can't help but think that you'll never know what you're going to get in a hereditary monarchy. After all, a monarch's eldest offspring is no less likely to be a moron than anyone else's.

Answer 2

People defend it because the Queen is the best possible monarch; she is diplomatic, she is a symbol of stability, she never controls real politics, as would be undemocratic, but she is constant.

In twenty years time, when the Queen will have sadly passed away, we will have Charles - he is politically opinionated, can't help sticking his nose into public affairs, even when he hasn't been elected - it might be a different story! It is irrational, and when we aren't so fortunate, the tide may turn.

Answer 3

Many people like tradition and sense of order, irrational or not. The best example would be the king of Norway who was elected to the position after a period with no monarchy.

Answer 4

A king or queen in England effectively stops the situation arising where a Koo could take place. The army swears allegiance to 'king and country' note which comes first. Tony Blair is an out and out Communist and would clearly like to deal with the queen as he did with the house pf Lords. Although it appears he is not adverse to steam rolling Labour peers in through the back door (as long as they pay for the privilege that is). The queen still has control of the Armed services although it is unlikely she would interfere with the governments use of it. But she might if our Tony decided he wanted to abolish elections and stay in power. Tony certainly will not give up his leadership easily will he even though the majority of Labour members think he is an embarrassment
and would dearly like to see him out. The queen stops extremist parties like New Labour taking over completely. The Queen at the end of the day stops the Labour parties agenda for a one party state in its tracks. If Labour do attempt a Koo I will fight with the Royalist its as simple as that. The Queen keeps stability in this country.

ATB Red

Answer 5

Are you talking about the British monarchy? In which case, we don't vehemently defend it. We like it and most of us want to keep it, because it makes us different, brings in the tourists and lets us have little crests on our ketchup bottles.

We don't regard the monarch particuarly highly. It's more of a real-life soap opera than anything.

Answer 6

No one has yet hit the real point, in my view. What most foreigners (especially from the USA) and a lot of British people fail to understand is the sense of duty that our Royal Family (and, indeed, our hereditary peers) have instilled in them from the very day of their birth.

They are brought up in a goldfish bowl where the eyes of the world, quite literally, are on them most of the time. They are born to serve and, in the vast majority of cases, they serve us very well.

Of course they enjoy a life of wealth and privilege, but so does David Beckham. That is not necessarily a good thing and, to a large extent, is irrelevant. Whether you are rich or poor, your life style is what it is. I doubt most "ordinary" people would be able to take the pressure that the Royal Family have to take - it has been proved several times that they can't. Lord Snowden, Mark Philips, Diana and Fergie all found the pressure too much.

As someone else has said, our Royal Family has served this country well for a very long time and long may it last. Without a doubt, if we had an elected head of state it would be someone like Margaret Thatcher or Tony Blair - people who ASK to serve, instead of having the breeding and upbringing to enable them to do it with dignity and humility.

Answer 7

Having a monarch as head of state you can attack the Government,with-out seeming to be disloyal to your country. Look at problems Americans who questioned Bushes policies,had?The country girl band who had their records taken off air. Under a constitutional monarchy the Prime Minister of the day has to answer to Parliament.Who does a president answer to?

Answer 8

We are very fond of our royal family, in times of stress and trouble they have stood up with the people. They bring a much needed revenue to the country from overseas tourists and they keep the country stable. Our Queen grew up learning how to be a queen, she was taught how to be un-biased in all things from politics to pop-music, she never shows favour to one cause over another. She dosen`t open her mouth and cause the heavens to fall, she never `drops herself in it`. She researches everything and everyone before meeting them or doing things, which is more than any elected head of state, can say. We do not have revolutions / army coups/ political coups or `punch - ups` in our Parliament as some other countries do, this is due to the stability the crown gives us. Many countries of the world who are republics are very envious of our royalty.

Answer 9

Tradition. The constitution also means that we don't end up with a deluded fraudster like Blair as a president and Head of State. I know who I'm happier with. The Queen every time.

Answer 10

Give me the queen over politicians any day I would trust her to be truthful honest and loyal to this country above any of that lot in the government And i can`t imagine her humiliating us by publicly sucking up to George bush either .