CoobyS

???

OllyK

As a general principal or in a specific context?

Angry

For me anti, purely as in todays society they have no power.

If they had ultimate power of veto over parliament it may be different.

CoobyS

UK Context

But general context comments welcome...

Jap2Scrap

I heard the monarchy cost me the grand sum of £1.50p last year. If that's the case, I couldn't give a stuff whether they stay or go. It can only be good for the country because of the old tourism cliché.

I can't really see a downside to be honest.

davegtt

only reason Im against is whos paying for their wealth....

apart from that, dont give 2 hoots. must admit them being here and our monarch history brings in a fair bit of tourism so its probably all balenced out in that effect

moses

i luv the queen she causes no one harm, we waste our money on **** i might as well give the good queen a good wage so stop complaining about it, her family have been the monarchs here for decades and decades

and i do luv prince charles

im glad we have a monarchy, its nice to have a symbol of a country a queen like

GC8

The monarch has the power of veto.

Angry

Really they still have that power?

God I would love to see the Queen slap Tony on the wrist and say "Now then dear fellow, lets drop these silly ID cards shall we?"

Reality

Are you sure - I thought that was repealed a few hundred years ago in return for some Royals head .

GC8

It would cost us all a damned sight more if we were a republic; presidents cost much more. Bear in mind also that a lot of whats seen as the monarchs 'privilige' is actually satte-owned so the cost of upkeep will still be borne by us..... There are also a number of very good reasons why the monarch shouldnt pay tax (besides the fact that its collected in her name); Queen Victoria passed a huge amount of property to the state in lieu of future tax... The Royal family cost us pennies each every year and much of the cost would remain if we became a republic, then wed have to pay for a president on top.


Simon

GC8

Im sure; I keep hoping that the Queen will refuse to ratify each new piece of NL bollocks, but so far she hasnt...

OllyK

The monarchy are part of our heritage, but they have no power and little influence (thankfully). They don't cost us that much (compared to what they used to) and I think it helps tourism and the Queen is a great non-political ambassedor for the country. Having said all that, I wouldn't be heart broken if they were to be disbanded and the treasures and properties opened up to the people even more.

I think in a wider context that a monarchy with power is pretty dangerous, people have to stand on their own merits and not those of their forefathers. A monarchy with power is unlikely to be much better than a dictatorship (I can't think of any examples). A monarchy without power, is fine if it provides a benefit to its people.

Reality

You'd better tell her then maybe she tell Tony to **** off

Leslie

Not only does the Queen have the right of assent to bills but she also has the right to summon, prorogue, or dissolve Parliament. By that I understand that she could reject the government and call another election if she wished.

Maybe she should go up in your estimation Angry.

Les

KiwiGTI

In an age where Britain is losing a lot of icons to commercialism, being a member or the EU or just modern blandness I find the Royal family one of the few remaining bastions of Britishness. It is a symbol of longevity and pride which I think no other country in the world has anything like it.

Charles, for example, works tirelessly for his country preserving it's heritage and helps many charities, an extremely intelligent man, yet he has been marginalised by society because of their superficial love of Diana and the fact he isn't handsome or trendy.

The Queen is also a fair upstanding woman and who I think has also contributed much to this country.

We are better off with them, not just because of the tourist dollar (Believe me, tourist numbers would drop considerably if there were no Royals) but because they represent Britain. To get rid of them and have this country represented by nothing other than loathsome political individuals in grey suits and plastic smiles would be a tragedy.

The Queen and the Royal family give this country an enormous amount of goodwill overseas, they are greatly admired by world statesmen, I don't think I would be wrong in saying that most world leaders would rather meet the Queen than Tony Blair. (and have more respect)

SJ_Skyline

Dissolve Parliament....

Just had a vision of Prince Philip holding Jack Straw by his ankles in a big barrel of acid

OllyK

If she were to reject the government and call another election, she would go up radically in my POV - Go Lizzie!!

OllyK

He is also a big advocate of alt med, homeopathy in particular and tries to promote it using the Prince's Trust. For that alone he should be ostracised IMO.

http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/trus..._medicine.html

If there was actually a shred of evidence that any of this stuff worked before he advocated it, it may be different.

Chip

Pro-monarchy myself .

Not surprised so many voted "dont give a toss" though, as that seems to be the general attitude of the younger generation of today about most things , which I think is a real shame.

Chip

Jerome

Total monarchist myself.

As for the relatively tiny amount of money they cost the state being an issue - even if tourist revenue is ignored - just consider the amount of money that is genuinely wasted by government every year. Clear up these billions before worrying about the royal list.

If hundreds of years of tradition and heritage is unimportant, we might as well get rid of listed buildings and forget about heritage sites. Just concrete the whole country over while we're about it.

As for any issues with infidelity and morals, let he who has not sinned cast the first stone.

If you really don't give a toss about the royal family, in my opinion, it is part of the decline of society in general.