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That’ll win them over. :-)
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I think many see them as part of the fabric of the UK. Most are aware of their privileged status, but see it as mostly benign because they don’t hold power over laws, don’t think a republic would be any better for classism and like having a head of state who isn’t political. They can represent the country as politically neutral figureheads, which we likely wouldn’t have with an elected presidency.
This is not to say I like the royalty or am a royalist; I am not. However, there are many reasons people do support them which has nothing to do with being gullible, thick and seeing them as superior beings.
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Perhaps people thinking looking up to others ( not parents that’s different, I mean more class wise ) is a good thing, bit like doffing the cap and calling people of so called ” higher breeding ” sir? Doesn’t wash with me, we are all born the same but privilege and class determining your future has never seemed the slightest bit fair or correct , just my opinion. As for them being morally superior or leading by example, well that’s been shown up to be false so many times and if we are all classed as being vulnerable to human frailties then we should all start on a level playing field. Bit like kids who grow up to be natural leaders be it sporting or industry based the talented will rise to the top if given an equal opportunity but then our social system isn’t fair is it, because of privilege.
Possibly, for some, but I don’t think all in favour of a monarchy over a republic do it because they want to doff their cap to superiors. They see the Royals as the UK’s representatives and a relic of our history which we might see cultural loss if they were to go.
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A balanced approach,Sidey. Far more useful than the name calling at the beginning. (I wonder if 64 has ever had a generous impulse toward anyone who doesn’t see the world exactly through his jaundiced lense.)
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He’s very balanced when it comes to placating right wingers too. To be supportive of a non elected leader ina democracy is idiotic,therefore if you support it you’re an idiot FACT
It seems we suspended our core human rights for the morons King to have his chance to parade in Gold during a cost of living crisis.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-65515769.
“when protest becomes criminal and may cause serious disruption”. They arrested people before any protest took placeShameful, and even more shameful is that the Met will be sued, and cough up taxpayers money in out of court settlements.
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In the stocks!
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Ambivalence probably puts you in with around 50% of the population.
Amazing how so many can be swayed by an extra Bank Holiday and a Tea Party!
Biggest laugh is the number of loyal subjects who don’t know which way up the Union Flag goes! 🇬🇧
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It seems that many of the doffers love the idea of royalty, rather than the practicalities of it.
They like the ceremony, the history, the pomp and symbolism, the fascination it inspires in foreigners, and the comforting role it has in their own sense of national identity and even their sense of self.
But it’s a romantic notion, it’s an illusion, a myth, and that makes it a bit like religion. Or Brexit. Remove the curtain, let in the daylight, and there’s nothing more than an empty box… just a trick played on one’s imagination.
It just doesn’t withstand scrutiny. A very extended family of ludicrously wealthy and privileged individuals – not just the immediate royal family but all the (en)titled hangers on – the dukes, duchesses, lords, ladies, barons, baronesses etc. and all their offspring … a landed gentry going back to 1066 who still own most of this country, almost all there by accident of birth.
Thanks to the taxpayer, most lead very sheltered, privileged and protected lives, yet remain unskilled. And what exactly do they do, that elected representatives could not do? Some have behaved appallingly but continue to get away with it. True, a few get involved with charities, but then what’s charity but a 19th century concept, created to cover a failure of government responsibility and absolve the consciences of the rich. It papers over the cracks and places responsibility on the backs of the little people.
But what’s worse is that they proudly sit atop the pile, at the head of a class system that silently tells people that some folk (them) are naturally better and more deserving than others – the rich man in his castle, the poor man at his gate – and even how their aristocratic estate and good fortune was ordained by God! (How else could it happen?)
And here’s another thing. Those who believe most fervently in the present state of affairs are the ones the royals most despise, because they know how ridiculous the whole thing is, and how stupid the doffers are to go along with it, with their cardboard crowns, tea towels, biscuit tins and of course, mugs…
Will the country ever awaken and be woke from its national psychosis? Just before posting this I see John Harris thinks it will, but people were predicting the same back in 1997 and probably 1967… the madness of crowds is a strange thing.
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Bit of a pathetic post in my opinion JI. I read Gurnelista’s post, more of an observation to be honest. Can’t see anywhere in it that he’s suggesting demolishing, dismantling or abolishing anything. No one’s suggesting doing away with the police force either. Doesn’t and shouldn’t mean we can’t be critical of it though. Bit like all these Hilton disciples – can’t handle a bit of questioning of the messiah. Deluded.
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An well, trying to change things ain’t gonna be easy but surely it’s worth the effort just to see JI and others like him get triggered. Worth the entrance fee alone and even more reason to keep pushing for change. Great post Gurny BTW.
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Strange how the pro-monarchy, pro-Brexit, anti-immigration lot always come up with “If you want a republic/Europe/multicultural society, then leave the country and live somewhere else”.
What’s wrong with staying here and campaigning to make the UK a better place?
Or is that not the British way?
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Gurny’s post does come across as dismissive of others, as if those like him who disagree with the monarchy are too intellectually superior than those who support it. NI is broadly right, I feel, in suggesting that the public are generally ambivalent towards the monarchy as an institution. However, this doesn’t mean they would rather have a republic. I suspect many of the ambivalent would say a monarchy is needed for cultural reasons and having a non-political figurehead is ideal over a President Boris.
I do find JI’s post to be reductive and uncharacteristically uncharitable, especially on policing. I don’t think anyone has called for a destruction of the police force in relation to coronation controversies. However, the actions undertaken by The Met are very questionable indeed. People may not agree with protestors’ arguments, but they have a right to air protest in a country with free speech. The police have taken the line of it disturbing or hindering others as pretext, but that’s a line which no protest could reasonably meet. If they are consistent with this, all protest would have grounds for being shut down with arrests. It’s nothing more than authoritarianism, enabled by our hardline home secretaries. It’s disgraceful.
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