Royal family or a president?

It is now acceptable in most Churches, but I think it can also be at the Vicars discretion

True they don’t have to get up in the night to calm a crying child , they do have to see their children ridiculed in the press.

Monarchy. Imagine being told what to do by the likes of Donal Trump!

Anyone who has wealth I have no issue with. If there are those living in luxury so be it There will always be the have and the have not. Until the recent spectacle/ show business royal wedding which I admit to having watched , glued to the tv for a few hours I had no issue with the royal family.Their wealth or how many properties they own etc did not give me sleepless nights.
What I do have issues with concerns the recent marriage of a Grandson of the head of the C of E. This was to be a religious ceremony, carried out in a religious building by the Archbishop when one of the couple was a divorcee. Should this' family' differ to or be given 'special' treatment to the 'rest' of us when it comes to who can have a religious marriage ceremony when one of the couple has been divorced as was the case with not one couple in my family but two.

The Monarchy. Feelingmyage55 asked for no ranting but all those writing in capital letters are visually shouting and being very unpleasant.

The Queen is nowhere near the richest person in Britain. There are many dodgy financiers and purveyors of trashy music who are much richer than the royal family. So her ‘obscene wealth’ is relative. We don’t hear so much about the others, indeed most of us have never even heard of them.

Maybe not gillybob but do you not know how much is spent on personal protection for the President's family, kids at college etc. And yes, the RF are not omnipresent but the money that comes in from tourism surely goes into the coffers via tax from the people who sell goods and services and therefore is used for the whole country. I am pretty sure that a President would cost just as much as a basic RF because if I refer you to my last sentence, it could do with some trimming lol.

The rf are only great for tourism in the areas where they “live” or holiday . They have done zero for tourism in the North of England ( and many other areas) . A president would not provide luxury transportation for his/her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, great great grandchildren and all the other hangers on would they ?

Well, they don't rule us do they? The Queen has no significant say in anything. As for the cost, a President would cost just as much with their accommodation, staff, jet, cars, banquets and so forth. At least the RF is great for tourism and if media is to be believed cost only pennies per family, bringing in far more than what we pay for them. I study history and especially the monarchy. They have all been flawed people and to be honest have branched off everywhere so there is no real hereditary line, hence inviting foreigners to be our Monarch. However, I personally feel it would be a shame to lose such an important and huge part of our heritage. I also get annoyed with those who are nasty about the RF as they can no more help the family they were born into than the lowliest person in the realm and we would probably all cry 'for shame' if they tried to avoid the duties they are called upon to perform. Long may they continue, with maybe a little trimming around the edges and not so many of the 'nobility' riding the gravy train.

I'm definitely a Royalist.

Admire our Queen, and I like the family, nice to know they are human have there faults like the rest of us, divorce, etc.
Would rather the royal family then a president, such as May or Cameron who left us in the s..t

Oh, the thought of having more elections, and the media banging on for weeks. It doesn't bear thinking about.

I would rather they banged on about the wedding and the frocks, even though I got rather fed up with that until the day itself which I really enjoyed.

Definitely a Republic with a President. I haven't wanted a Royal family since I saw what Charles did to Diana - used her for breeding imo. They are just a huge drain on our resources and no better or worse than anyone else. Sorry but that's the way I feel.

I believe to have been fortunate to lived during the reign of QE11. No not the ship as I did have a cruise on that grand old lady. What Charles will achieve when the time comes I don't want to think about. So for now I am a staunch monarchist.

OldMeg, I often have the same thoughts about Richmond Park, which is not far from us. If not a Royal Park, I'm sure it would long have been covered with housing by now, instead of such a lovely, free, green-space facility - not to mention a wildlife reserve - for so many people in the area. Even the car parks are still free, though for how much longer I wouldn't care to predict.

Around here I very much doubt that the housing would be cheap or 'affordable', either.

I’m a bit in both camps . I have nothing against a small monarchy of sorts ( a figurehead) but find our lot an absolute disgrace . The obscene show of wealth such as we have seen recently, that they can’t resist to dangle like a carrot in the eyes if those who have very little . The hypocrisy of the queen telling us to plant trees to save the planet , when many of her “subjects “ don’t have a pot to p*ss in. Perhaps cutting her helicopter rides and those of her children down, together with their many long haul holidays might go a little way to help too ?
.....and stop telling us that Kate & William are “normal” parents when in fact they are about as far from normal as the man in the moon . Living fairytale lives with untold wealth, servants etc. Is not normal !
I know here on GN you are not allowed to criticise the royals, but my cage is rattled and the lock has come undone .

I remember reading a book by Sue Townsend about the royal family having to live on a council estate. It was very funny. Wish I could remember the title. By the way I love the royal family, especially William and Harry.

And Paddyann too. It's good to know there are people who can see sense. Sometimes we are browbeaten by monarchists who think their view is more valid than ours.
No one I repeat NO ONE should live this privileged life . Don't tell me about all the work they do. It's miniscule and they are well rewarded. They don't know anything about normal stresses of life, cooking cleaning paying bills (stress of not being able to pay bills) sleepless nights with children.....I could go on. If it was so difficult they wouldn't do it, duty or not. It would be tolerable if we only paid for the queen and her children, and one home! but she can actually give her children a mansion in the grounds of one palace!! and decamp to a castle for Christmas. It's all totally obscene. And the queen is head of the CofE. They don't know what Christianity is about..or choose to ignore.
I honestly don't understand how some people can be so blind. and their weddings are no different to anybody elses.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. That just about sums it up for me.

Personally I would never bow or curtsy to anyone, or stand for the anthem. I feel that royalty all have far too much and there are far too many hangers on. Given the many areas in this country that seriously need addressing with financial assistance, if we didn’t pay Royals for a year, they would never notice as they already have too much. I have no respect for Charles and Camilla. I did watch the wedding and am happy for them, sad that Diana was not around to see it ... but cannot understand why people camp out ... each to their own.

Kittylester

I'm still seething at your attitude maryeliza, what on earth makes you think you know more than any other poster?

Maybe she has researched and knows what she's talking about. I'm not so much pro republic as antimonarchy. I don't need to reiterate why. Maryeliza has put it all very well.

peaches, what are the many neglected social issues you think this couple will shine a light on?

how many enjoyed the good weather recorded and used catch up I wonder to look at it later, those figures not captured
Me for one peaches - and I managed to avoid most of the Football.

paddyann our viewing habits have changed, it was a lovely sunny day, how many enjoyed the good weather recorded and used catch up I wonder to look at it later, those figures not captured? Regardless of whether monarchist or republican, the mixed race bride, campaigner since she was 11 and the obvious love between her and Harry...surely we all should rejoice in a modern love story which promises so much and will shine light on many neglected social issues?

I know they’re soldiers, but there are more elements in pageantry.