Republicanism

I find your post rather patronising, absent. So, without street parties etc. 'the masses' would be rioting in the streets and rising up against the monarchy...?

Well I seem to remember an awful lot of stuff said about the Jubilee celebrations takings our minds off the so-called economic crisis.

Religion was said to be the Opium of the masses - current Royalty nonsense is probably the cocaine of the masses.

So - everyone enjoyed themselves except for (obviously) a few killjoys!! Nothing wrong in that - particularly during hard times such as at present.

Oh come on Anagram and gangy5 What were street parties and the pageant but bread and circuses to keep the masses content? And didn't they do well?

Yes, come on carboncareful You can't broach such a contentious issue without displaying a little more of your opinion and reasoning. Manipulating the masses is a very cynical comment.

'Manipulating the masses'? How, exactly?

Oh for goodness' sake, jingl, enough already! HM has an immense amount of support in this 'job' of hers. When she was a young mum she had nannies to do the hard work so that she and Philip could be photographed playing happy families. She has employees to breed the horses, train the horses, ride the horses... Does she have to dust the furniture and polish the family silver? Prune the roses in the gardens?
She has a nice getaway to Balmoral every August and to Sandringham at Christmas. A life of wealth and privilege has kept her looking younger than her 86 years and all because she was born into the right family! Hereditary principle? Bah! humbug!

What do I think Gangy5? I think royalty is just another way of manipulating the masses. Sad.

I have been writing and testing recipes pretty much day in and day out since I was 26 and, although it seemed an enjoyable way to earn a living for a while, it's become quite tedious now. I can't really afford not to work, so shall probably die with my boots on or, at least, slaving over a hot keyboard or cooker. In addition, I do housework and laundry, cook meals, go shopping, pay tax, paid off a mortgage, pay for my own holidays and travel when I can afford to, paint walls, make curtains, etc. etc. I still lead a fairly comfortable existence and there are lots of people in this country whose lives are very much harder than mine. So, in all honesty, I don't think the Queen has had anything other than the easiest of lives.

Well, doesn't she already do that? Country 'retreats' include Balmoral and Sandringham, breeds horses too. That's me off my fence, better get back on

Don't you think, in all honesty, that having to do those things day in and day out, all of your life, from when you were twentysix, might become a bit wearing, to put it mildly? She didn't actually ask for the job. She would probably be happier living in the countryside, breeding racehorses.

Carol for Queen!

Hahaha! Jingle you are wicked - there's a big difference between taking on a challenge and being heroic.

I think I might have more respect for the monarch if she HAD done something heroic, but travelling in comfort to unveil a plaque or hosting a sumptuous dinner for diplomats is not my idea of hard work or heroism, even if her corns might ache when she gets back to the palace.

Off out to do battle with my little grandsons, who will be tired and fractious after a busy day playing - now that IS heroic!!

Not as big as AA's....

And Charlie's aren't?

I don't trust him, his ears are way too big!

Do the royals trace their descent from the Conqueror? I'm not quite sure about that but in 'Who do you think you are?' Alexander Armstrong proved that he did. Alexander for king (or president), anyone? I think he'd do a fantastic job or is this a pointless discussion?

You appear very intent on stirring things up on this issue carboncareful but we don't seem to have got your full opinion on the subject or your stated case on the benefits of having a republic.

Yeah Yeah absent. I can laugh now.

I think GN may have toughened me up.

And I would just mention that when was careful not to use the word 'heroic'!

jings That is very naughty but I suppose it's only because you are besotted with the royal family…

For goodness sake whenim! Don't mention celebs doing heroic things!

You will come in for this sort of stuff!

irememberthisalltoowell

It's still thrown up a good bit of reading whenim.

Seriously, the past is amazingly interesting, and can be totally absorbing. Yes, a lot of it is gut wrenchingly cruel. But we have moved on a lot since then. (phew!)

You can have it both ways carbon. As our present society shows perfectly well.