Do we still need a Royal Family (IN THE UK)?

Question

As a grown democratic nation why do we need to be subjects to one family? That has achieved anything of merit. We Brits are quick to bad mouth immigrant families (e.g. Asians) who’ve come here and prospered. But unlike the Royal family they’ve done it through hard work. The Royal families are all of foreign origin yet no body has a problem with them. More importantly the tax payer’s pays for their up keep every time Prince Harry goes on the p**s drinks are on us.

Prince Harry(although it would be unfair to blame him as an individual since it was the charade he was born into ) and his entourage waltzing in and out of Iraq masquerading as a solider when it suited the publicity machine is an insult to the men and woman serving there.

Like the rest of the long term unemployed should the Royal's be put on New Deal or some other training scheme? They could get a job in Tesco’s if they really wanted to serve the British people?

Answer 1

Nope.  Not in todays society.  Time they got jobs like everyone else.  There is obviously welfare for the rich and welfare for the poor.  They are just people like everyone else now.  Why should the taxpayers continue to support them and all their properties.  Royal Welfare, eh?

Answer 2

We never did need them, put them up against the wall.

Answer 3

Nah.  All we need, we've already lost.  Diana.

"We" being the global concept of "we".

Answer 4

The U.K. needs the royal family as much as we all need a second arshole.

Answer 5

You need to read Daniel W answer as you are either quite young or you simply do not know the facts of the Royal family's fiances. Daniel W is 100% correct with the tax & work.

All the other answerers also need to read upon why the taxpayer contributes (about 30p) each towards the monarchy as most of the answers are not correct when it come to the monarchy's finances

Answer 6

No. Keep the Queen until she dies and thereafter get rid of the whole load of scroungers.

Answer 7

This is a hot potato! We in Australia are heading away from being under the thumb, not that the Royals have any power these days. I personally think they need to throw open Buck House to the public; The Queen and Duke could live at one of their other many castles, they are getting too old now. They reign in name and title only and have heaps of money etc whilst people are going hungry. Remember what happened to the Russian Tsar and his lot? I think they should all take up their own residences and the money from tourism (Buck House) would top up the coffers for the man on the street.

I believe Australia will become a Republic, Britain is a different story, tourists are your meal ticket and will always be.

Answer 8

haha!! good question!!

i think they're being kept around coz they're entertainment... everytime 1 of them does something stupid the whole world knows about it and critisizes... ppl wanna know about them...

they're like the paris hiltons of the UK.  and what has she actually done to deserve all the attention?

Answer 9

Having a royal family is quite useless.

They already have a lot of money. So, why is the state still paying for their expenses?

The least they could do for the country is to behave properly and they can't even do that. Prince Harry cannot even behave! He can't even pass his A-Levels! [Even poor people in Africa, who can't get enough food to eat can manage to pass their A-Level exams...]

Royals are just parasites!!!

Answer 10

My personal opinion is that the monarchy is an outdated institution that has no place in the 21st century. Those who want it believe in it for sentimental reasons and because they believe it is a point of difference between us and other countries. It cannot be acceptable to regard any one person as any better than another because of an accident of birth. It is simply not morally defensible in any rational debate. Apart from anything else can anyone believe that Charles would have anything like the standing or authority of his mother?

Answer 11

They are a very expensive laughing stock, the rest of the world can not understand how such greedy corrupt institution can survive in the 21st century

Answer 12

Better Idea. Why don't you bugger off to another country!

Answer 13

We need the royal family like a dog needs reading glasses.

Answer 14

Do you know what it would entail if we became a republic another lying, untrustworthy politician as Head-of-State, no thanks!

Do you understand the attraction of people visiting a working palace. Do you honestly think the opening of Buckingham Palace over the summer would be such a big draw if it wasn't a working, occupied palace tht is used by the Royal family?

Tourists come to Britain in hope of seeing the Queen or something traditional. Getting rid of the Monarchy would be the death knell for hundreds of small businesses which depend on tourism to survive.

As has been discussed many times on this board, the Queen signed over the Crown Estates income to the Government at the beginning of her reign (as the next monarch will be asked to do). If she was forced to abdicate to become a republic, she'd be well within her rights to keep those depriving the treasury of billions of pounds in revenue. The money she gets from the state is a pittance compared to what the Crown Estates contribute.

Prince Harry's income comes mainly from his job in the army (despite him not serving in Iraq  -for his own and other soldiers' safety) but any extra income comes from his father who is NOT supported by the state but gets an income from the Duchy of Cornwall (technically a property compnay).

The Queen doesn't work, she carries out hundreds of engagements each year (show me another 80-year old who does anything near that). This is also true of many other senior royals. Whilst you don't care for the Royal Family for many people of this country the visit of the Queen or another senior member of her family to an event is a memory they'll enjoy looking back on.

Answer 15

There is a very specific reason why we still have a Monarch, the rest are just family. You need to look at the laws of this country and how a monarch can prevent people like Blair and Brown from taking absolute control and stopping elections. They tried to change the boundaries on so many things and were prevented from doing so because they would not have got crown approval.

Just what would you change it to ? Something like America have ? I don't think so !

Something like the middle east ?

Perhaps something like most of the european countries who envy us having the Monarchy.

Answer 16

I'm not sure on this question, yes they scrounge off tax payers to pay for their palaces and stuff, but they also bring in a lot of tourism, which funds a part of our economy. I guess you'd have to weigh it up and see if it balanced out.

Answer 17

No we don't.

get rid of them, why should we have to keep paying to fund their lavish lifestyles.

Events in the last 15 years or so have proven what a bunch of dysfunctional no-hopers they are.

Answer 18

I do not know what is the matter with all of you bad mouthing the royal family. I for instant think, that they do more work and have great organizations for the benefits of the UK people who are living impoverisch condition or are hunted by diseases. If it wasn't for the Royal families many of these long term non profit organizations on which a few of these Royal members are head of, would have gone with out. Remember each Royal members have or had a job.

Prince Andrew service in the Navy now in service with the British Business trade organizations.

Prince Edward working in the media and arts industry.

Prince Charles holding largestakes of farm land in the Duches of Cornwall region. Creating organic food so that the people of Great Britain are eating healthier. He also is outspoken against the Big fast food chains that intervene your British life style. He and his family are very highly health oriented. Look at the Queen she is in her 80's probably is going to live long healthy life cause of it. The Royals do far more than you British people think. And that little bit of penny's on a English pound you are paying to them, is just for the up keep of the Castles and numerous estates they have. Would you withouth them be able to keep these buildings in good standing? You are all such fools. I love the British Royals and I think they do the world more good than any of you single handed.

Answer 19

A democratic republic and meritocracy sounds ideal to me. Let everyone, including former royals and aristocrats, flourish according to their efforts.