Is there a reason to maintain the British monarchy?

Question

I know that the monarchy brings in tourist revenue and is a source of pride for some (but far from all) British people.

But the monarchy is phenomenally expensive to the British people and common wealth countries (Canada, Australia etc). And the royal family is little more than a plaything for the tabloids, and a source of entertainment for many others. Is there a point to maintaining the pampered posh lifestyle of the royal family by the taxpayers?

Answer 1

To me the Monarchy and the royal family is comparable to the Vatican and the Pope.  Extremely expensive to maintain and too extravagant.  Is there any reason so many people have to suffer while these figure heads live in golden palaces.  and get their every whim and wish granted to them????  I welcome any RATIONAl response,  how can this be justified??

Answer 2

I can't think of a single reason for it.

Answer 3

No it is not christen it is a concept that predates that.

Answer 4

We've had a stable democratic system of government for over 300 years - can you tell me another system of government that has been around that long?  There aren't many.  Stability is an important thing where countries and governments are concerned.  Our system has stood the test of time, and I don't believe any of the politicians around at the moment could come up with anything better - look at how many times they've changed their minds over education over the last 20 years.  Once you change the system once, then next government will feel obliged to change it again to make it better.  It took France 200 years to come up with a lasting system of government - I personally don't want to have to live through all that cr*p when we have a system that works now.

I understand how some people are jealous of the wealth and privilege of the nobility and aristocracy, but stopping the Queen being the queen wouldn't stop her family being rich - she is one of the richest women in the world in her own right.  All it would mean would be that politicians were paid more - if you think that any money saved from getting rid of the monarch will be redistributed fairly you're living in la-la land.  At best it would be wasted by the hopeless incompetency and inadequacy of the civil servants, at worst it would go to financing the queen's replacement and those leaches that we call politicians.  All you need to do is look at the constant allegations of sleeze to know where the money would go.

It would also rob the UK of one of our most lasting and well-loved symbols of national identity - which would impact negatively upon national sentiment - if you study nationalism they always need a focus or symbols of national identity to hold the country together - look at the US and their devotion to the flag.  Can you seriously see British people giving that amount of devotion to a mangey piece of cloth?  The Queen is a figurehead recognised by everyone - whatever their opinion of her - and at this point in time when we're having such a problem integrating all the new first and second generation british, I think that calling our national identity into question would be a disasterous move.  

On top of the impact it would have on our national sentiment, there's the impact it would have on our tourist industry.  The brits have never been good at selling ourselves - we tell people about our bad cooking, our bad weather and everything else that might possibly be considered negative about our country.  I think if you ask foreigners what makes them want to visit the UK they would say the history, and the Queen and the monarchy are an integral part of this.

Basically I think getting rid of the monarchy would be a massive exercise in shooting ourselves in teh foot.  It wouldn't get rid of the wealth and priviledge that makes left-wing people despise the monarchy, and it would take away a significant means of revenue making a lot of normal people a lot poorer.

As far as Canada and Australia go - totally agree with the questioner - I don't really know why they keep the queen as head of state.  I'm really happy that they are - I like the connection it gives us, but would totally understand if they got rid her.

Answer 5

Is it any of your business? It is theirs after all; and yes, there is a reason. Most British people want it that way. It is the oldest monarchy in Europe and the world, so why change it?

Also, the Queen has given up a lot of things to save the people money. Has George Bush?

Answer 6

It seems to have served a very good purpose for a very long time and there is no reason to believe that it wont do so for a very long time to come.We could do without the royal hangers on though,Phil the Greek for one.

Answer 7

Stability and Tourism.

Answer 8

Well sure the British monarchy isn't Britans current form of government but why would you stop this now? It is very historical and has been in power since before the US has been a country. Yeah some of the family is in tabloids but isnt' that what happens to all famous people at one point? It should be kept for it's strong historical background. Without Britan and it's monarchy..a lot of what we learn now in Social Studies classes wouldn't be there.

Answer 9

I think you said all!! There´s no reason other than tradition for it!!