What is your personal opinion of the Elizabeth II and the Monarchy?

Question

What do you think of Queen Elizabeth II? What do you expect of her personality and mannerisms?

Please say where you're from too. Thanks!

Answer 1

Generally I have a positive impression of Britain's monarchy.  I guess it seems it sort of holds together the threads of tradition and British history. I think Queen Elizabeth II is very dedicated and takes her responsibility and her oath very seriously. She puts in an incredible amount of work for someone her age.  

It does not bother me at all that she is not publically gushy and emotional, I don't think that makes her some cold hearted person. I actually  think she seems dignified but sympathique. I think she is a practical lady who has rather a sense of humour in private.

I've always thought it rather poignant a story I heard a friend of hers tell,  that, on VE Day I think, Elizabeth had sort of sneaked off with her friends to celebrate and ended up in a crowd of people having fun and rejoicing the war's end, and she was just another girl in uniform- -folks didn't realize who she was.  And she had said that was the most free she's ever felt in her life.

Anti-royalists talk about sponging as if the Queen sits round eating crumpets all the day long but she really does a LOT of work, and I think may do some unrecognized  good for  trade and international relations. Some of the other royals really do a lot too, especially Princess Anne.  Plus the monarchy may attract some tourists in a way that might not totally be measurable - - would they come anyway for the historical stuff? maybe, but perhaps having the monarchy as a current thing puts the history more in peoples minds and influences visitors.

I know it's not up to us foreigners, but since you ask, I hope you'll keep it.

from very Republican countries: my mother from USA and my father is French from a family that was lucky not to be all guillotined in the Revolution.  I don't wish for a monarchy  in USA , and in France i have not a desire to bring back the ancien régime -- it strikes me as funny that the rival factions of monarchistes think it is worth fighting over who has the right to something there's no chance they'll ever get  

I also used to live in Norway, and i liked the lower key kind of monarchy there.

Answer 2

I think they get too much money from the public tresuary.  Why should her family get so much of the people's money for doing nothing?

Answer 3

I lived in London for school, and it would be a travesty for the monarchy to fall. While they may not have the power they once did, the Queen is an important figurehead and how they distinguish themselves from the United States. I can't imagine what would become of all those castles if the monarchy was removed from the government. We all know the state cannot keep those things up adequately. When I visited Windsor castle recently (the oldest inhabited castle in the world) I was floored by how well this massive building had been kept up. It was such an amazing experience, I half expected Charles II and Nell Gwyn to be walking around the King's apartments. I also have been inside Buckingham, and it's just so amazing. Anyone that had an appreciation for history (not making themselves seem like another stupid American) would never condone anything happening to monarchy as it is. It's such an ingrained part of history in one of the most interesting countries in the world.

Back to the Queen... I think she is probably a very intricate and interesting woman. The things she's seen and experienced have probably made her such a multi-multifaceted individual, I would love to sit her down and pick her brain for an hour.

Answer 4

I think their roles are pretty useless. Elizabeth has very little power compared to the Prime Minister. But if the British feel they need a symbol of power (the Queen), then okay.

Answer 5

I have respect for the Queen, Princes Philip and Charles and Princess Anne.

However I wouldn't cross the road to meet them.

Scotland

Answer 6

the royals have one hand in every brit's pocket and the other hand over every brit's mouth. That's how they keep their power - the power to ostracize opponents by stifling all criticism and the power to be above the law and take whatever they want from the british people.

How the brits can put up with such arrogance, waste, indolence is beyond what any yank like me can envision.

They should be run out of britain and the wealth that they have accumulated should stay there and be put to the use of all brits, not to the use of those very few egotistical leeches

Answer 7

I'm a Canadian and I like the monarchy. I think they do a very good job and it's hard work too. The Queen is outstanding in the job she does not only for the monarchy but also for Britian overseas. They are also human beings who make mistakes sometimes but it seems now they are all coming up well now. Charles is back on track now that he has the woman he loves. I hope to goodness the Brits have the sense to allow Camilla as queen some day. Life moves on and so should they.

Answer 8

Queen Elizabeth II kicks *** and many non-British people don't realize how awesome and influential she is and was to the country. Her diplomacy is amazing and the advice and insight she offers to the prime ministers is priceless.

She seems like a cheerful person, and her ability to maintain her composure in absolutely any situation is remarkable

United States

Answer 9

I'm a republican,  middle earth.

Answer 10

She is a grand lady,Doing a very good job,England.

Answer 11

I don't know anything about her that hasn't come from newspapers or TV reports so for all I know she could be a real horror or a real sweetheart as a person.

As for the idea of the monarchy, I an on the fence about it.

If the monarchy was abolished tomorrow I am not sure if the ripples on life as we know it would take that long to subside.

Aberdeen, NE Scotland.

Answer 12

They don't really bother me.

I think the royal family should stay because they have been around for over 1000 yaers... well, not the current royal family. But there has been monarchs in England for over 1000 years.

Answer 13

I am 62 and was born in England.  I have observed the Queen over many years and have a genuine fondness for her.  She has remained dignified and honourable since her coronation, which I watched on television.  She is an example to us all.  Her family have let her down in many instances and like any loving mother she has kept her counsel and lived through the tribulations.  She is much older than I am and still works extremely hard.  I get very tired of people's bitterness and envy with regard to any money the royal family receive.  They should have a turn of living in a goldfish bowl with duties they may not wish to carry out and without having the right to refuse, for the rest of their lives.  Money can't buy the freedom that they have.

Answer 14

UK....useless waste of public money....the only good i see her doing is as a tourist attraction but even Germans will come to see dead royalty.

waste of space

Answer 15

I`m British - I think the royals basically are a bunch of k***s who live off us taxpayers...  the queen though, she does a good job - Charles too - the rest of em are a bunch of freeloaders..

Answer 16

I have been a republican since the 1960's. Whilst I think that old Liz tries her best, it really is time to get rid of this archaic monarchy when she dies.

Tales of Charles having a valet to squeeze his toothpaste onto his toothbrush does little to endear him to his future subjects.

I look forward to being a citizen rather than a subject.

(English and another historian)

Edit.

ShinyBlue, I couldn't have put it better myself!

Answer 17

British, historian.

Ludicrous and humiliating anachronism, demeaning to british citizens.

Worst of it is how much it messes up the participants?  Ever wondered why the royal family seem a bit messed up?  Look at the pressures that they are put through by their 'loving' public - how can they be expected to grow up normal? But they are normal, and no one suggests that they are particularly clever or gifted, so they do end up rather twisted.  We continue to think of hte Queen Mohter as some lovable old granny, as Charles as fine and dignified, and William as the brave new hope, but I really think these images are way off the truth.

And, finally, if you want an explantaiton of why teh royal family is so disfunctional, consider that when Queen and Duke went off to Australia when Charles was four, they left him behind for months.  What child deserves such neglect?  And when they returned he joined a line of household and was greeted with a handshake by his parents.

Ritualised child abuse.  Let them all stnad down and then maybe, the poor devils will one day be able to enjoy the oardinary lives we all deserve.

Answer 18

I'm from UK and i can't stand Liz nor the rest of them. The Monarchy are corrupt and a waste of space......................