Do we need the monarchy in this day and and age?

I still don't think it's possible to look at this properly until we've determined what the actual function of a Head of State is. Nobody has enlightened me.

Ireland had the advantage of being a 'new' country (having been an unwilling part of the UK for a long time) starting from scratch building a constitution and considering the functions of the elements within it.

Countries with an established form of government find it much more difficult to change. Revolutions are bloody and haphazard. It took the French about 100 years to establish something they could live with, in fact, IIRC, their current constitution was drawn up in the 1950s and is one of several over the last 100 years. Measured and carefully thought out constitutional change could take decades...

Not fairy tales about Queens in their castles

???

Germanshepherdsmum

Very dangerous to believe all you read.

Or are told...

In fact, forming an opinion is very dangerous... So let's all stop thinking

I would just say “ be careful what you wish for”. Things, indeed might be better, but they could be a whole lot worse, too. And as for better distribution of wealth (some people think we’d be wealthier without a monarchy) - do you really think that will happen? There will always be those who have more than they need, and eager to accumulate more, whether we have a monarchy or not.

Just to point out, Lauran123, it really rather depends where you live as to whether you can vote a President out in a few years - certain Presidents view themselves as President for life and any opposition gets shunted out of the way either by imprisonment or assassination.

The process of moving from a monarchy to a democratic head of state is pretty straightforward.

The move will only be made once MPs and the public agree to it, although the politicians only have to agree to a referendum, and let the voters decide the rest. So once polling is consistently showing support for the move and politicians have been persuaded to act the following steps are needed:

A law is passed by MPs allowing for a referendum and voters then get to decide if they want to make the change.
If voters vote 'Yes' then a date is set for the election of the head of state and the introduction of new rules that will govern the reformed political system (which will be in the form of a new constitution).
As part of this process parliament passes the Crown to the people - which means that Crown properties such as the Crown Estate remain with the nation.
On a date a few days or weeks after the election the new head of state will be sworn in, the new constitution takes effect and the monarch retires from office.

So in short the change is pretty straightforward, democratic and offers and exciting opportunity for Britain - an opportunity to create a great, modern democracy.

Republic supports the replacement of the monarch with an elected head of state. The kind of head of state we think is best for Britain is a 'ceremonial' or 'constitutional' position, someone chosen by the people to:

represent the nation
defend our democracy
act as referee in the political process
offer a non-political voice at times of crisis and celebration
The job would not simply be ceremonial, our new head of state would have very clear and limited powers. Those powers would be non-political, which means that they can only be exercised according to certain official criteria. Our elected head of state would not be allowed to make decisions based on their own political opinions (much like a judge uses their power according to the law and the facts of the case, not letting their personal politics get in the way).

In fact, forming an opinion is very dangerous... So let's all stop thinking

And expressing those opinions could land you in The Tower

I think it would be best if our monarchy was like many other European royal families. it is not too late for Prince William to retrain to do a proper job.

I'd rather have our present Royal family than an elected Head of State. & I agree you need something for ceremonial purposes and to counter-balance the elected government which is always at the beck & call of the demagogues.

Ilovecheese

I think it would be best if our monarchy was like many other European royal families. it is not too late for Prince William to retrain to do a proper job.

If Head of State is not a proper job why do we need a President?

Plus our national anthem is a dirge with rubbish words - its not about the country at all - God Save the Queen from what?

Us apparently ?

Once I never gave them all a second thought, probably veered on the side of Republicanism. I now feel differently about individual members. I think the Queen is remarkable just keeps going, didn't chose the life had it thrust upon her but has gone way beyond he call o duty which I thinks she takes very seriously, I think it will be a sad day for many of us when she reaches the end of the road which sadly won't be long now.

Andrew is appalling it would be good not to see his smug, well nourished chops driving around the grounds of Windsor. He should be banished beyond the M25 down into some gulag, without staff so he has to draw his own curtains. Perhaps he could build his own house too, not as large as the one that looked like a Tesco Superstore he had with Fergie, more the size if a Tesco Metro. Anyway he needs to disappear and not be seen again!

Charles OKish but can't help feeling he may make a pig's ear of the role of king when his time comes, he does have some negative associations. Time will tell I fear his reign maybe brief a bit like Edward VII's was, he doesn't look as robust as his parents, he's very florid for starters

Anne and all round, non nonsense good egg. You never hear her moaning and groaning about anything just gets on with it. Edward and Sophie a good support act.

William, Catherine and children, can't find it in my heart to dislike them, I think they both know and understand what is expected of them and will do their best to carry out their duties moving towards the Scandinavian ideal which is what most people who want a monarchy expect.

I don't buy into any of that "look what they've got, all those palaces etc." anyone who has read about the early days of the Soviet Union will know that the top echelons lived in style, they had their dachas on some nice bit of water or sea. Show me a society that has ever shared wealth equally, and I'd say that's a utopia that doesn't exist. Does or did Maduro, Putin, Castro to name but three, ever share their wealth and live like the ordinary man, or do they misappropriate billions, whilst their people eek out some sort of existence . The societies who are often held up as the most egalitarian are those in Scandinavia who still have royal families and personally I'd rather opt for something along those lines than some ghastly not to be removed dictator,. No we don't need a monarchy but I'm happy to have a slimmed down one.

You do make it sound straightforward grany but the “new rules that will inform the reformed political system” would be contentious and take years to thrash out. I don’t think agreement could be reached. In the end the most powerful political spectrum would end up calling the shots. Perhaps with support from outside.

My blood runs cold?

CoolCoco

Plus our national anthem is a dirge with rubbish words - its not about the country at all - God Save the Queen from what?

Rebellious Scots

No we definitely don't need need any. A gomplete waste of money.

Lucca

We know that for sure do we ?

Sorry my post was in response. To Josie Ann

Callistemon21

^I got the following from Wikipedia:^

So you had to look her up to find out.
Interesting

So what ? She still achieved a lot of good things.

Germanshepherdsmum

Very dangerous to believe all you read.

So you are saying none of that information about Mary Robinson is true ?

rascal

No we definitely don't need need any. A gomplete waste of money.

That's what I like, a nice, well-reasoned response.

Ilovecheese

I think it would be best if our monarchy was like many other European royal families. it is not too late for Prince William to retrain to do a proper job.

So what happens when King Charles dies and William is off doing his 'proper job'? How exactly does the slimmed down RF that Charles will have (and it's already become pretty slim anyway) differ from 'many other European royal families'?

Lucca

Germanshepherdsmum

Very dangerous to believe all you read.

So you are saying none of that information about Mary Robinson is true ?

Respectfully asking for an answer ….

Of course not, I have no more idea than Mr Google about Mary Robinson. Perhaps Irish people know. Actually my comment was in response to another poster who wrote something about bad monarchs, sorry I missed your question.

Peasblossom

If the Monarchy is disbanded should there be a separate Head of State or should it be the Prime Minister?

If it is the PrimeMinister should there be a seperate election rather than being chosen by the majority party?

Could you have a Prime Minister who was in opposition to the majority party.

If a separate Head of State to what extent would they also need all the trappings that come with that position. Would it save any taxpayers money?

How would they be elected. How would we prevent the abuses of that power that have happened world wide. What voting system would we use. How would we remove someone who abused the position.

At least at the moment we know how the Constitution operates.
If we make a vacuum who knows what will fill it.

There are so many questions and potential hazards that Republicans won’t even consider.

I’m reading ‘And what do you do?’ by Norman Baker, very enlightening and definitely opening my eyes to the monarchy and the staggering behaviour that both the royal family and governments indulge in.
I definitely think that after Queen Elizabeth if there’s not a radical overhaul then something must happen to make the whole shebang more transparent and accountable. We’re funding them for goodness sake, either directly or indirectly ?

I would never want to see the end of the monarchy. I love the royal family and all the pageantry. It's part of our history and I don't care how much money they have. There will always be privileged people and poor people.

Agree totally.