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Christmas

The King's Speech

(317 Posts)
Sparklefizz Mon 26-Dec-22 07:20:35

What did you think? I caught up with it on iPlayer last night just to see how it went as it was his first Christmas speech, and I thought he did quite well.

I also thought it was a very good idea not to be filmed sitting at a desk surrounded by personal photos which could then be picked apart.

Mollygo Mon 26-Dec-22 18:16:43

(unless you are suggesting that our democracy is just as corrupt????!!)
Well that has been suggested on GN and I don’t recollect you denying it - might even have been you who mentioned Putin.

Glorianny Mon 26-Dec-22 18:11:19

Lathyrus

I’ll start

Russia…….

That's not really a true democracy is it? so not actually comparable with the UK. (unless you are suggesting that our democracy is just as corrupt????!!)

Lathyrus Mon 26-Dec-22 17:54:44

I’ll start

Russia…….

Lathyrus Mon 26-Dec-22 17:53:38

volver

^So you can't give me, in one short sentence, an example of where they do the head of state thing better. No surprise there then.^

Well you didn't ask for that, but now that you have...

Eire. Germany. Finland.

Didn't even need to make a sentence. 😊

You don't have to agree. I'll be surprised if you do.

And now a list of Republics where they do the Head of State thing oh so, so much worse?

Don’t worry, I’m not really expecting you to admit it.

Glorianny Mon 26-Dec-22 17:33:37

Smileless2012

Would you have preferred it if he'd not mentioned them at all Glorianny?

Well as thanking them does b-all to help them with the problems they are facing I think it would have showed a little respect to actually acknowledge those problems. If you are struggling to pay your way a thank you is in a way just a kick in the teeth- we know you are valuable we just don't want to pay you for your work!
There's a lot about how people who found this a ridiculous speech are ideologically driven, but so are those who approve of this speech.
The difference is our objections are built on reasoned arguments whereas the supporters seem just to be emotionally invested in a RF.

volver Mon 26-Dec-22 17:33:15

So you can't give me, in one short sentence, an example of where they do the head of state thing better. No surprise there then.

Well you didn't ask for that, but now that you have...

Eire. Germany. Finland.

Didn't even need to make a sentence. 😊

You don't have to agree. I'll be surprised if you do.

DaisyAnne Mon 26-Dec-22 17:31:29

ExperiencedNotOld

“Then a thank you to the armed forces. Made me think that this generation of royals needs to move forward a bit - the armed forces aren't the centre of everyone's lives anymore.”

So, whilst you’re all sat in your comfy chairs musing, who’s out supporting striking organisations, and giving up their Christmas to sit on standby just in case. Let alone those on ‘notice to move’ waiting to make a quick response in case the unforeseeable happens. Or those guarding borders in Estonia, Cyprus, the Arabian Sea and elsewhere. You may not notice them, but they’re always there, supporting us all.

I agree with you ExperiencedNotOld (like the name). I didn't think it worth commenting although I was sad to read the original paragraph. We seem to have moved into a world where running good people down is now a sport. Or perhaps this has always been the state of the uneducated. In this case those with no knowledge of what our forces do for us. It's so easy to ridicule what you don't know, sadly.

volver Mon 26-Dec-22 17:29:30

Don't lecture me about the armed forces, folks. Just don't go there.

You can lecture me about people who live in luxury and wear Ruritanian costumes telling us all to be grateful for the gallant British Tommy though.

There's a difference.

DaisyAnne Mon 26-Dec-22 17:26:41

volver

^Those who love to hate the Royal Family as heads of state will not like it but were never going to. Theirs is not an argument but an ideology.^

I can do ideology and arguments. Its a gift I have.

Most will be quite happy because the majority have better things to do than come up with new things to hate and no one has offered anything better.

Most will be quite happy because they can't conceive of anything better than having the posh folk in charge.

You want to hear what might be better? Read all my previous posts. All of them. The ones I have been posting for months, explaining what would be better. But no, that's not likely to happen, is it...

I an do ideology and arguments. Its a gift I have.

I haven't seen any evidence of this. On the other hand, when it comes to an arrogant belief in your own talents ...

Would you like to define "posh folks" for those of us who speak ordinary English rather than hate speech?

So you can't give me, in one short sentence, an example of where they do the head of state thing better. No surprise there then.

Iam64 Mon 26-Dec-22 17:24:32

ExperiencedNotOld

“Then a thank you to the armed forces. Made me think that this generation of royals needs to move forward a bit - the armed forces aren't the centre of everyone's lives anymore.”

So, whilst you’re all sat in your comfy chairs musing, who’s out supporting striking organisations, and giving up their Christmas to sit on standby just in case. Let alone those on ‘notice to move’ waiting to make a quick response in case the unforeseeable happens. Or those guarding borders in Estonia, Cyprus, the Arabian Sea and elsewhere. You may not notice them, but they’re always there, supporting us all.

I’m with you Experiencednotold in finding that comment unnecessary and unpleasant.

ExperiencedNotOld Mon 26-Dec-22 17:23:01

“Then a thank you to the armed forces. Made me think that this generation of royals needs to move forward a bit - the armed forces aren't the centre of everyone's lives anymore.”

So, whilst you’re all sat in your comfy chairs musing, who’s out supporting striking organisations, and giving up their Christmas to sit on standby just in case. Let alone those on ‘notice to move’ waiting to make a quick response in case the unforeseeable happens. Or those guarding borders in Estonia, Cyprus, the Arabian Sea and elsewhere. You may not notice them, but they’re always there, supporting us all.

DaisyAnne Mon 26-Dec-22 17:20:45

Grany

Smileless2012

Well I agree with him Grany and Charles has been trained for and working toward this role for the majority of his life.

So a president would have to be “trained” most of life to be a Head of Sate 😂😂😂😂 it’s a job that RF don’t do properly, if when laws of our country’s constitution is broken disregarded to step in. RF don’t

You do like to believe your opinion is the equivalent to evidence based facts, don't you Grany. Nothing changes.

volver Mon 26-Dec-22 17:13:38

nadateturbe

^If it encourages people to hear Charles saying what he didnadateturbe, all well and good. I'm happy for them.^
I was being sarcastic volver

Ah, sorry, didn't get it. flowers

It does make people happy though, doesn't it? Oddly...

volver Mon 26-Dec-22 17:10:43

Those who love to hate the Royal Family as heads of state will not like it but were never going to. Theirs is not an argument but an ideology.

I can do ideology and arguments. Its a gift I have.

Most will be quite happy because the majority have better things to do than come up with new things to hate and no one has offered anything better.

Most will be quite happy because they can't conceive of anything better than having the posh folk in charge.

You want to hear what might be better? Read all my previous posts. All of them. The ones I have been posting for months, explaining what would be better. But no, that's not likely to happen, is it...

nadateturbe Mon 26-Dec-22 16:58:05

If it encourages people to hear Charles saying what he didnadateturbe, all well and good. I'm happy for them.
I was being sarcastic volver

Grany Mon 26-Dec-22 16:57:37

Smileless2012

Well I agree with him Grany and Charles has been trained for and working toward this role for the majority of his life.

So a president would have to be “trained” most of life to be a Head of Sate 😂😂😂😂 it’s a job that RF don’t do properly, if when laws of our country’s constitution is broken disregarded to step in. RF don’t

DaisyAnne Mon 26-Dec-22 16:57:02

Beautifully crafted with several excellent messages to those who need a bit of recognition for the good they do in this time so full of hate.

The far-right government may not like some of it.

Those who love to hate the Royal Family as heads of state will not like it but were never going to. Theirs is not an argument but an ideology.

Most will be quite happy because the majority have better things to do than come up with new things to hate and no one has offered anything better.

volver Mon 26-Dec-22 16:53:44

Baggs

volver

I think that's what people don't like about it Baggs.

Like it or not, he is our King. And always will be, whether we like it or not. And his son will be too, and then his son after him...like it or not.

Not a grown up way to run a country is it?

I agree with your first two sentences, V, but KC isn't running the country.

The government isn't doing that very well either, more's the shame, but it is able to do far more harm than an unwanted king.

The way we run the country defines how we choose our Head of State. What we expect of them, and how much we decide not to have by having a Head of State with no political power. It appears we would rather have a person who holds the office because his mother, grandfather, great grandfather, great-great ...etc, etc did, rather than someone who is able to represent the people of the country and hold the elected government to its promises. And do something about it if that government tries to overstep the mark. Oh, and not be profligate with the country's money because they think we need to see a coronation.

Smileless2012 Mon 26-Dec-22 16:38:05

Well I agree with him Grany and Charles has been trained for and working toward this role for the majority of his life.

Baggs Mon 26-Dec-22 16:31:33

volver

I think that's what people don't like about it Baggs.

Like it or not, he is our King. And always will be, whether we like it or not. And his son will be too, and then his son after him...like it or not.

Not a grown up way to run a country is it?

I agree with your first two sentences, V, but KC isn't running the country.

The government isn't doing that very well either, more's the shame, but it is able to do far more harm than an unwanted king.

Marilla Mon 26-Dec-22 16:12:38

I’m with you Volver! 👍

Mollygo Mon 26-Dec-22 16:12:16

Grany🤣🤣🤣
You could well be a one of the
hypocritical old farts who also criticise others whilst enjoying the money they have which allows them to come on GN and criticise the RF.
Who knows?

Grany Mon 26-Dec-22 16:07:46

If you want an insight into how Charles really feels about the rest of us, and his own importance, see what he has to say in response to one of his staff seeking promotion.

So… shouldn’t be given positions of authority without working up to it and putting in the effort….

….says hereditary king who only needed to be born to the right mother 😂

What a hypocritical old fart. Get rid of them.

Abolish the monarchy

Normandygirl Mon 26-Dec-22 16:04:12

I think KC is going to have a much harder time of it than his mother ever did. She had a legacy of unquestioning support and approval from a couple of generations ,where even questioning the validity of a monarch, was seen as traitorous and unacceptable. She came to the throne at such a young age, that she had no time to " blot her copybook" so to speak. She started with a clean slate in a country eager to build a new future after the hardships of a world war.
It couldn't be more different for Charles. He has the monumental task of establishing his relevance in a society that is openly questioning the concept of monarchy itself. He also has a past that many people see as irredeemable and has the added headache of a country that is facing the worst cost of living and energy crisis's for decades coupled with a government in tatters. He has to overcome all this without being seen as " political" in any way. I think his speech was an attempt at this but it was a failed attempt.

volver Mon 26-Dec-22 15:52:41

I think that's what people don't like about it Baggs.

Like it or not, he is our King. And always will be, whether we like it or not. And his son will be too, and then his son after him...like it or not.

Not a grown up way to run a country is it?