The King's Speech

I was disappointed to see Catherine bobbing a curtsey to her inlaws at the Carol service. I was hoping that Charles would dispense with that nonsense.

On another planet we might have had Thatcher as President. That gives me pause about the monarchy. Charles says a lot of good things, was quite perspicacious about climate and wrong on a few things but his wealth and privilege puts him out of touch with ordinary people however hard he tries. People struggling with the cost of living, low pay and poverty are not likely to respond positively to his comments imo.

I watched it at 3, and then a bit later on.

I thought the staging and delivery were fine, didn't notice really, to be honest.

I did notice that thanks he gave to keyworkers, and also to the thousands upon thousands of volunteers supporting people in financial need.

I watched it the second time to make sure I hadn't missed him referring to the reasons why people were in such need; he hadn't - although I've seen reports suggesting that even referring to the need was a political statement. Maybe. I found myself sad and angry that all those volunteers are necessary, just so that people can eat and heat.

I speak as a Mild Monarchist: I have nothing per se against either the monarchy or the House of Windsor but I have an awful lot against the government that has let so many people down.

BlueBelle

I didn’t watch it nor did I watch the Queen it all seems unnecessary I like Charles and Camilla and I think as Royals go they re probably pretty ok but I don’t like the thought of such vast differences in wealth I m not a communist but think things should be a lot more equal than they are

I m neither supportive nor anti Royals but I would never curtsy to another human being I do not feel my status in life makes me any less a human and I can’t revere another however rich, privileged or titled

The royals are nowhere near the richest people in this country.

I’ve often curtseyed to another human being. We had to curtsey to our ballet teacher! Not a problem for me.

No, really. Can we just stop with the "We could have had Thatcher/Boris Johnson/Nigel Farage/Jack the Ripper as President" thing?

It's beyond a joke and its getting very wearing...

P3 he could well dispense with that eventually.
I was impressed with her good manners and social skills. It’s always good to see that people know how to behave in particular circumstances. I’ve dealt with parents at parent-teacher meetings who haven’t mastered that yet.

I’ve often curtseyed to another human being. We had to curtsey to our ballet teacher! Not a problem for me.

What were you, six? Well we're not six any more.

volver

No, really. Can we just stop with the "We could have had Thatcher/Boris Johnson/Nigel Farage/Jack the Ripper as President" thing?

It's beyond a joke and its getting very wearing...

Yes it’s wearing, from either side, but you can’t allow one without the other.
We could well have had any of those, or even 😱 Gordon Brown or 😱 Tony Blair. Why Jack the Ripper though?
What makes all the pro President posters presume people would pick a perfect or partially perfect President?
We voted for Brexit -remember?

I think Nigel Farage could have been a very strong Presidential candidate in an election.

I find it wearing that Republicans won’t recognise that elections can go very wrong indeed.

In spite of all the evidence over the years.

That’s idealism, I suppose.

I posted shortly after this thread started and have just caught up with the many posts. It's gratifying to see so many posts in agreement with me regarding how good King Charles Speech and the new format was. I note that the negative posts are actually mostly from just a couple of people who don't seem to have had a very merry Christmas, which makes me pity them. Lovely that for once I'm in the majority.

I prefer the royals to the politicians any time.

So, the Margaret Thatcher/Farage thing.

Thatcher was PM for 11 years. In the unlikely event that she would have wanted to give up all that power to be a figurehead with no power to change laws, what could she have possibly done that was worse that what she did anyway?

Also, Farage. Couldn't get elected to be a milk monitor. Became an MEP through the list system. Not enough people ever voted for him.

As for the idea that elections go very wrong indeed. Are you perhaps suggesting that we shouldn't elect Prime Ministers and MPs. In case we get it wrong?

That's fascism, I suppose.

What? You can only have had a happy Christmas if you like the king speech. Dont be ridiculous

notgran

I posted shortly after this thread started and have just caught up with the many posts. It's gratifying to see so many posts in agreement with me regarding how good King Charles Speech and the new format was. I note that the negative posts are actually mostly from just a couple of people who don't seem to have had a very merry Christmas, which makes me pity them. Lovely that for once I'm in the majority.

I was feeling quite sorry that the thread had taken a turn away from Charles's speech into another direction entirely, but your comment about people commenting not having had a very merry Christmas brought me to my senses.

If that's the thought process of monarchists, I'll stick with republicanism, thanks.

Yes Nigel Farage could easily have been elected President, and he could just as easily been unelected if he made a mess of things.
Similarly, Nigel Farage could have been the next king if he had been born in the "right" family, with no way to unseat him.
This is not about the personalities of the players, but the pro's and cons of an heredity system verses an elected one.
The point is, when elections "go wrong" you have the rights and opportunity to rectify the mistake at the next election.
How would we rectify the mistake when monarchy " goes wrong", as history shows us, has happened more times than not.

So the system we have monarchy is corrupt. In public office for private gain.

King has wealth passed on from monarchies no inheritance tax. No transparency no accountability no freedom of information. £100 million sovereign grant, the most expensive in Europe? Plus money from two Duchies over £20 million each to Charles and William with no corporation tax.

Charles and William vet laws to benefit themselves.

A president has to be accountable by law or can be removed from office.

Goodness me notgran, what a strange thing to post. I thought the King's speech was okayish but don't count me as being in agreement with you and as I had a very merry Christmas I am pleased to say that I don't need your pity.

Normandygirl

Yes Nigel Farage could easily have been elected President, and he could just as easily been unelected if he made a mess of things.
Similarly, Nigel Farage could have been the next king if he had been born in the "right" family, with no way to unseat him.
This is not about the personalities of the players, but the pro's and cons of an heredity system verses an elected one.
The point is, when elections "go wrong" you have the rights and opportunity to rectify the mistake at the next election.
How would we rectify the mistake when monarchy " goes wrong", as history shows us, has happened more times than not.

I don’t dispute any of that. Monarchy goes wrong. Presidency goes wrong.

I’m a realist. (Not a fascist🙄😂)

If abusive (and unjustified) categorisation f any e who dares to suggest there are negatives to be considered, is the thought processes of Republicans, I’ll stick with the Monarchy.

Actually, isn’t that thought process I’ve just outlined the absolute definition of Fascism 🤔

BlueBelle

I didn’t watch it nor did I watch the Queen it all seems unnecessary I like Charles and Camilla and I think as Royals go they re probably pretty ok but I don’t like the thought of such vast differences in wealth I m not a communist but think things should be a lot more equal than they are

I m neither supportive nor anti Royals but I would never curtsy to another human being I do not feel my status in life makes me any less a human and I can’t revere another however rich, privileged or titled

I agree re equality Bluebelle and all the curtseying is a total nonsense. All that silly bobbing up and down.

I just don't understand how people can say that elections can go wrong, implying that we should avoid them and stick with feudalism, but think elections for Parliament are OK.

You either want democracy, or you don't.

So notgran not liking Charle's speech = not having a merry Christmas. How'd you work that one out?

notgran

I posted shortly after this thread started and have just caught up with the many posts. It's gratifying to see so many posts in agreement with me regarding how good King Charles Speech and the new format was. I note that the negative posts are actually mostly from just a couple of people who don't seem to have had a very merry Christmas, which makes me pity them. Lovely that for once I'm in the majority.

How does not being wholly pro Charles his speech etc mean one didn’t have a good Christmas???

I am not fussed either way and didn’t watch as we were having a walk by the lake, part of a really lovely day/week away with family …

volver

notgran

I posted shortly after this thread started and have just caught up with the many posts. It's gratifying to see so many posts in agreement with me regarding how good King Charles Speech and the new format was. I note that the negative posts are actually mostly from just a couple of people who don't seem to have had a very merry Christmas, which makes me pity them. Lovely that for once I'm in the majority.

I was feeling quite sorry that the thread had taken a turn away from Charles's speech into another direction entirely, but your comment about people commenting not having had a very merry Christmas brought me to my senses.

If that's the thought process of monarchists, I'll stick with republicanism, thanks.

No, it's not volver, it's just one person's post!
The monarchists and republicans in this family all had an enjoyable Christmas together, together with the Don't Know.

Actually, I thought he was having a dig at the Tories and their policies as far as he was able.
Congratulating all the services, NHS staff and those who volunteer to help feed those in need.
"So - what are you, the Government, doing about this?"

volver

^I’ve often curtseyed to another human being. We had to curtsey to our ballet teacher! Not a problem for me.^

What were you, six? Well we're not six any more.

No. All students did.

volver

I just don't understand how people can say that elections can go wrong, implying that we should avoid them and stick with feudalism, but think elections for Parliament are OK.

You either want democracy, or you don't.

I think you should have stopped after "I don't understand". Once that is admitted learning is possible.