The King's Speech

Zoejory

I didn't watch the King's Speech
Too busy with hoardes of tiny humans.

I've seen clips and it looks OK. But I'm no expert on the Christmas Day speeches as I've never watched one

We were too busy doing our own speeches at that time.
Raising a 🍷 to absent family and friends.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

I didn't watch the King's Speech
Too busy with hoardes of tiny humans.

I've seen clips and it looks OK. But I'm no expert on the Christmas Day speeches as I've never watched one

Yes, we would, wouldn't we Mollygo?

Same as I have to live with lots of things/people I haven't voted for. But I have the hope that one day, more people will think the way I do and we can get rid of the Tory Government, get back into Europe, have Scottish independence, whatever. But whatever, it will be the choice of the majority of the people who vote.

As it stands at the moment, I have no hope that we can have a HoS that represents me and acts for the good of the people of the UK. Because as it stands, the Windsor boys have the job sewn up, and that can never change. Unless we make it happen.

V. . . Are you suggesting that we shouldn't let people vote on the things they want to happen?
Where did I suggest that?
It’s a fact that “we” as a country voted for Brexit and though I didn’t, I’m still having to live with the consequences.
If “we” voted for a president, I’d have to live with the consequences of that too. That’s what happens with a vote, don’t you know?

Mollygo

^ We can have what we want.^
But then, we wanted Brexit.
Would the same people be voting or . . .

Yes we did want that.

Its the worst thing that could have happened.

Are you suggesting that we shouldn't let people vote on the things they want to happen? Because maybe you wouldn't like the outcome?

You are so rude DaisyAnne.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

^ We can have what we want.^
But then, we wanted Brexit.
Would the same people be voting or . . .

Grantanow

I had a perfectly enjoyable Xmas, volver, and I'm still enjoying it. Hope you are too! The key point about presidents is to establish their terms of reference by law, what they can and can't do, what their role is, how long they are in office for and can they re-stand, how they can be removed and who elects them (universal franchise, the Lords, the Commons?), etc. The monarch's role has been worked out as essentially apolitical and Charles and his recent predecessors understood that but I do question whether a president with a political background could be self-restrained and whether, if they were given powers as in France, the US and elsewhere to make decrees, that would be acceptable. What would their role be in relation to the military and would that create any risks? It may be wearing to think about these matters in relation to Thatcher or Farage or Brown or anyone else but it is important.

I am also enjoying Christmas Grantanow, thank you for your comment.

The terms of reference of a president must indeed be worked out. But personally, I would find that an exciting thing to do. To decide for ourselves how we want our HoS to work.

We really, really have to understand that holding up the presidents of France or the US as examples of how things can go wrong in entirely invalid. Those Presidents are also Heads of Government. That is why they have the power they do. Those countries have an entirely different system to ours.

A constitutional system that has an elected Head of Government, and an Elected Head of State, is an entirely different matter. And we can have that, if only we stopped thinking it was important to have good manners, curtsey to people we think are above us in the hierarchy, and that being HoS needs a lifetime's training and a hat with jewels on.

That is why Eire, Germany, Finland... are such good examples. Their Presidents are not the same as the Presidents of France USA, Brazil... We can have what we want.

I'm worn out by people who can't see that.

DaisyAnne

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.

You are so rude DaisyAnne.

I've come to this thread rather late, but I must comment that I found Charles' speech very uplifting, and hit just the right spot for me. I'm going through a difficult time with family breakup (not me personally) and returned to listen to it again later. I found it comforting. I've rarely bothered to watch the Queen's Christmas speech. I believe Charles is managing his new role very well.

Parsley3

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.

Meghan obviously thought it was nonsense as well.

Maybe it is, but it is what they do.

Catherine realised that curtseying is something that is done in the family she married into, which is one reason why things have gone better for her than her sister in law.

Good post Grantanow 👏🏻👏🏻

I had a perfectly enjoyable Xmas, volver, and I'm still enjoying it. Hope you are too! The key point about presidents is to establish their terms of reference by law, what they can and can't do, what their role is, how long they are in office for and can they re-stand, how they can be removed and who elects them (universal franchise, the Lords, the Commons?), etc. The monarch's role has been worked out as essentially apolitical and Charles and his recent predecessors understood that but I do question whether a president with a political background could be self-restrained and whether, if they were given powers as in France, the US and elsewhere to make decrees, that would be acceptable. What would their role be in relation to the military and would that create any risks? It may be wearing to think about these matters in relation to Thatcher or Farage or Brown or anyone else but it is important.

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.

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

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?"

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 …

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

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.

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.

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 🤔

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.