More heartbreak for the Queen

An elected non political head of state ? an election every five years with no politicians standing , celebrities ?

Doesn’t have to be celebrities. Could be anyone respected in their field who would make a good figurehead. Other countries don’t have a monarchy without falling apart.

Anyone would be able to stand for election, politicians, celebrities, the country would be divided .

All that electioneering every time we need a new president or prime minister?

Once every few years (hopefully) is enough.

I'd be like Brenda from Bristol. 'Not anotherrrrr one!'

Like the country isn’t divided now?

vegan it simply isn’t possible to have a discussion with royalists about an elected head of state.

I don’t want an elected Head of State, I prefer the current model. However I agree with Suzie and Vegan that tourists would still come to Britain for the history and to see some of our most beautiful places. We wouldn’t get all the VAT from selling tea towels or plates with a picture of the Queen on them, but there would still be souvenirs produced that would attract VAT. However realistically it’s a non argument at present as there doesn’t appear to be any great will to dethrone the royals and replace them.

All that electioneering - yep 2015, 2017, 2019 oh wait that was for GEs

Kandinsky

Yes, I agree that Catherine looks very slim, especially in the very stylish outfit she was wearing last night. She is tall and very willowy, and I’m sure she is conscious of always looking good in her clothes. She’ll eat well with chefs cooking healthy meals, and I bet she has a personal trainer.

It’s not as if our Queen actually had much say in the matter (of becoming queen). Her Uncle’s abdication put her where she is now. She’s never had the life she was born to and it can’t be an easy one always having to do what’s expected/demanded of her. I doubt she has a lot of opportunity for personal choices. No pyjama days for her!
Sadness is a human emotion. Wealth doesn’t make it better.

Well I agree with maddy overall except I would prefer an elected HofS but she’s spot on - it’s not on the agenda at all - the best I hope for is a Scandi-style RF but actually the celebrification of our RF is getting worse so that’s not on the agenda either. ( and no I don’t blame MM for that - it started decades ago)

Yes suzie all those elections and the results !

Yout post missed completely the point I was making annie

susie you listed dates of elections

Yes annie so I did. It was in response to the post that having a president would increase the number of elections - I was making the point that without a presidential system we seem to be increasing the number of elections we have anyway. What did you think I meant? Maybe it was too elliptical.

Our Queen would be in exactly the same position as she is now had her uncle been able to marry Mrs Simpson and keep the throne. The likelihood of those two having a child was remote therefore after the death of her father, the kings heir, the then Princess Elizabeth moved up a notch, would have been Edward V111th heir, and succeeded him after his death in circa 1972. So the RF would have been in exactly the same position today, with or without the abdication!

They could have had children, she was 40, he was 42 .

But they didn't anyway.

I'm a pragmatic royalist, perfectly willing to discuss republicanism.

They wouldn’t have had children, he certainly knew what problems would arise.

This affair was very weird. Edward it would appear was absolutely besotted with her to the point of threatening suicide if she left him! She in the end found herself caught in a trap unable to escape!! She and her ex husband referred to him as Peter Pan in more ways than one!! The King had had numerous affairs, (no children) as had Wallis, again, no children! Lots of rumours, but who knows?! I think the country had a lucky escape!

It wasn’t a lucky escape - it would never have happened.

For me the most telling part of his abdication speech -

‘But you must believe me when I tell you that I have found it
.impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and discharge my duties as king AS I WOULD WISH TO DO,
without the help and support of the woman I love.

The same year he visited the South Wales valleys and said ‘something
must be done’. This was during the depression which affected
South Wales badly

He certainly angered Baldwin.

Most of us gave up believing in the divine right of kings many years ago, but some people still see the monarchy as almost god- like and above criticism. I would be quite happy if Prince William stood for election as H of State and won, at least it would protect us from having a mad or bad H of S which we’ve always got a chance of getting with the hereditary principle.

Apparently the queen believes that she has been chosen by God to be the Head of the Church, and therefore monarch. I don’t remember where I read that, but it did surprise me I must say. I wonder if it’s true.
Anyway, I don’t believe in the Divine Right of Kings/Queens, I should be surprised if anyone else does nowadays. However I do think monarchy is preferable to elected Heads of State, but as for The House of Lords, that’s a very different matter.

And here’s the real reason he wasn’t wanted as king

‘A strong streak of anti-Semitism ran through these political groups, as well as the British government and royal family. Many were more than willing to overlook the sharp rise of anti-Jewish attacks and legislation in Germany, with Edward purportedly telling a German relative in 1933 that it was “no business of ours to interfere in Germany’s internal affairs either re Jews or re anything else.” He went on to add, “Dictators are very popular these days. We might want one in England before long.”

British intelligence had Edward and Wallis under surveillance

While Edward's strongly pro-German sentiments were shared by others, his outspokenness as heir to the throne made his words potentially dangerous. His support for Mosely and other fascist organizers (many of whom would be imprisoned after Britain went to war with Germany) increases suspicions on his political beliefs.’

Nice man