UK: Do we even need a Royal family?

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

Glucksburg is in Germany although indeed they have Danish ancestry

The House has German and Danish, but their descent is marked largely from Christian III, King of Denmark, to my knowledge.

As His Political Incorectness Prince Phillip would say 'they come from some place somewhere up north where they were still eating each other when Pericles was giving speeches in Pnyka'

You do know that Prince Phillip was the fifth child of Prince Andrew, who was a member of the House of Glücksburg, right?

[Sarmatian]

I think Princes William and Harry garner significant attention. Also, if you will recall the massive attention the Queen got when she visited the USA a couple of years ago, I would say certain classes of people have a fascination with the whole package, including today's Royals. Incidentally, Zara Philips is considered something of a heroine.

My opinion is that tourists do not visit Buckingham Palace for the History. I think they visit it because of the prestige surrounding the current Royal family.

I do not know who Zara Philips is, sorry.

So the queen got the attention when she visited USA once. US president gets the attention anywhere he goes and he is not a monarch, but ok, I agree somewhat with you that royal families get some extra media attention. Problem is, that media attention could also bring potential scandals and hurt the image of the country...

As I've said already, I don't think that being a monarchy brings so much more revenues from tourism, and tourism is my trade, btw... When I visited all those places, I thought of queen Elizabeth, queen Victoria, Henry V, Henry VIII etc... and not about present British monarch. I'm not even sure what her name is. Elizabeth, maybe?

The point of being a monarchy is in symbolism and I'm not sure how good of a symbol that is. Someone holds a high position in a country because he/she was born into it and not because it was earned.

Also, having a head of state that isn't allowed to practice politics, means that those parts have to be done by someone else, which again gives more power to that corrupt government you've been talking about...

Of course, in British case, there are other, more practical benefits, like queen of UK is also a head of state of 16 other countries and head of the commonwealth. In British case, it may be best to keep it until some drastic changes, but doesn't change my general dislike of monarchies and what they symbolize...

[lars573]

Zara Philips is Princess Anne's daughter. The Princess Royal is bottom of the rung of HM the Queen's children. So she, and her kids, get shafted on spiffy titles.


But on the subject of royals here is a pic that always makes my head spin.

EDIT: Removed hotlinked picture. Please host it yourself. BG

George V of Great Britain and Czar Nicholas II of Russia. And they look more alike than my borther and I do.

[Furunculus]

I do not know who Zara Philips is, sorry.

So the queen got the attention when she visited USA once. US president gets the attention anywhere he goes and he is not a monarch, but ok, I agree somewhat with you that royal families get some extra media attention. Problem is, that media attention could also bring potential scandals and hurt the image of the country...

As I've said already, I don't think that being a monarchy brings so much more revenues from tourism, and tourism is my trade, btw... When I visited all those places, I thought of queen Elizabeth, queen Victoria, Henry V, Henry VIII etc... and not about present British monarch. I'm not even sure what her name is. Elizabeth, maybe?

The point of being a monarchy is in symbolism and I'm not sure how good of a symbol that is. Someone holds a high position in a country because he/she was born into it and not because it was earned.

Also, having a head of state that isn't allowed to practice politics, means that those parts have to be done by someone else, which again gives more power to that corrupt government you've been talking about...

Of course, in British case, there are other, more practical benefits, like queen of UK is also a head of state of 16 other countries and head of the commonwealth. In British case, it may be best to keep it until some drastic changes, but doesn't change my general dislike of monarchies and what they symbolize...

the monarchy is also intimately tied in to 600+ years of constitutional arrangements, you cannot just remove her without giving serious thought to how a future form of governance should function, and even then i doubt you will come up with anything better than what already exists. it as after all the product of 600+ years of refinement.

[Mooks]

Yes, disband the Royal Family. Then the UK will be one step closer to being the 52nd state of the United States of America.

Think im joking? Only a matter of time before you start calling the "boot" of the car by its proper name (trunk). Or drive in the right seat.

[Furunculus]

been happening for 50 years at least, an RAF airbase is properly called an airstation.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

We haven't started calling our Garrisons "Forts" yet though. Anyway, I thought RAFs were general reffered to as "Airfields". In point of fact they're usually just reffered to as RAF-, same for the Navy, HMS-, though the Marines have RMB-.

[Furunculus]

in may indeed be airfield, but i believe they were originally called air-stations, something that has faded with the prevalence of amercan culture.

[rasoforos]

The House has German and Danish, but their descent is marked largely from Christian III, King of Denmark, to my knowledge.



You do know that Prince Phillip was the fifth child of Prince Andrew, who was a member of the House of Glücksburg, right?

Yep. Sad isnt it?

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

Yep. Sad isnt it?

What? That he married the Queen and sacrificed a glittering naval career?

[rasoforos]

What? That he married the Queen and sacrificed a glittering naval career?

No, I m sure the queen was a fine piece of when she was young

Its just that the man is a walking joke.

I hate it when the media say he is 'Greek'. Not a drop of Greek blood in him whatsoever. German/Danish inbred dude with a whole lot of Altzheimers. Plain and simple.

[InsaneApache]

I hate it when the media say he is 'Greek'. Not a drop of Greek blood in him whatsoever. German/Danish inbred dude with a whole lot of Altzheimers. Plain and simple.

He was born at Mon Repos on Kerkyra. That makes him a Greek. I know that the mainland Greeks look upon Corfiats as a bit simple* but last time I looked it was still in Greece.

*As is Phil.

[rasoforos]

He was born at Mon Repos on Kerkyra. That makes him a Greek.

Never! They play cricket over there u know!

[InsaneApache]

Actually I do know. Still Greek though.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

He was born at Mon Repos on Kerkyra. That makes him a Greek. I know that the mainland Greeks look upon Corfiats as a bit simple* but last time I looked it was still in Greece.

*As is Phil.

I honestly think it's an act. He's worked out he can insult people with impunity and he constantly tries to outdo himself, he's not simple.

[rasoforos]

http://www.allgreatquotes.com/prince...p_quotes.shtml


I couldn't resist posting this

[Furunculus]

No, I m sure the queen was a fine piece of when she was young

Its just that the man is a walking joke.

I hate it when the media say he is 'Greek'. Not a drop of Greek blood in him whatsoever. German/Danish inbred dude with a whole lot of Altzheimers. Plain and simple.

Phil is awesome, i have a great deal of respect for him.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

Yep. Sad isnt it?

No, not at all.