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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2012 15:45:36 GMT
Okay, I was sitting at the nursing home today so I watched part of this. Having no interest in royalty of any kind, I find it all quite futile. However, the commentators impressed upon us the importance of the Queen to the people of the United Kingdom, and of course it was all quite obvious from the images shown. Naturally, 60 years is more than a lifetime for quite a few people, so I can easily understand how many people cannot imagine things being any other way. So, I do not want to annoy or distress any subjects of Her Majesty, but I really do wonder if you feel that she has any magic powers to hold the United Kingdom together and if she is a good investment for the taxpayers. I fully understand that citizens of a kingdom have no idea what it is like to be in a republic (and vice versa), but can any of you imagine things changing in the future? The Queen is obviously not immortal, and whatever king will emerge (Charles or William), I wonder if there will be as much support of either of them compared to "someone who has always been there." Examining the family tree of the British Royal Family, I am also a bit perplexed for the taxpayers, who finance a certain number of these people just for having been born. Shouldn't there be a referendum or something?
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Post by onlymark on Jun 3, 2012 17:06:39 GMT
I can't put it properly into words the reasons why, but I'm glad we have a Queen. Some of the minor Royals are a waste of time and space but the main Royal family are excellent value for money, if that's the criteria they are judged by. If you judge by entertainment value, by the prestige brought to the UK by the Queen, the nostalgia, the status, the thought that she is one of the things that bind the country together etc, then she is the best monarch in the world and has been for several decades.
We have to take the rough with the smooth with the royal family, but on balance I'd gladly pay them to continue. I tend to think that purely in monetary terms someone like Prince Charles, with his holdings in Cornwall, actually pay more into the country's coffers than takes out. If you add in all the unquantifiable things that most of the family bring to the UK, then we are definitely ahead by a long margin.
Anyway, in simple terms - Queen good - no Queen bad.
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Post by lola on Jun 4, 2012 13:35:15 GMT
As a bystander I agree with Mark.
I'm not fascinated with the royal family, would maybe at most cross a non busy street to see any of them, but feel that between the comfort she provides to some and the entertainment they all provide to the world they're clearly a bargain.
note to those in charge: Charles should get his turn.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Jun 4, 2012 21:08:41 GMT
I'm not a Royalist, but we need a Head of State and that person has to be apolitical and impartial. We're not cool enough to have an Obama and too entrenched in tradition to give up one of the institutions that makes us feel proud of who we are. It's a fine excuse for a party anyway...
I've always been uncomfortable with the idea of Monarchy, that an individual is born into a life of privilege simply because of who their parents were...but at the same time it's better than the alternative (President Blair? <shudder>). In Leicester there are street parties going on...people of many, many different ethnic origins are are joining to celebrate together..can't be a bad thing can it?
The jubilee concert is on atm and I must say that Liz looks pretty fed up, I don't think she's cracked a smile all night...but Phil is in hospital after yesterday's day on the river in the rain, so she's allowed....
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Post by lugg on Jun 5, 2012 7:38:25 GMT
We tried a republic in the 1700s - it did not work . Now the monarchy is mostly maintained by inertia A few years ago ( around the time of Diana's death) the monarchy was in deep doo . However recently popularity has increased again , following a strategic PR policy. I guess the recent jubilee has increased popularity again, not least because of the 4 day weekend in the UK . Mori polls usually suggest only about 20% of people would want to get rid of the monarchy and although the referendum in Australia was close run, 55% voted to stay with the monarchy. I used to think that the monarchy would die with this Queen , now I am not so sure. I think William will continue to modernise it. Yes................. and she also had to sit through the interminably boring and smug Paul McCartney
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Post by tod2 on Jun 5, 2012 8:25:10 GMT
My two cents worth.....just flew back from London on Friday and when I see the joy and excitement on the faces of the crowds lining the banks of the Thames etc., I feel a slight tug at my heart-strings and wish I had stayed to see this once in a lifetime extravaganza honoring Queen Elizabeth. Then on the other hand I think relaxing in front of my TV is probably a kinder option to my aching feet, sore limbs, and just dog-tiredness from being on the go for nigh on 6 weeks! I brought my bunting with me and have it strung up on my front gate - Yes, I do like the Royals and feel they are Britain's best source of a steady income for thousands of people who rely on the great attraction they deliver with their pomp and ceremony.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 5, 2012 15:56:05 GMT
Tod!!!! You're back, thank goodness! kiss kiss hug hug I think the fact that the Brits tolerate & even like monarchy is the oddest thing about a truly fascinating people. That said, I can't deny my fascination w/the British royals, starting with the royal family paper dolls I had as a little kid. she also had to sit through the interminably boring and smug Paul McCartney and nasal-voiced. Don't forget nasal-voiced.
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Post by tod2 on Jun 5, 2012 16:46:06 GMT
WoW! Thank You So Much! Had a great time and have .......thousands, yep thousands of photos to sort through before I can deliver my promise of a Photo-Essay. Usually I have written a trip report together with photos but this trip was long and I feel I will never see the end of it in writing so am opting for some class photos with short subtitles and information. I have missed my Anyport daily reviews of whats what in this space and probably will take one of those little iPad thingy's next time so I can check in regularly!
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Post by Kimby on Jun 5, 2012 19:08:52 GMT
Too bad Phillip had to miss the big to-do. Liz kept a stiff upper lip without him though, sharing the carriage with Charles and the Duchess.
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Post by patricklondon on Jun 5, 2012 19:51:24 GMT
No, not particularly. The job is a lot more passive than that: to be a focus for whatever the community wants itself to be.
Taxes don't really come into it, since the historic estates of the Crown and the Duchy of Cornwall have always paid in more to the government than parliament paid out for the monarchy (and now it has to be run on a fixed percentage of the Crown estates. It all depends whether you assume those estates would have passed to the government/taxpayer in their entirety at some point.
Yes, it could all be done cheaper, of course. Minimal pomp and circumstance, all the remaining working palaces turned over entirely to tourist attractions or luxury hotels, charities and good causes told they'll have to look to the open "celebrity" market to find someone to open things and lend a bit of glamour to their big events and so on. Would that also mean less public recognition, locally or nationally, of people doing good works of all sorts, less notice taken of us in international diplomacy? I don't know.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2012 11:33:12 GMT
So, will Charles ever be king? Has he made his intentions known?
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Post by hwinpp on Jun 6, 2012 12:55:05 GMT
I've never asked myself that question. I think it's just natural that he'll be crowned.
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Post by Kimby on Jun 6, 2012 14:49:13 GMT
London is getting some spectacular PR this summer, what with the Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics Summer Games coming up.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2012 14:51:29 GMT
20 years ago it was a given that Charles would become king, but now he's well over 60 and would probably prefer to just relax with Camilla and grow vegetables, so might he not just pass his turn?
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Jun 6, 2012 16:27:20 GMT
20 years ago it was a given that Charles would become king, but now he's well over 60 and would probably prefer to just relax with Camilla and grow vegetables, so might he not just pass his turn? I think that Prince Charles should follow on from his Mother. There are a people calling for him to step down in favour of William, but I don't think that any of the royal family are actually considering that happening. I've grown up assuming that Charles will be the next King (when I was 5 I wanted to marry him myself)...he's a good bloke actually...MiL met many of the Royals as she did a lot of charity work...and he was a firm favourite of hers. She was a very good judge of character so that's good enough for me. Queenie isn't going anywhere tho...so there's no point worrying about it. I do wonder what title Camilla will have tho...we already have a Princess Royal.
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Post by mich64 on Jun 6, 2012 18:30:18 GMT
Cherry, who is responsible for giving her a new title? Has it been the Queen who decided the titles that have been given to her children and grandchildren?
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Post by onlymark on Jun 6, 2012 20:00:16 GMT
It isn't compulsory for her to get a title at all. It's down to the Queen, with advice from the Privy Council who will basically say what titles are available and suitable if the Queen decides to bestow one - though Camilla probably will, though a minor one than sounds good to the layman but means very little in the whole scheme of things. Bear in mind she is currently the 'Duchess of Cornwall' anyway, so maybe not a lot would change.
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Post by onlymark on Jun 6, 2012 20:03:00 GMT
BTW, the wife of a King is called a Queen Consort but in Camilla's case she might well be called the Princess Consort.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2012 20:22:01 GMT
Did the flotilla already happen??? Where's the pics all you Brits!!!!!
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Post by lugg on Jun 6, 2012 20:52:46 GMT
Here you go Casi - montage of the best bits
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 7, 2012 3:59:19 GMT
That was fun. I usually approve of the Queen's outfits, as being appropriate for her age, figure, & station, but that white get-up looked like something the Pope would wear.
The bells barge was the best!
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Post by lugg on Jun 7, 2012 7:48:00 GMT
She looked very pale in it ... and got paler towards the end The bells barge was great was n't it ;D
Here is one of the performances from the Jubilee concert -
and although I am not a Madness fan - I love the special effects on Buck Pal during their performance
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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2012 8:24:53 GMT
Yes, I thought that was a great effect when I saw it on television!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2012 10:44:06 GMT
Oh,wow!! Thank you Lugg!! Now that's something I would love to have seen,all those fabulous water vessels and their formation, outstanding, far more regal in appearance and effect than anything else I've seen. Yes, the Queen's white outfit really did look awful on her. As an aside, I adored Camilla's hat and kept trying to get a better glimpse of it.
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Post by tod2 on Jun 7, 2012 11:04:23 GMT
Bixa & Lugg - Guess who got to see the Bell's Barge before it rang out over the flotilla? Will reveal all in my photo-essay..... Kimby - Certainly is being spiffied up with wet paint everywhere!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2012 14:14:47 GMT
Bixa & Lugg - Guess who got to see the Bell's Barge before it rang out over the flotilla? Will reveal all in my photo-essay..... Kimby - Certainly is being spiffied up with wet paint everywhere! Oh!!! You are a PRINCESS at the very least, to share with us pics of this !! Am so amped!! (And,welcome back,you were missed!)
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Post by Kimby on Jun 7, 2012 14:20:22 GMT
Kimby - Certainly is being spiffied up with wet paint everywhere! Even if the paint wasn't fresh, with yesterday's weather it was certainly "wet"!
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Post by lugg on Jun 7, 2012 17:43:25 GMT
Hi Tod - really looking forward to seeing your pics and posts. ;D
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Post by patricklondon on Jun 8, 2012 18:55:09 GMT
I stayed in to watch on TV, given the weather, but the flotilla carried on right by us on the way to disperse Greenwich. Quite a few of us turned out to catch a glimpse, even in the dismal weather (a few people had to be taken off the river with hypothermia):
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Post by Kimby on Jun 8, 2012 19:37:37 GMT
I think that Prince Charles should follow on from his Mother. There are a people calling for him to step down in favour of William, but I don't think that any of the royal family are actually considering that happening. I've grown up assuming that Charles will be the next King (when I was 5 I wanted to marry him myself)...he's a good bloke actually...MiL met many of the Royals as she did a lot of charity work...and he was a firm favourite of hers. She was a very good judge of character so that's good enough for me. Yes, unless the queen lives and reigns 15 more years, William is too callow to be King. Despite his charm and good looks. Give him time to mature and let Charles have his turn. Heaven knows he's waited patiently long enough.
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