Blog: Make the royal wedding the last act of the monarchy
Wednesday 4th May 2011, 6:01AM BST.
Blog: You know what, stuff it, I’ll pull my clenched fist from inside my face and say what every British republican should be screaming right now, writes Peter Finch.
Let that wedding – the joining of a happy young couple used as a shameless royal PR exercise – be the last of a decrepit household which still sucks on the life blood of a society which once hoped to banish it forever.
I’ve never been so frustrated to see millions of people blinded by those who would take away sight; to witness new life being breathed into an animal whose wounds should have seen it die centuries ago.
The royal wedding for me was incredibly sad. It showed how a depressingly large number of people can be swept up in a TV romance and lose complete sight of the travesty unfolding before them.
We pay for the royal family to sit in palaces and swim in riches stolen from lost generations, and then praise them.
We fawn on the Queen and beg her to take millions of pounds each year to do a “hard job”, and then victimise benefit claimants.
We sacrifice masses of cash to put on Windsor weddings when divides between the rich and the poor continue to grow, and yet, and yet, we cheer like idiots at a circus.
I heard it again and again throughout the sickening commentary that the wedding affirmed the connection between the royal family and the British people.
It did. It proved that we are still stupid enough to allow them to get away with it. It proved that, however far we have travelled since Magna Carta, a ruling elite still straddle across our senses and get away with. They must be laughing their crowned heads off.
You cannot possibly tell me that this pathetic, snivelling reluctance to dismantle the monarchy is morally justifiable in the 21st century?
Arguments for keeping the Windsors never stand up to scrutiny. How could they? We are not totally thick.
Just maybe a bit of hope rests with the “common” bride (the very word makes my skin crawl). Maybe she could convince the ruling classes to stop ripping us off, but somehow I doubt it.
The only way to secure change is for our elected leaders to strike the proverbial blows, but again something tells me Boris Johnson won’t be storming the palace anytime soon.
It’s depressing as well. Because of this wedding I’m swimming against the tide. People see that meeting of lips on the balcony as a moment in history, when the royal family became intertwined with us common folk.
Hopefully this insane appreciation for something so blatantly condesending will pass and we can get some sense of reality.
Author Sue Townsend once said: “The monarchy is finished. It was finished a while ago, but they’re still making the corpses dance.”
We just need to wake up and turn off the music.
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It’s been a big rolling comic soap opera for 30 years. Note for psychologist: Why do we feel the need to deify and hold these cuckoos aloft as being somehow of greater worth than us mortals?
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Another excellent piece by the “anti-Shirley” – much closer to what I’ve heard people saying of the last few days than the sycophantic drivel that’s polluted the rest of the media recently.
This week’s Sunday Times had nothing but Royal Wedding sludge until page 19….
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Time to bring the guillotine across the channel, methinks…
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You sad people!
It was a joyful, spectacular occasion enjoyed by millions across the world. No-one was killed and no-one was hurt. How often can we say that about something spread across the media?
The deluded individuial who wrote this piece of nonsense and those who felt the need to comment in likewise curmudgeonly fashion, probably think they even paid for the event.
How sad. Maybe they should emigrate some third world republic where nothing wonderful ever takes place.
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there would’nt be a third world if it was not for the greed of money & power over human life.
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Are you familiar with the phrase “bread and circuses”?
At least the Romans dished out bread as well…..
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Who’s sad?
let’s add deluded to your particular description shall we?
Who do you think paid for the police? Tax payer!
Who do you think paid for the extra day off? Employers!
I suppose we ought to be grateful the royal parasites paid for their own food, but wouldnt be suprised if it ended up being paid for by the public again.
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Please remember that Police pay taxes as well….. Effectively part paying for their own wages, especially will all the Government “cuts”, or should I say “slashes”.
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Well said, what a wonderful day once again proving the UK is the only country that could bring us such a well organised and stunning show of organisation. I for one loved it. Even my less than royalist partner loved it. My one hope is that Charles doesn’t come to the throne but that WIlliam takes up the crown next and I think we will find that we have a more modern thinking royalty, who over time will take more responsibility for their costs.
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I agree with Stu, and so do millions of others, it was lovely. Of all the things that money gets spent on, the royal family is not one I particularly object to. Besides many of them do work, and/or do a lot for charitiy, and many many people found this wedding a nice respite from all the bad news. The people have spoken and they like having a royal family, so get over it!
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Essentially, I’m with you, and the three who’ve commented so far, pretty much all the way. I’m not so adverse to the current Queen, though, because, for nearly 60 years, she’s (mostly) managed to do what a ceremonial, unelected Head of State should do, ie stay above politics.
But here, I think, is the real reason we should get rid of our monarchy. It’s also one I think you should have at least touched on, rather than telling everyone again how nauseated you were by the wedding : her successors, Charles certainly, and possibly William too, are inacapable of being non-political.
Look at Charles, peddling his cranky ideas about food production, alternative medicine etc and using his contacts in high places to stall progress. Even if his ideas were right (and one or two do sound fair enough), he must not be allowed to abuse his position in order to see them given prominence. Not as a prince and absolutely not as a king.
Nick Cohen wrote a brilliant article on this in Sunday’s Observer.
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Completely agree with this article… the best bit of writing I have come across in a long time!
Spot the “sun reader” in the comment above (stu)
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People voted with their feet in favour of the Monarchy.
And those who always ask for more democracy don’t like the outcome.
Why don’t you republicans look for a new people?
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“People voted with their feet in favour of the Monarchy”
Could you remind exactly when that was please – and why we’ve never been allowed to vote on the issue at the ballot box?
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Approximately 60% of the UK population (BARB viewing figures) didn’t watch the wedding on TV.
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A very good piece, however, there will never be a Republic in our lifetime, and I for one don’t mind.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion, unfotunately, no matter how you portray Joe Public, the majority are still happy with the status-quo and they won’t be swayed whatever you may think!
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I’ve never read The Sun in my life.
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I can quite believe that stu, judging from your first post, you’re still into the Beano and Dandy, fantasy land.
This obnoxious grovelling to the royals is beyond belief who the hell voted them in? The only reason they’re there is because the ancestors had the biggest army, hardly a reason for all this worshiping.
I would love to see the REAL figures for what they cost the UK each year, and, how much they generate from tourism. France does not have a royal ruler, or Germany yet they do very well from the tourist trade. Oh, and let’s not forget that other little country, America I think it’s called. All without royals and all doing very nicely thank you.
Now another rich young woman has got her nose in the royal trough, and before long the pair off them will be breeding, more snouts in the trough.
About time the UK got real and dumped these dis-functional, pampered, overpaid, under performing parasites.
God, I enjoyed that.
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“God, I enjoyed that.”
There, who said us republicans don’t know how to enjoy ourselves?!?
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ha ha loved it!get rid of the royals they cost us all to much money.they should turn buck house and westminster in to flats for the homeless.get rid of all the pen pushers in parlement . this country will be so much better of!woohoo
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I don’t wish Charles any ill but as King he’ll be a disaster, a nobody with poor street credibility. Above all else, the Monarchy should consist of people who are admired and respected and to whom one can look up as a good example to others. Apart from the Queen and Anne, the next lot don’t add up to much. So let’s give Willie the Kid and his missus a chance to make good the recent past history of their peers. If they don’t succeed then maybe I’d quit the Cavaliers and join the Roundheads.
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The simple answer to keep all sides happy is to retain the monarchy but abolish the civil list.
They can fund themselves
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Take away the civil list AND the fabulous wealth they’ve built up over the centuries – surely it would fit in well with Cameron’s Big Society plans – they could be commercially sponsored…..
….can’t you just imagine the hallowed tones of Nicholas Witchell – “and there’s the Queen, looking particularly radiant in her fluorescent pink shell suit, with the logo of her sponsors, Andrex toilet paper…”?
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Maybe they should set themselves up as a charity funded by donations. I wonder how many donors they would attract? The government would no doubt prefer to keep them on the payroll. Now that religion is no longer the opiate of the masses the odd royal wedding or birth has often come in useful to bury bad news.
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Not everyone likes the Royal way of life, but they are a constant part of British life. They do a great deal to bring visitors to the country, and after the wedding should provide a much needed boost to the economy. The wedding was a much needed ‘good news’ story.
Even if we were to become a Republic, there would be people complaining that they hadn’t voted for the President. The idea that Republicans would prefer a President Cameron, Clegg, Brown or Blair seems quite ridiculous when the UK is divided on the current state of politics – the debate would just continue.
The Royal family costs less than £1 per person per year. Why don’t you Republicans just turn your TV or radio off when you hear some Royal news – I’m sure you’ll soon recoup your losses by saving electricity! ;)
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I’m surprised to see this in the Star, but I agree with every word.
The royals are not above politics, they favour one party quite openly, and they are spending taxpayers’ money on their own agenda. Let them become commoners, then they can support whatever they like.
There is now an active republican campaign, and I encourage everyone to support it.
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Here speaks a man who clearly wants his name to be known by simply ‘going against the grain’…. Encouraging us applaud ‘benefit claimants’ and belittle our heritage??? What a useless, pathetic piece of journalism!
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Here speaks a man who is obviously very au fait with “useless, pathetic journalism”.
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Ahh the politics of envy is still alive and well in the grey bitter corners that host the republican hordes. I would have loved to have sat down with the sour and jealous, such prominant anti monarchists Gerry Adams perhaps or George Galloway maybe, to watch the wedding but sadly I was out with the rest of the neighbourhood enjoying myself, Union Flags and Sunshine! Long live the Monarchy and God Save the Queen!
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What a miserable bunch you are!
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My My, So many killjoys on here today.
They know the price of everything and the value of nothing.
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Yawn…Peter Finch Yawn.
Get over it will you? The vast majority of people in this country are perfectly happy with the Constitutional Monarchy because it works. It may not be a perfect system and certainly not one you would design from scratch but it works just fine all the same.
This last few days must have been hell for all you left leaning Republicans. The other 80% of the population have been proud to be British, proud of our armed forces and proud of our royal family. We’ve been enjoying ourselves. You should try it!
God Save The Queen
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The true cost to UK plc of the Royal Wedding has been put at £6 billion. But that’s a fraction of what those royal parasites are robbing from our pockets.
On the order of the Palace, the slime-mould Tory government has just torn up the 250 year old Civil List agreement.
Instead of the List, the Windsors will live off the £200 million a year profits from the Crown Estate which was forfeited by George III.
The Crown Estate owns the freehold to some of the poshest bits of London, almost all of our foreshores, and 12 miles of territorial waters around the UK.
Those territorial waters are where thousands of windfarm turbines are sited, with thousands more planned for the future.
Through the latest Tory swindle, the Windsors will earn rent from every wind turbine in territorial waters, the wayleave rent from the cabling to every turbines, and a slice of the profits from the generated electricity.
No wonder Prince Charles is for ever bleating on about windfarms! They are going to make him the richest monarch for centuries.
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Could the Shropshire Star maybe review its blogger selection criteria to weed out people that want to vent their spleen on topics that are aimed at deliberately inflaming readers?
Over the years Peter Finch has frequently been a voice of reason in this comments section, he has obviously gone completely off the rails on this subject. And a few anti-royalist, or pro-republican buddies, call them what you will as I don’t believe the two are the same, have jumped on the band wagon.
It is extremely insulting to suggest that all the people who enjoyed the royal wedding were swept up in the TV romance and basically drinking the pro-monarchy kool-aid. There are a great many (dare I suggest a majority) thinking people that enjoyed the day and recognise the Royal Family for what they are.
On “the day”, yes the taxpayer funded the security, yes employers had to shut the doors for a day, but are you so short-sighted that you can’t see the flip-side and look at the benefits. Some employers had full hotel rooms and restaurants, trains, parking, supermarkets, pubs,…… the list goes on …from the millions of people who either partied or visited our green and pleasant land and spent a lot of money. The tax payer got his slice too from VAT and profits from selling tea towels, mugs, condoms, …..
I happen to live in the US and have done so for a long time. Your comments on the US dong fine are completely misguided. Because they don’t have a Royal Family they have invented their own in the Kennedy’s and, generally, they love the British Royal Family. The coverage of the wedding was endless for weeks before the day and is continuing now. Do you think that has an impact on where Americans might choose to go on vacation this year?
And, to suggest Peter Finch is a journalist is an insult to all workers in the profession.
Rant over. Peace.
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Yes, abolish the monarchy – and while we’re at it we could merge Britain into a marxist-inspired European superstate and even ask that nice Mr Blair to rule as president for life.
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What’s interesting about this piece and the response is just how unpleasant, nasty and intolerant the anti-royalist are. If they could supply a rational, cogent, intellectual argument for republicanism then perhaps they could be taken seriously. The truth is:
Polls have shown 80% of citizens support or at least tolerate the monarchy, preferring it to any alternative.
The income from tourism alone far outstrips the public cost of the Monarchy
The Royal wedding was a fantastic occasion, showing Britain at it’s very best – pomp, ceremony, tolerance and unity.
And I’m not even a Royalist – just a simple democrat!
1
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‘The income from tourism alone far outstrips the public cost of the Monarchy’
Not a verifiable truth. Mr Finch and others have regularly asked for evidence for this claim. I’ve seen none given yet. Meanwhile, France and Austria, to name just two former monarchies, now republics, do perfectly well out of tourists visiting what used to be their royal palaces.
‘The Royal wedding was a fantastic occasion, showing Britain at it’s very best – pomp, ceremony, tolerance and unity.’
That’s your opinion, not the truth.
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As a resident in the US, Phil the Greek hit the nail on the head. I have had numerous people comment on how the British put on a fantastic show for the Royal Wedding. Old and young alike.
Go an Google “Royal Wedding Economic Effect” and you will get an idea of the impact of that one event let alone the day to day draw of the Royal Family.
While you are at it look for the most popular tourist sites in Britain – mainly focused around the Royal Family.
Who owns the Palaces in France? The state. Who owns them in Britain? The Royal Family. If the monarchy is dismantled who will still own them?
The Royal family will shut up shop and tell the tourists and republicans to shove it.
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“While you are at it look for the most popular tourist sites in Britain – mainly focused around the Royal Family.”
No existing royal palace or castle is even in the top 15.
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Go an Google “Royal Wedding Economic Effect” and you will get an idea of the impact of that one event let alone the day to day draw of the Royal Family.
I’ve just done what you suggest and found a few old links about how much money the tourist tat trade were hoping to make – what was your point exactly??
Unless you can give us some facts and figures instead of your usual monarchist grovelling why don’t you just shut up??
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‘As a resident in the US…’
Americans love our royal family. They love them so much that 230 years ago they fought a War of Independence to get rid of them, then wrote a Constitution, to which they are still 100% devoted and which effectively declares that they will forever be citizens, not someone else’s subjects.
But they find it so cute and so quaint that, 230 years after they threw off those shackles themselves, we are still waving our little Union Jacks, bowing our knees and generally being subservient. I can’t, right now, think of anything which makes me feel so patronised on behalf of my country.
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More Facts for you Republicans:
The cost to maintain the royal family today is 40 million pounds per year.
The cost to maintain the royal family today is 40 million pounds per year.
But the revenue paid to the UK from the royal lands is 200 million.
200 million in revenue subtract 40 million in salary costs equals 160 million pounds in profit.
That’s right: The United Kingdom earns 160 million pounds in profit, every year from the Royal Family.
So stop all your moaning about the Royal family and how much they cost and how worthless they are. The Royal Family is Great for Great Britain.
Are the anti-Royalists so bitter because of the sour grapes and humble pie they have to consume when they’re
out-manouevered by superior argument?
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Well said.
Alas, the pro-Republicans will continue to argue to the contrary because they don’t know when they are beaten.
Like many a politician they will stoop to name calling and childishness. Just read some of the other comments.
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You royalists really are as think as planks aren’t you?
Let’s say, just hypothetically, that all the land the royals are so kind as to pay, (much reduced), taxes on, was actually OURS, instead of having been stolen by a load of germans.
Just reading the grovelling ignorant and down right pathetic comments on here of all of you sucking up to people who wouldnt offer you a rope were you drowning is enough to make me vomit.
Sooner we string the lot of these parasites up the better!
And for you snivelling mongrels: when the time comes let’s see how committed you are to the continuation of the monarchy.
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There you go, as if I didn’t need to be proved right. Andy and his vitriolic rant!
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What a disgraceful piece of writing.
I celebrate the marriage of the descendants of ancient tyrants to people who don’t object to marrying those who can trace their genealogy to mediaeval bullies.
That’s romance, that is – being able to overlook stuff like that and that their lives and the lives of their children are now ruined all in the name of love.
If you can’t find beauty in that then you have no soul.
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I totally agree with this article.
For some 6 months now we have had this utter garabage rammed down our throats & expected to cowtow to those believed to me more superior to us & their fairytale wedding.
I for one found my own mind & boycotted the whole ridiculous vomit inducing farce.
I notice that Dame Shirley Tart wrote paragraphs of sycophancy & gave no-one a right to reply over the past few days. What’s up Shirley?. Can you not comprehend that some folk don’t subscribe to your little world of fairytale & pretty garden parties?.
Well us ‘commoners’have a voice too & that voice is VIVA REPUBLIC!.
Incidentally The Queen Mother left a shed load of debt & was alledgedly involved in a plot with Lord Mountbatten to over throw a Laour Prime Minister because they didn’t like a working class government.
Still she was lovely eh?.
No I didn’t mourn her passing.
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If you abolish the Civil List, you would have to give the income from the Crown Estates back to the Royal family.
The Crown Estates, Royal owned land, contributes about £200 million to the Treasury each year – £1.9 Billion over the last ten years.
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“We fawn on the Queen and beg her to take millions of pounds each year to do a “hard job”, and then victimise benefit claimants.”
- Give me a break. Do you really think that there would be one quid less spent on public ceremony if Britain ceased to be a monarchy? Republics tends to be worse than monarchies at that sort of thing.
“It proved that, however far we have traveled since Magna Carta, a ruling elite still straddle across our senses and get away with.”
- More naivety: show me one monarchy-become-republic where the “ruling elite” are not just as entrenched (or more so) than they were before.
That is why Britain will remain a monarchy. Republicanism has had its day.
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Spot on! When given the chance to rule, republicans and their leftist followers are the biggest power-mad tyrants of all.
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Face it Peter, yours is a minority view. Have you travelled much? If not, I suggest you should. The world perception of UK plc is actually quite astonishingly favourable. It comes as quite a surprise. Before you suggest that it would be far better without the monarchy, you need to remove your blinkers and canvas a wider view. Personally, I think it’s time that the vast, silent 80 per cent told the vexacious 20 per cent to put a sock in it. You don’t like the Monarchy? Too bad.
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Couldnt make it up!
“The world perception of uk plc is astonishingly favourable”?
You are astonishingly stupid, pal.
People generally dont go around blowing up those who they love, or burning their flags or vandalising embassies, or shooting at their soldiers…
In fact, our closest “allies” only just about tolerate the monarchy – Australia for example.
So do your credibility a favour and zip it.
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And you, Andy, are astonishingly rude.
Could you provide a brief list of our closest allies, maybe the top 5, and share your findings on how they view the British monarchy with your sources?
And maybe explain your point on flag burning, loved one exploding, soldier shooting,.. coz it really doesn’t appear to make any sense.
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Andy, everyone is entitled up their opinion and it’s interesting to read these threads and ‘listen’ to people’s points of view. But your posts are pure insulting venom. There is no need to be personally rude and use these boards to offload your hatred: just comment without such viciousness, and we’ll all be happy enough with that.
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Andy, if you really don’t like where you live and are that unhappy with being British, then may I suggest you emigrate!
Do your vitiolic rants know no bounds?
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abolishing royalty will not save anything at all the money will be dispersed–as usual
to pakistan ect –and the elite among us
certainly joe public will not see it
dont forget the rulers of yore–living off the land whilst the pesants starved and were persecuted nothing changes we are all survival animals at heart
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what I find most shocking in this thread is the people stating that the German tourist industry survives without a Royal family.
Who in their right mind goes on holiday to Germany?
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Why for what reason? what would we the country gain? . Leave alone they are a tourist attraction who generate money.
And if it was put to the vote they would be I an sure retained as those who appose would be sat at home watching the jeremy kyle.
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It’s the buildings and heritage that are the tourist attractions not Royalty themselves.
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To all you would be Republicans, look at Australia. They have voted to stay in the Commonwealth with the Queen as the Head of the Commonwealth. The Americans may have a President but they wish they had our history of Royalty. The Canadians, even the French Canadians, another Commonwealth member love the Royal family etc.etc.etc.
I guess what I am saying is there will not be a Republic in this country in our lifetime or future generations.
So carry on moaning as much as you like, it won’t change a thing apart from your blood pressure levels!
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Well, the royalist lapdogs have come out in force.
A few simple FACTS people.
Your future king talks to flowers.
Your future king is a proven adulterer.
Your future king wants to be re-born as one of Camilla’s tampons.
If you wish to fawn on such a pathetic specimen then you should all seek professional guidance in the very near future.
Peter Finch, the voice of reason, well said sir, and well done Star for printing it.
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One simple fact Colin.
You are in the minority and I suggest you seek guidance, as you appear to be suffering from acute denial, anger and acceptance.
The Royal family are here to stay so either accept it or move on.
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I thank the powers that be, that I am in the minority Woody. Perish the though that I could ever join the ranks of you royalists. Your blinkered views are, to put it mildly, mind numbing. I suppose you were one of the cerebrally challenged who actually donated money to the royals when Windsor castle caught fire a few years ago. The nerve of Mrs. queen, asking US for money to restore that place, no way.
Moved on I have, to Greece, where the TV stations and news channels do not tell us in great detail every time one of them breaks wind.
Happy fawning.
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So from your new home in Greece, what is it that keeps you commenting on a provincial newspaper website in sunny Shropshire? A deep seated hatred of everything British or a fond recollection of your life here?
You presumably think we should treat our Royal Family in the same way the Greeks treated King Constantine? If history is an indicator of the future, think again.
If you would direct me to the source of the wind breaking incident i would appreciate it.
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Yet another person who assumes they know everyones thoughts both collectively and individually.
It is up to the individual how they support the Monarchy, be it by visiting Royal Palaces, attending along with 1000′s of others events such as the Royal Wedding or just being, lord forbid, patriotic.
I suggest that it is you who is blinkered, look at the bigger picture and stop stereotyping.
You continue to enjoy Greece whilst you can, it’s about to leave the Euro monetary system and it’s economy is about to get even worse. Unlike the UK economy which did very well by the Royal Wedding and associated tourism for the future.
Happy digging!!
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That’s your response to those who disagree with your superior opinions, Colin? Ri-i-i-ght………..
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Yep—spot on Bob.
Having said that, if, heaven forbid, I ever had to meet your future king, I could never lower myself to bow to him and call him your highness. Just repeat those two words a few times, your highness, how banal and outdated such a form of address is to someone who has his aspirations for the afterlife. I’m afraid he’d have to settle for “hi charlie” and an uncontrollable outburst of laughter.
Oh, by the way, he’s got enormous ears too. Might as well stick that in, nobody else has yet.
I’m off to have a natter to my geraniums now.
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As this thread continues it seems the anti-Royalists are descending into bile, vitriol and venom. Even name-calling and telling royal supporters to “shut up!”
I guess that when the intellect has failed and one’s argument is soundly defeated then rancour is all that remains!
Sadly the Shropshire Star has diminished it’s own integrity by publishing a malicious, splenetic rant more suited to a tabloid newspaper. Perhaps in future the Star could raise the level of debate a little and engage us on a higher plane?
I actually agree with one or two of the points made by the anti-Royals – but not their hate and malice. Lighten-up guys! It’s possible to robustly disagree, shake hands and go for a pint!
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The intellect has failed eh?
Pot and kettle come to mind when being accused of intellectual short comings by sheep…
Go back to your soaps you royalists, and xfactor and all the other brain rotting drivel that helps to ensure compliance to the status quo.
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So there it is, our green and pleasant land has just witnessed another Civil War (of words). Got to give credit to you Roundheads, you fought hard but your weapons were very blunt: all you had were insults, invective, aggression, and dumb, grim miserabilism.
The Cavaliers were far better equipped: bouyed by overwhelming public opinion and armed with incisive intelligence, quick wit, decency, goodwill, patriotism, loyalty, integrity and a glint in the eye, victory was inevitable. The Monarchy is secure for at least a couple of centuries. Roundheads, your boys took a hell of a beating!
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Your stereotyping is laughable at best, ill thought through and has resulted in name calling.
Yet another poor attempt at a mature debate…..3/10!
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My point entirely Phil. Andy is VERY VERY angry :)
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In response to all the charming comments under #22.
James – without looking to hard – most visited by tourists coming to Britain:
1. Trafalgar Square
2. Tower Bridge
3. London museums
4. Buckingham Palace
5. Oxford Street
6. The London Eye
7. Windsor Castle
8. Edinburgh Castle
9. Stonehenge
10. Globe Theatre, London
Rob, Telford – value of the day from a PwC study – 107M GBP. Go to pwc.com and take a look.
James – being subservient is largely a state of mind. When were you laste required to grovel to the monarchy? You are obviously carrying a monster chip on your shoulder handed down to you by your subsvervient predecessors and chose to rant about it here. Get over it and get on with your life.
Call yourself Citizen James, see how much difference it makes in your day. Assuming you are a worker and honest taxpayer like millions of others, you’ll still get up in the morning & go to work, pay your taxes and bitch about the bloated government that is spending it in ways you dont’ approve.
Life’s tough, buy a helmet.
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Different list to the one I found. Personally I don’t use the ‘they cost us money’ argument when discussing the monarchy as I feel a verifiable cost/benefit analysis in purely financial terms is impossible. For similar reasons, I am sceptical of the royalist ‘they bring money in’ argument.
As for your other two points, the first makes little sense and assumes an understanding of my motivations you don’t have ; you don’t know me after all. All I’ll say is that I find the use of titles when addressing a member of the royal family subservient, I find bowing and curtseying suservient and I find strangers waving flags when two (perfectly pleasant, it seems) young people get married subservient.
As for the second point, we’ll probably have to agree to disagree. I believe the language we use IS important for reasons too complex to go into here. If you don’t, fair enough, and your explanation is a reasonable one.
My real reson for wishing to abolish the monarchy is given in No 5 – essentially I believe we can’t have an unelected Head of State with political influence. And Charles, I think, would try to wield such influence.
I’m getting on with my life just fine, thanks. All I’ve been doing here is trying to engage in a debate, just like you it seems. And I do share the wish that it could have been conducted with a little more civility – on both sides.
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…… shakes James’ hand and walks away.
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Thousands of families in this country are struggling with financial burdens and trying to keep their heads above water, the Government are cutting police, NHS and whatever else they can, and millions of people are struggling to keep jobs. In the next breath, we wave little flags in support of this fairytale wedding that most of us have forgotton about already. I must say that there IS something in what all the anti-royalists have said that rings true…
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Yes Andy you’re absolutely right, most of us are struggling to cope in the current economic situation.
This is a direct consequence of our most recent experience of Socialism. The Blair/Brown regime was catastrophic for Britain as they plunged us all into massive debt with their reckless and dangerous public spending sprees. They damn near lost us our economic sovereignty.
The anti-Royals hold a Socialist/neo-Marxist perspective. This is precisely why the majority prefer to reject the idea of a Republic. Lilibet expressed this for us when she refused to allow Blair or Brown any where near the wedding. God bless maj!
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I always thought that the Left and the Right agree on this point…hereditary isn’t a basis for anything good. The Right support Social Darwinism. Right-wing Monarchism is an oxymoron.
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I am just loving some of these exchanges. I am not a royalist and made a point of avoiding the live wedding coverage by enjoying some of the majestic sights of Snowdonia. I wish the royals no ill will but the level of snivelling and grovelling by some of our more renowned journalists drove me to despair. In fairness the Shropshire Star too was guilty of taking fawning to new heights, but nonetheless it needs to be commended for publishing this blog and the ensuing debate.
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Oh dear, the ignorant do like to display their ignorance in bucket loads these days don’t they. Whether you like it or not we are a country rich in the tradition of monarchy. It is part of what we are and what makes us different in Europe. Abolishing the monarchy would not solve the econnomic problems of this country. It would make us all culturally poorer. The so called “Republicans” are merely shouting in the safe knowledge they will never actually deal with the problems we would all have if we abolished an institution that has evolved over centuries. It is important we keep it going.
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Two words seem to have gained new meanings during this debate :
The first is the word fact, an example of which, according to Phil the Greek, is that ‘the Royal Wedding was a fantastic occasion showing Britain at its very best…’
I’d always thought a statement like that was merely an opinion.
Now Ian is using the words ignorant and ignorance to mean ‘holding a different opinion to me’. Because, Ian, your post above doesn’t give one fact (in that word’s traditional sense) of which republicans/royal sceptics have ‘displayed their ignorance’ of. All it does is give your opinion. A perfectly valid opinion it is too. But I’m troubled to think I’m ignorant just because I happen to disagree with it.
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I must admit I was quite annoyed that we were given no right to reply to Shirley Tart.
Most people I have talked to had no intention of wasting a day watching the wedding on TV but actually found themselves drawn in to the spectacle. Like a well publicised Eastenders I imagine.
I only saw a tiny bit due to being too busy but in general I think like with the siting of the Millennium Dome, the Olympics, etc. etc. those of us who do not live in Wales, Scotland, N.Ireland or London find it hard to feel acknowledged as part of the UK.
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