Diamond Jubilee

[JB2005]

Today marks 60 years since the accession of Queen Elizabeth II, making her only the second monarch to reach that milestone...

Obviously for some The Monarchy is a divisive topic. But personally I think that whatever attacks can be launched against the monarchy as an institution, there is little that can be said against the Queen personally.

I'm curious which side of the fence the contingent on the BBS who are subjects of her majesty (I keep typing "British" then remembering the other 15 realms!) feel about the subject?

 

[Holdfast]

I'm not going to get into a political argument (I find that intensely boring as no-one's opinion changes; it just leads to tired fingers) but just for posterity's sake, my personal perspective is that the Monarchy should definitely remain.

On a purely economic level, it's cost-effective national branding/advertising. On a political level, Constitutional Monarchy blends a lot of systemic advantages with very few practical disadvantages, so there's no real representational need for change. On an emotional level, I like the tradition and the associated pomp & circumstance.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

The British sense of humour would be nothing without decent material for comedy. I say keep the monarchy.

 

[Miss Chicken]

I can't really answer so I choose "I have no opinion"

Though I wouldn't mind seeing Australia become a republic I don't feel strongly about it and I have no opinion on whether Britain or other Commonwealth countries besides Australia should keep her as head of state.

 

[Deranged Nasat]

On an emotional level, I like the tradition and the associated pomp & circumstance.

The British sense of humour would be nothing without decent material for comedy. I say keep the monarchy.

This is basically how I feel; a rather low-key appreciation if not any true interest. I don't have any strong attachment to the monarchy, but I do feel it's an important aspect of the "national flavour" and culture of the British, so I'd like to see it stick around, I suppose. If public opinion really changed enough to want it out and gone, I'm not going to fight to keep it, but to be honest I've never seen how the subject really lends itself to strong opinions either way. The monarchy is just...there. You can make points against it and you can make points in favour of it. As it is, I don't feel that the balance is tipped in favour of either, nor are any of the points weighted enough to really get me worked up.

Altogether now!:

Once I was adored; I was glorified!
All I had to do is wave and they were on my side!
But then we had so many scandals that their sympathy was lorst!
Now I have to pay my taxes, and one's children are divorced!

....

I will survive!
One will survive!
Oh as long as Charles is next in line I've GOT to stay alive!
They can tax me, I don't care!
I've got lots of cash to spare!
And I'll survive!
One will survive!

 

[MHT1138]

I'm not British, but I rather like the fact that Great Britain has a monarchy. I do feel that there are many other issues in Britain and the rest of the world that that one could spend their time and energy working to change, so I don't see it really as a major political issue. Again, I'm not British, and I certainly wouldn't want to offend anyone.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

When she came to Melbourne she rode one of our trams.

 

[Deranged Nasat]

And she's placed her handbag in the neighbouring seat so no one can sit there and annoy her.

"One wishes it to be known that this seat is taken. No room. No room".

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Notice Prince Phillip's knees banging into hers. Not exactly spacious the old Z class trams.

 

[FordSVT]

As a Canadian, any potential negatives (which are few and minimal, IMO) are far outweighed by the constitutional cluster-fuck that would be opened by attempting to remove her from our system of government. Let them stay.

 

[MacLeod]

Doesn't bother me either way, though I'd rather have it than a President.

 

[Bisz]

As a citizen of Canada I would like the monarchy to remain.

 

[PKTrekGirl]

The British sense of humour would be nothing without decent material for comedy. I say keep the monarchy.

This.

I am not a Royal Subject, so my opinion should not really mean much. We Americans, after all, opted out. However, for what it's worth, since Diana's death my interest in the Royals has definitely evolved (or more accurately, 'devolved'). Diana was interesting and I actually seriously followed her activities..but the Royals now are not interesting at all, except as fodder for comedy.

I have enjoyed lots of episodes of Mock the Week, and the Royals are the source of a lot of their material!

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

I've always admired the Queen and find her a very interesting woman as well as odd because of her place in the world.

You take a very mundane, pedestrian personality and you elevate her to the pinnacle of a nation. It's like something out of Terry Pratchett. The Queen herself believes that God has ordained her into this role, probably the last royal to ever believe such a thing. She's always been stalwart and taken it very seriously.

I remember reading her schedule for the week once when she was in her 70's, it was both bogglingly dull (open shopping centers.. meet with charity heads.. attend functions..) and pretty full time for a woman of her age. I certainly would want to shoot myself if it was my schedule.

And then there were the tidbits we learned when the intruder scaled the walls of the Palace and woke her up sitting at her bedside. Absolutely cool and collected she engaged him in chit chat while she pressed the hidden alarm button, offering him a whiskey. So the Queen keeps whiskey in her bedroom and doesn't sleep with Prince Phillip.. she such a well developed character.

 

[Miss Chicken]

I think nowadays Tasmanians, and maybe some other Australians, are more interested in the Danish royal family than they are interested in the British royal family.

 

[Admiral Shran]

I'm not going to get into a political argument (I find that intensely boring as no-one's opinion changes; it just leads to tired fingers) but just for posterity's sake, my personal perspective is that the Monarchy should definitely remain.

On a purely economic level, it's cost-effective national branding/advertising. On a political level, Constitutional Monarchy blends a lot of systemic advantages with very few practical disadvantages, so there's no real representational need for change. On an emotional level, I like the tradition and the associated pomp & circumstance.

I agree with everything in this post.

 

[Deranged Nasat]

So the Queen keeps whiskey in her bedroom and doesn't sleep with Prince Phillip.. she such a well developed character.

All truly intelligent people keep whiskey in their bedrooms and don't sleep with Prince Phillip.

On the serious side, I agree; the Queen is a very interesting woman, and I certainly wouldn't want to have half the mundane responsibilities she deals with as a matter of daily policy. It seems such a difficult life, but she's always handled herself with great dignity. Not all the royals can say that, for sure.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

So the Queen keeps whiskey in her bedroom and doesn't sleep with Prince Phillip.. she such a well developed character.

All truly intelligent people keep whiskey in their bedrooms and don't sleep with Prince Phillip.

Well I've got one of those covered.

I think nowadays Tasmanians, and maybe some other Australians, are more interested in the Danish royal family than they are interested in the British royal family.

Oh yes OUR Mary.

I wonder how many could find Denmark on a map.

 

[PlainSimpleJoel]

As an Australian, I would like the British Monarchy to stay for all of the Commonwealth. Some time in the future, I'd like to Australia to become a republic. But not at the moment, until we get the right model for the republic.

 

[Roger Wilco]

[Carrie]Off with their heads![/Carrie]

But seriously, hell yeah. Monarchy imo is completely incompatible with democracy. The idea that some people are deserving of power and financial benefits from tax money for no reason other than birth to parents who had the same privileges, is fucking disgusting.