What exactly is the point of the British Monarchy? Will it survive the death of Queen Elizabeth II or is it destined for dismantling?
Current Events :
Aside from tradition, the British Monarchy doesn’t exactly serve a purpose in the 21st Century. None of the royals are responsible for creating government policy or making military agreements with foreign powers. In fact, they are a lot like America’s Kardashian family — they’re rich, they live in multiple mansions, they make “appearances” at special functions, and they’re otherwise basically useless.
Members of the British Monarchy are born into wealth, handed priceless gems and billion-dollar mansions which are passed down through generations, and are never required to work a job their entire lives. Instead, their responsibility is to hold an honorary title and make sure everyone is talking about them and clamoring for their opinion.
Furthermore, some of their traditions are either sexist, outdated, or downright bizarre. For example, only the firstborn son (and not daughter) of a ruling monarch can ascend to the throne and one day become King [except in the special case of Queen Elizabeth]. Under the heading of bizarre, upon the death of Queen Elizabeth II, an official beekeeper had to travel to the queen’s beehive and verbally tell the bees that the queen had passed on. Yes, it was required for someone to actually talk to the bees and deliver the bad news.
So, why is any of this relevant in the 21st Century? It’s not — which is why the newly decreed King Charles III has announced he will trim down the British Monarchy to the bare minimum, make the royal mansions something other than a place for his elite family members to live, and otherwise update the royal image for modern times.
King Charles III and his family receive an annual payment from the British government known as the Sovereign Grant. The grant cost British taxpayers £86.3 million ($100.12 million) in 2021 and was further increased by £27.3 million ($31.67 million) over the next two years to help cover a 17% rise in spending by the royals.
– NBC News
According to the British Sunday Times, King Charles intends to transform Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Balmoral, Sandringham, Clarence House, and other royal residences from “private spaces to public places.”
“I know he is no fan of ‘the big house’, as he calls the palace,” a royal insider said. “He doesn’t see it as a viable future home or a house that’s fit for purpose in the modern world. He feels its upkeep, both from a cost and environmental perspective, is not sustainable.”
Additionally, there are rumors that when Prince William becomes King in 7 years (the queen left an order that the 73-year-old King Charles only serve until his 80th birthday), it’s very possible that King William could dismantle the British Monarchy altogether.
In fact, the need for a change or an end to the royals is being discussed in multiple circles.
The prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda said he will call for a referendum on the country becoming a republic within 3 years. Other Caribbean nations under British rule also said they intend to follow suit.
Around the world, people are debating whether mourning the queen of a nation with a history of slavery and stealing what was not theirs is the correct emotion.
In the United Kingdom, even residents are questioning the legitimacy of maintaining a royal family.
“I’ve never liked the monarchy,” 48-year-old Graham Wilson said during his daily commute toward central London on Friday. “Honestly, I am just wondering how many bank holidays we will get out of this.”
“She was the queen of Jamaica until she died, and now her son is the king of Jamaica,” Everton Brown of London said while speaking of one of the 14 Commonwealth nations that formally have the British monarch as their head of state, including Australia and Canada. “I do not believe that to be logical. This monarchy system must end or change in some way.”
“Caribbean countries like ours, which were exploited and underdeveloped to finance the development of Europe, have put forward a case for reparations for slavery and native genocide, and we expect that case to be treated with the seriousness and urgency it deserves. There should be no double standards in the international system in recognizing acknowledging and compensating victims of crimes against humanity.”
– Philip J.Pieree, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia
The death of Queen Elizabeth has at least opened the question that Brits may soon need to ask themselves — and that King Charles III or King William will have to consider as well: is a British Monarchy still necessary in the 21st Century? Or, is it time to end the ancient tradition, liquidate the royal resources, and send all the privileged family members into private life?
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Is it time to end the British Monarchy?
What exactly is the point of the British Monarchy? Will it survive the death of Queen Elizabeth II or is it destined for dismantling? […] – DJ
Yes, it will survive the death of Queen Elizabeth…for now. However, I do think it will continue to gradually change into something Much less than what it has been in the past or even is today. By the time Prince William becomes King who knows what the monarchy will look like then(?)
But ultimately it will be up to the majority of the British people. And they may eventually say “We no longer want it at all. We’re done with it.”