do we really need the royal family as they have never done any thing for me?
596076
I presume you are British, as I am. I believe in the Royal Family for one important reason; national pride.\n\nSure they don't do much, or even really have that much power any more. But the monarchy if what defines Britain and being British to a lot of people, especially those from abroad.\n\nBritain has sold out big time; there are maybe two truly British car companies left (Ariel and Noble, off the top of my head- even Morgan is powered by BMW!) when there were literally dozens in the post-war era. Our sports are dominated by foreign talent; how many of Manchester United's team are actually from Manchester- or even Britain at all?! The England team manager is foreign. A large percentage of British companies, from retail to technology, are owned by foreign interests.\n\nThe rates of immigration are soaring, although this in itself is a good thing as it promotes world knowledge and understanding to those who will isten. The English language is becoming saturated with slang derived from these foreign migrants and the old school virtues of chivalry and the good old British gentleman have been flushed down the pan.\n\nMy grandfathers, and thousands of others, fought for the British way of life, their 'King and Country', and we should honour them by upholding the traditional British values they lived and died by, whilst moving forward in to a new world with the rest of the globe.\n\nEven our patron Saint, George, was a Turk, and I am not oblivious to the fact that the British royal family were, in themselves, of Nazi stock. However, we must forgive (but not always forget) the blemishes of the past; living in a multi-cultural society has given us the opportunity to do just this whilst upholding our common values of decency and strength in the face of adversity.\n\nSo yes, I think we should keep the royal family even if, I admit, Prince Phillip has never ironed my shirt or made me a cup of tea. They are a bastion of British culture when few others remain. Ask anyone what the first things that come to mind are when you say 'Britain'- I'll bet the queen will be in there, along with Buckingham Palace. And bad teeth. Remember the monarchy also represents our kin in Canada, Australia and a few more places that I wil not list here. \n\nRule Brittania!\n\nAnd...breath...
780564
Aside from the king of Thailand, there is not a single monarch who has a significant influence on the political affairs of the country.  Thankfully, the Thai king doesn't have his head up his rump and actually does things that benefit the country.\n\nThe rest of them are a waste of space.  It's bad enough that, for example, the British monarchy does nothing, but to spend tens, if not hundreds, of millions of dollars on pomp and ceremony is pure waste.  \n\nTo allow barely 20 people to live in luxury while tens of thousands live in poverty (when the amount spent on the 20 would lift tens of thousands OUT of poverty) is a disgrace.\n\nAnd that's just England, never mind any other countries.\n\n\n.
1011046
I think giving special treatment is so useless.  I don't see the point.  people shouldn't be hurt, affended or awarded for anything that happened to their ancestors.
993812
Yeah to take care of my debt and take care of my family......otherwise no.
224452
Oh yeah. A family is one of the things you have that others unfortunately don't, so cherish it. You never know, you might need them someday.
619604
No !\nIt is outdated and a waste of our public money now,\nAll they are now is a figure head of Britain without any powers they are a puppet monarchy.\nWe elect our own government without a say from the monarchy\nBut still our leaders out of respect have to ask the monarchy if it can dissolve Parliament. It is a Farce\nIn today's Britain we have enough people sponging off the state without a family that is so privileged that it doesn't know what it like to live month to month.\nIt is time that all this tradition is done away with once and for all.
1030271
Katie P. you are one confused lady. First of all, it is miscenegation and it doesn't happen, secondly you are on the Royalty page, and I fail to see how this applies in any way shape or form to the royals.
728018
I don't think we had more freedom when 'toffs' (I assume you mean the Conservative Party) ruled.  It's a different climate now, the war and terrorism have sparked a loss of freedom.  A lot of of people got wealthy under Thatcher, which means they could buy their freedom, but it was at the cost of the miners losing their jobs, and many Welsh villages are still suffering because of that.\n\nMorality is a subjective issue and I don't think anyone should be looking to the Royal Family for guidance on that one!\n\nI don't feel spiritually bedraggled at all, and I don't see what that has to do with government or royalty unless you're imposing some sort of compulsary church attendance, which would be flying in the face of liberty...\n\n\nI'm a left winger, very much so, and while may not approve of wither Tony Blair or New Labour, I'd rather have them, considering that we elected them, than have some archaic old bag who's only in power through an accident of birth, start meddling in my life.
883835
Ive got the same problem with my -- 'out-laws' But luckily for me they are going abroad this year so we are safe. Next year might be different though cos we've had some turbulent times and I dont think I will ever feel the same about them again.\n\nI would try and keep it nice for the children we have but if it weren't for them I wouldn't be bothering.
968179
Firstly and most crucially, the royal family DOES NOT live off the taxpayer. HRH Queen Elizabeth II is the owner of crown property (ie the Duchy of Lancaster). The tax which the government receives from the residents and businesses in the duchy itself is collected and a portion of that tax money is given to the queen herself. In essence, it is the monarchy which subsidizes the government NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.\nFrom this income, she must pay her staff and the other royals who are on the Civil List.\nThis nonsense that the British royal family lives off the taxpaying public is mere tripe. You can debate the merits of giving any portion of the taxes the government receives frmo the Duchy of Lancaster to the British Royal Family but you can't debate what constitutes fact.\nHope that helps.
296335
Technically, Britain is a constitutional monarchy... and the fact that the police and army and MPs etc have to swear allegiance to her is outrageous (the Queen is also head of the Church of England, of course, and Britain is now a secular multi-cultural country, and proud of it). Laws cannot be passed in this country without the Queen's signature. And as a previous messager said, they are anyway greedy parasites who have the IQ of an amoeba between them because they are all inbred. What right do they and the rest of the so-called aristocracy have to their wealth? Did they earn it by honest toil? Or did they steal it at the point of a sword? Let's be done with them all. Stuff them all and put them in Madame Tussauds. The wasters.
495087
is there no body that can help out?
233243
I think "needshelp" is making a strong point. I'm betting you're not the type to mistreat anyone. We would both urge you to ignore those nasties and understand that in this regard they are beneath the "princess." \n\nEven if they seem to come together, meanness and rewards, would you want those rewards at those costs to you?
1095667
The native Australians think the same thing. The monarchy is a tradition, and a very expensive one at that. I would like to know why that tradition is upheld because they have no power. they are basically useless.
529970
Got to be in Royal Family.
529203
Revolution? Hmmmmm, wishful thinking.\nI wish I knew the answer to this one. I think that our (UK) society has to take a giant evolutionary leap and realise that actually, the royals are not all that great and that their vast wealth could be redistributed to make better schools, hospitals, public transport.\nIs it going to happen? That's another question....
549927
Govt. are never justified... i have not seen a single contry where they have done justification to their appointment