The Queen At 80

[poliphilo]

I want an English republic. (I didn't say "I'm a Republican" for fear of misunderstanding.)

The Guardian has at least two big essays this morning on how us English Republicans must seize the moment and start preparing for an English Republic now the Queen has turned 80.

But I'm afraid we've missed our chance. We should have struck in the 90s. The monarchy had reached an all-time low. Diana Spencer (alive and dead) was our standard bearer.

And now the Queen is entering the autumn of her reign. Like Victoria before her, she's become the Grandmother of the Nation.

Inertia takes over. Establishing an English Republic would mean reworking the Constitution from top to bottom. I can't see any Prime Minister having the heart for it.

Especially since removing the monarch means an end to the Royal prerogative, which gives the Prime Minister of the day quasi-regal powers, including the right to declare war without putting it to a parliamentary vote.

So we're almost certainly stuck with the Windsors for the forseeable future.

The Queen could last another 20 years, which means that Charles, if he lives that long, will be over 70 when he succeeds and Grandfather of the Nation from day one.

The only thing that could turn everything around is a big royal scandal. And I wouldn't put it past Charles or either of his two boys to supply us with one.

Comments

[frumiousb.livejournal.com]

I agree with you about the timing. I tend to think that the public has come around to a grudging respect for Charles.

[idahoswede.livejournal.com]

Is there anything left for the nation to be scandalized by? Charles has his Camilla finally, William is apparently living with his tootsie, I guess that leaves Harry (who looks more and more like HIS father every day), but would that even cause a stir now? Probably not. Maybe Princess Anne could decide after all these years she's really gay?

[pickwick.livejournal.com]

Heh, I was watching something the other night that was talking about this. Most people in the country are republican (small R) in their heads, ie they can't logically support an unelected head of state and all their sponging relatives, but because the Queen's been queen for all of most of their lives, everyone's a bit "Well, I don't like monarchies, but I dunno if we want to get RID of them. I mean, they're quite harmless..."

I think Charles as king could be funny, though.

[senordildo.livejournal.com]

Just behead the lot of 'em. It would make a great reality show.

[paroxysma.livejournal.com]

Amidst all of this...Camilla is still sucking a lot of dick. *shakes fist at her* Man she's a bitch!

[methodius.livejournal.com]

I got polled by SkyNews on this topic, I'm not sure why.

But I was surprised to find how thoroughly monarchist I was, and I don't even live in the UK.

Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that here republicanism has been closely associated with fascism, and I'd like to think that a constitutional monarchy in Britain could conceivably resist the incipient fascist imperialism of the Blair gang.