# If there is monarchy in UK, and people dislike it why don't they protest against it? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 29, 2012, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-there-is-monarchy-in-uk-and-people-dislike-it-why-dont-they-protest-against-it/639261 "2012-10-29T21:30:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Malden\_Capell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malden_capell/32/5274_2.png) [@Malden\_Capell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malden_Capell)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-there-is-monarchy-in-uk-and-people-dislike-it-why-dont-they-protest-against-it/639261/21 "2012-10-30T00:37:08Z")
Another post confirming the general popularity of the monarchy in the UK. There is a small republican movement, but it doesn’t get much attention because a) their arguments don’t add up and b) at the end of the day, removing the monarchy won’t improve people’s lives much. The Queen is personally popular, and the institution itself is generally respected too. Charles’ image has improved a lot lately, and I remember a poll shortly after the Diamond Jubilee indicating 60% of the country would be happy with him as King. And William is arguably as popular as his gran. I respect republicans as exercising their right to free speech, but I have no respect for the organisation known as Republic. I find it to be an organisation dedicated to misinformation and willful misinterpretation of facts and events to satisfy its preconceived notions. I don’t find it to have much credibility as a fact-providing organisation. ---
**Author:** ![Simple\_Linctus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Simple\_Linctus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Linctus)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-there-is-monarchy-in-uk-and-people-dislike-it-why-dont-they-protest-against-it/639261/22 "2012-10-30T00:41:25Z")
Also - can I quote one of my favourite posts since I’ve been on this board: > [@Olympic Ceremony - Impressions Outside UK](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympic-ceremony-impressions-outside-uk/629613/106): > > When 16, the Queen registered for service, and when 18 she enlisted as a[2nd Subaltern (#23087)](http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/36973/supplements/1315) in the Auxiliary Territorial Service, where she worked [regular duty as a military truck driver](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XwRCoG9Isd8/S1TA3IeswWI/AAAAAAAAKMg/VgvaU2tx7kY/s1600-h/princess_elizabeth.jpg). By the end of WWII, she had worked up to Jr. Commander. These days she’s Commander-in-Chief of quite a few countries’ militaries. > > Her sweetheart Philip finished top of his class from RNC Dartmouth and served in active duty throughout WWII. Their eldest son Charles (first in line of succession) qualified as a jet pilot in the RAF, and qualified as a helicopter pilot in the RN. Their second eldest son Andrew (fourth in line of sucession) was a career naval officer who flew Lynx helicopters in the Falkland’s War. Their eldest grandchild William (second in line of succession) graduated from Sandhurst, earned commissions in the Army, the RN and the RAF, and is a career helicopter pilot who flew on an RN drug raid in the Caribbean before transferring to the RAF to fly Sea King SAR helicopters back home. Their second eldest grandchild Harry (third in line of succession) graduated from Sandhurst and was commissioned in the Army, trained as a tanker, and served on active duty in the Afghan War as a Forward Air Controller. These days he flies Apache helicopters in the Army Air Corps. > > This family is the real deal. My guess is that somewhere in the back of the Queen’s mind is a little disappointment that she could not make the jump with her sons or grandsons piloting the helicopter. ---
**Author:** ![Simple\_Linctus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Simple\_Linctus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Linctus)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-there-is-monarchy-in-uk-and-people-dislike-it-why-dont-they-protest-against-it/639261/23 "2012-10-30T00:43:58Z")
(and add to it by adding that Andrew’s missions in the Falklands, or at least a considerable number of them, were to **act as a missile target** by flying his helicopter super close to ships to confuse Exocets) Second son as a fucking TARGET ffs! ---
**Author:** ![Francis\_Vaughan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/francis_vaughan/32/3093_2.png) [@Francis\_Vaughan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francis_Vaughan)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-there-is-monarchy-in-uk-and-people-dislike-it-why-dont-they-protest-against-it/639261/24 "2012-10-30T00:54:11Z")
You do need to be very clear about the difference between Britain as a monarchy, and the house of Windsor. If there was some sort of strange disaster, where a wormhole opened up and devoured Balmoral whilst the entire extended Windsor clan were there, Britain would still be a monarchy. Parliament, in consultation with some Commonwealth countries, would have to look back to find the appropriate heir, and they would be offered the job. In reasonably quick time a new king or queen would be crowned, and things would go on much as before. It isn’t as if this is a new problem. If the entire family tree of the Windsors was gone, looking back would go a long way, and it would be likely that the new monarch would not be entitled to the estate of the Windsors, but they would be the new crown. As to moving Britain to become a republic, well that is a whole different question, and one that is not obvious as to how it would be done. So much of the legal system and mechanisms of government, not to mention the Church or England, are bound up in the existence of a monarchy. Yelling at the current incumbent is about as useful as yelling at the POTUS as a protest about the US constitution’s articles on the powers of the president. ---
**Author:** ![Simple\_Linctus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Simple\_Linctus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Linctus)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-there-is-monarchy-in-uk-and-people-dislike-it-why-dont-they-protest-against-it/639261/25 "2012-10-30T02:27:42Z")
this post is in wrong thread ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-there-is-monarchy-in-uk-and-people-dislike-it-why-dont-they-protest-against-it/639261/26 "2012-10-30T04:00:22Z")
> [@Mk\_VII](#): > > Cromwell didn’t set out to be dictator backed by the power of the Army, or king-in-all-but-name, as he was in later years, just as the Parliamentary leaders didn’t set out to overthrow monarchy in starting the War. Only when the faithless Charles I proved repeatedly that he could not be trusted to keep any agreement did they find themselves impelled on this path. I’ve got nothing against any particular King, but every now and then you have to teach their sort a lesson and shorten a couple of them so the rest get their minds right. Although I’ve sometimes agreed with the anarchist notion that we’ll finally acheive utopia on the day when the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest. Still, as long as they know their place they aren’t so bad, although you wouldn’t want your sister to marry one. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-there-is-monarchy-in-uk-and-people-dislike-it-why-dont-they-protest-against-it/639261/27 "2012-10-30T05:28:22Z")
In other countries with a a parliament but no monarchy, the head of state is usually elected. France, of course, has to be different and give the president real power. Israel and Italy come to mind as places where “used politicians” have been elected president, a somewhat ceremonial post, only to be investigated for criminal activity. There’s something to be said for a purely decorative, ceremonial “head of state” with no partisan involvement - but, she’s still a sharp cookie at 80+ and has the theoretical power to straighten out a really serious mess… ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-there-is-monarchy-in-uk-and-people-dislike-it-why-dont-they-protest-against-it/639261/28 "2012-10-30T08:09:54Z")
> [@Mk\_VII](#): > > Cromwell didn’t set out to be dictator backed by the power of the Army, or king-in-all-but-name, as he was in later years, just as the Parliamentary leaders didn’t set out to overthrow monarchy in starting the War. Only when the faithless Charles I proved repeatedly that he could not be trusted to keep any agreement did they find themselves impelled on this path. Which explains, of course, how Cromwell acted _after_ the Civil War, and when Charles was no longer about the place, having been convicted in an extremely dubious manner on a charge that basically amounted to “We’re going to come up with some excuse to behead you, damn it”. ---
**Author:** ![Malden\_Capell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malden_capell/32/5274_2.png) [@Malden\_Capell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malden_Capell)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-there-is-monarchy-in-uk-and-people-dislike-it-why-dont-they-protest-against-it/639261/29 "2012-10-30T09:05:16Z")
> [@md2000](#): > > In other countries with a a parliament but no monarchy, the head of state is usually elected. France, of course, has to be different and give the president real power. Israel and Italy come to mind as places where “used politicians” have been elected president, a somewhat ceremonial post, only to be investigated for criminal activity. There’s something to be said for a purely decorative, ceremonial “head of state” with no partisan involvement - but, she’s still a sharp cookie at 80+ and has the theoretical power to straighten out a really serious mess… [nitpick]Actually, most ceremonial presidencies are not elected, but selected by the Government or by a majority of one or both chambers of Parliament. I suppose it’s indirect election, in a way, but I don’t see much of a link. The only one I can think of is Ireland, that directly elects a ceremonial president. [/nitpick] ---
**Author:** ![Malden\_Capell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malden_capell/32/5274_2.png) [@Malden\_Capell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malden_Capell)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-there-is-monarchy-in-uk-and-people-dislike-it-why-dont-they-protest-against-it/639261/30 "2012-10-30T09:09:18Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > Which explains, of course, how Cromwell acted _after_ the Civil War, and when Charles was no longer about the place, having been convicted in an extremely dubious manner on a charge that basically amounted to “We’re going to come up with some excuse to behead you, damn it”. I think the problem with assessing Cromwell’s record is that people impose modern values on his time: Cromwell and Parliament were not fighting for democracy in any way, shape or form - they were fighting for the supremacy of Parliament. I don’t have much sympathy for Cromwell, but when the Army (which looked up to him) radicalised, purged Parliament and broke the constitution, Cromwell kind of got swept up in it. I don’t think he set out to be a tyrant, but after they had killed the King, they hadn’t really thought of what to do next, and so inevitably he became a tyrant, particularly as killing the King was unpopular with the country. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-there-is-monarchy-in-uk-and-people-dislike-it-why-dont-they-protest-against-it/639261/31 "2012-10-30T09:28:10Z")
> [@Francis\_Vaughan](#): > > . If there was some sort of strange disaster, where a wormhole opened up and devoured Balmoral whilst the entire extended Windsor clan were there, Britain would still be a monarchy. Parliament, in consultation with some Commonwealth countries, would have to look back to find the appropriate heir, and they would be offered the job. God willing, it would be John Goodman. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-there-is-monarchy-in-uk-and-people-dislike-it-why-dont-they-protest-against-it/639261/32 "2012-10-30T10:02:16Z")
Belgium had a monarchy crisis in the 1950s. The king wasn’t particularly well liked in the first place, he hadn’t been exactly a hero in World War Two, and people didn’‘t want him back. Anyway [a large part of the public expressed clear unhappiness with him as a King.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Question#Leopold_III.27s_return) There even was a referendum and a nation wide strike, and a civil war loomed. (not just over the King, but along the lines that still divide Belgium, the old French against Flemish. Why they just don’‘t split up already, I don’'t know) Things quieted down when his more popular son stepped up as King. So there you have an example of a modern European country where the people were unhappy with their King, and what happened. ---
**Author:** ![Donnerwetter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Donnerwetter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donnerwetter)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-there-is-monarchy-in-uk-and-people-dislike-it-why-dont-they-protest-against-it/639261/33 "2012-10-30T11:03:49Z")
These days, the monarchy is arguably the one element that keeps Belgium from falling apart. ---
**Author:** ![Hogfather65](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7bcc69/32.png) [@Hogfather65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hogfather65)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-there-is-monarchy-in-uk-and-people-dislike-it-why-dont-they-protest-against-it/639261/34 "2012-10-30T11:51:53Z")
> [@Lust4Life](#): > > I don’t know where you got the idea that our Queen was unpopular, you’d be a very brave man to slag her off anywhere in the U.K. regardles of the peoples opinions politically, whether to the left or right. > > Yes we do get young Walter Mittys who call themselves Anarchists/Workers party/communists etc and dress up in combat jackets etc,usually to try and impress members of the opposite sex. > (Who might not notice that they’re acne riddled nerds) > > We also get immigants from our nearest Republican neighbour (Quite a few actually)who are prepared to drop their political ideals in exchange for work and a place to live. > > But who are steadfastly anti British, and anti Monarchy, an bring up their kids (in England)to follow their opinions. > > Hypocricy and cowardice apparently not being in their vocabulary. > > But that apart, we don’t just tolerate our monarchy, we are active and enthusiastic supporters of them. > > And dare I say it, love our Queen to death. > > (Not in the biblical sense of course) > > I for one would take up arms if ever there was any attempt to remove the monarchy. > > And I don’t think that I would I would be on my own. Here…Here… (Scotish Loyalist) ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Imp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Imp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Imp)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-there-is-monarchy-in-uk-and-people-dislike-it-why-dont-they-protest-against-it/639261/35 "2012-10-30T12:37:06Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > What makes you think they don’t protest? [Here’s](http://www.independent.co.uk/news/protest-halts-the-queens-visit-1334823.html)one from before Diana’s death. (Admittedly, it was something of a surprise to those planning the queen’s itinerary.) And [another protest](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-19922678) from a few decades ago. ---
**Author:** ![hibernicus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hibernicus/32/2802_2.png) [@hibernicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hibernicus)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-there-is-monarchy-in-uk-and-people-dislike-it-why-dont-they-protest-against-it/639261/36 "2012-10-30T12:48:23Z")
> [@Lust4Life](#): > > We also get immigants from our nearest Republican neighbour (Quite a few actually)who are prepared to drop their political ideals in exchange for work and a place to live. > > But who are steadfastly anti British, and anti Monarchy, an bring up their kids (in England)to follow their opinions. > > Hypocricy and cowardice apparently not being in their vocabulary. Well, which is it? Do they drop their political ideals or steadfastly hold to them? Although it’s useful to be reminded every so often that anti-Irish feeling is alive and well in Britain in 2012, maybe you’ll find a more receptive audience for this kind of commentary in your local pub than in GQ. ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Imp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Imp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Imp)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-there-is-monarchy-in-uk-and-people-dislike-it-why-dont-they-protest-against-it/639261/37 "2012-10-30T12:52:56Z")
Ha, I assumed he was talking about America! Sorry for forgetting about you, Ireland 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Malden\_Capell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malden_capell/32/5274_2.png) [@Malden\_Capell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malden_Capell)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-there-is-monarchy-in-uk-and-people-dislike-it-why-dont-they-protest-against-it/639261/38 "2012-10-30T12:57:39Z")
I thought France! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-there-is-monarchy-in-uk-and-people-dislike-it-why-dont-they-protest-against-it/639261/39 "2012-10-30T13:15:16Z")
> [@Fear\_of\_the\_Dark](#): > > For example, they don’t howl down on Queen and anyone from his family (shouting at them etc) when they are being introduced or coming to the stadium in a tennis match. For the same reason that there isn’t any howling or hissing whenever a member of the U.S. electoral college goes to a tennis match – because even if you think it’s a weird outdated institution, it’s not something most people get excited about. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-there-is-monarchy-in-uk-and-people-dislike-it-why-dont-they-protest-against-it/639261/40 "2012-10-30T13:22:36Z")
> [@hibernicus](#): > > Well, which is it? Do they drop their political ideals or steadfastly hold to them? > > Although it’s useful to be reminded every so often that anti-Irish feeling is alive and well in Britain in 2012, maybe you’ll find a more receptive audience for this kind of commentary in your local pub than in GQ. I think it’s not so much anti-Irish as anti those who don’t want to follow the principles of the country that they move to. Much like if I wanted to move to the Irish Republic and loudly denounce my neighbours as fools and traitors for 1916, and then scream “Anti-British feeling is alive and well!” if I got called on it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-there-is-monarchy-in-uk-and-people-dislike-it-why-dont-they-protest-against-it/639261.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-there-is-monarchy-in-uk-and-people-dislike-it-why-dont-they-protest-against-it/639261.md?page=3)