No disrespect to the royal family, but bear with me on considering this possibility. Let’s say Prince William is not the father of Kate Middleton’s baby. Would the kid still be in line for the throne?
We know that this can’t be true because the newlywed couple only have eyes for each other—that’s obvious. But I use the above example to point out what a sham this whole monarchical system is.
Granted I come from the land of opportunity where we do not have a monarchy, nor do we have a caste system. We Americans believe that intelligence, hard work, and sheer determination lead to wealth and power. We do not believe in divine right!
But that’s what the monarchy is, correct? Power is passed down hereditarily by divine right. Maybe the royals don’t use those specific terms, but that is the history.
The example isn’t all that insane considering Prince Harry (currently 3rd in line to the throne) is rumored to be the offspring of one of Princess Diana’s lovers. He sure doesn’t look like Prince Charles if you ask me. If he’s not of royal blood, does he get kicked out? How are illegitimate children factored into succession? Or are they not? Interesting question, eh?
What are we, still in the Victorian or Elizabethan age? People, this is 2012! I cannot fathom how this form of government has gone on for this long. You may counter that the Queen’s duties are largely ceremonial, but she can exercise power in extreme circumstances. Her picture is on the currency for goodness sake.
I’m absolutely befuddled at how the Queen can be so popular when you don’t know what she thinks. She rarely voices her opinion or gives any indication that she has any brain cells. Sure she waves. Sure she shows up for events. I can do those duties just fine and I ain’t no queen. I wonder whether her admirers have brains themselves to worship such a person. A brainless person.
I’m not saying she is brainless. I’m only saying that any automaton can be the head of the Commonwealth nations simply because they were born into it.
Prince Charles will be the next King. Any man who dumps Diana for that tranny Camilla has major problems! Am I wrong?
Polls indicate overwhelming popularity for the Royal Family. Please educate me. Help me understand. I don’t get it. Don’t get it at all.
Saffron
It’s a fabrication that Harry is illegitimate. He looks like both the Spencers and the Windsors. He’s got the colouring, build and hair of his uncle, Charles Spencer (Diana’s brother). In the facial features, he has the nose, eyes and brow of Prince Charles plus his chin and ears are very similar too. I’ve never believed he was some other man’s progeny.
Since you live in the U.S., the Queen doesn’t get much news coverage. In contrast, she does get media coverage in Canada because it’s still a big part of the Commonwealth and embedded in our system of government and education. She might only be the Head of State but you still swear allegiance to the Crown when you are elected to office here. Our parliamentary system and law courts are very similar to the UK also. When I was in grade school, we sung “God Save the Queen” at the end of every school assembly. If you’re a Canadian Anglican (Episcopalian), you will also regularly pray for the Queen, who’s also the head of the Church.
We actually do get to hear her speak on occasion as she is sometimes filmed for the TV news. However, it is true, we mostly just see images of her. Most people have probably never heard her say anything. Her activities are also reported in the newspapers here.
But we’re talking hundreds of years of history and entrenchment in the aristocracy of Great Britain. Not to mention, the Queen’s rich — her net worth is estimated at more than $500M. The British aristocracy is not interested in tearing her or her wealth down because they will go down with her. She’s also related by blood or marriage to all the aristocracy in Europe.
The Queen meets regularly not only with the British prime minister — she’s had 12 during her reign — but also with all the heads of state and government from around the world.
As for the common people, what power do they really hold? The government brutally represses that percentage of the population when they even demonstrate against the latest tax. Largely, they’re just stuck with her so many seem to be making the best of it.
Americans are free because they moved to a different continent and fought a war to be that way.
Charles will definitely be the next King, but for how long? He’s already 64 — his grandmother lived to be 101, the Queen is 86. Charles could be 78 when he ascends the throne. As for Camilla, he fell in love with her in the 1970s — but she wasn’t considered suitable by the court in those times plus she married someone else before he could get his act together. They started having an affair in the late 70s — long before Diana was on the scene.
His marriage to Diana was largely one of convenience — he needed an heir or two and she was deemed suitable.