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Cheshire Cat Special user Wilmslow, UK 941 Posts |
I knew you'd be drawn to this title as you thought I'd be talking about cards (wrong). Ok, so the late Diana, and Charles' lad William is 21 today. One day he will be King William of Britain, Canada, Australia (if Republicanism does not succeed), N.Z. - and about ten zillion African countries you've never heard of!! Come on now - your honest opinion of Constitutional Monarchy in this 21st Century please. I promise no offence will be taken by your views - no nuclear wars will start!! If you have no strong views but just think it's "quaint" or "odd" - then say so!
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hkwiles Special user Howard Wiles 797 Posts |
Aceparties,
Probably 90%+ of those who post on here live in a country that has never had a King or Queen so it would be difficult to comment. Howard |
Cheshire Cat Special user Wilmslow, UK 941 Posts |
Nah, don't pre-judge them or speak on their behalf Howard, - enough of them became emotionally involved when Diana was killed in the 'accident'. The British Royals are high profile almost everywhere. I'm not asking them their views on the workings of constitutional monarchy, - but basically what they think of the Royals, - how they view them through their eyes. If old King George had not screwed up, and the USA was now the UKSA or something similar, how would you feel towards monarchy? I'm personally NOT anti-monarchist by the way.
Tony. |
hkwiles Special user Howard Wiles 797 Posts |
Still No replies Tony ?
Howard |
Chrystal Inner circle Canada/France 1552 Posts |
Okay I'll bite,
I think the majority of Canadians don't regard the Queen as "our Queen". True, we are part of the Commonwealth but I truthfully can say never..never are members of the Royal family regarded as "ours". They are seen as celebs or visiting dignitaries and Prince William is viewed by the teenager girls as one would react if Brad Pitt came into town. Funny side note: A few years ago my brother in law asked me if I wanted the Queen's bed. He worked for the Four Seasons Hotel and the bed had been in storage for a few years. Protocol required that the Queen sleep in a brand new bed, so a bed was purchased for her stay at the hotel. Stored away until they decided to sell it. The bed gets delivered to my place...and eeeks!! it's KING SIZE!! |
Schaden Inner circle Purgatory 1253 Posts |
We aren't part of the Commonwealth!
I am so confused, I thought we got out after World War II. Chrystal, why don't you sell it on eBay? Lee |
ChrisZampese Veteran user Hamilton, NZ 341 Posts |
Being from NZ, I think the notion of royalty is.....amusing really!. It still makes me giggle when I see them around! Over here it just seems that they are there simply because they always have been, and not out of any real need for a royal family!
I think that it is a bit sad the way they are treated in some respects. If you are going to have royalty, then they should be treated like royalty (ie, not hav to pay taxes, be a bit more exempt from journalists etc). Having said that I think being part of the Commonwealth has its advantages. I think that NZ would pull itself apart if we tried to become a seperate nation!!
The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion which stands at the cradle of true art and true science. Whoever does not know it and can no longer wonder, no longer marvel, is as good as dead, and his eyes are
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Chrystal Inner circle Canada/France 1552 Posts |
Hi Lee,
Yes, we are part of the Commonwealth have been since 1931.The Commonwealth includes 54 independent member countries. What you are probably thinking of is when Canada, in order to show their autonomy from Britain joined World 11 aprox 2-3 days after Britain did. As for selling my bed...nah I love sleeping in the Queens King Size Bed...cept for that darn pea sticking in my back! |
hkwiles Special user Howard Wiles 797 Posts |
Tony.
Still no replies from the 90%+ ...? I rest my case. Howard |
Cheshire Cat Special user Wilmslow, UK 941 Posts |
I simply don't know what "case" you are resting Howard. I just notice quick interjecting posts which seem out of character for you. Is this a topic you personally didn't want raising? Or are you making a point that the USA members will steer clear of this one? I would point out that ABSENCE of replies can sometimes give a more powerful message than replies, - do you not agree? I always try to project intelligent subjects on this board, and whether they reply or not I don't believe anyone could accuse this one of being unintelligent.
Sincerely, - Tony. Chris, to suggest the Royals be free of taxes would surely be disastrous. It is the British public that brought about the gesture to voluntarily pay taxes by the Royals (I'm sure Howard will correct me if this was not so). Regarding journalists - of course no President, Prime Minister, Celebrity, or Royal is immune from the quite fearsome British tabloids. But of course when you invite the wolf through the door you have to be prepared for it to bite you as well as for it to roll on it's back to have it's tummy tickled. The Royals opened the door themselves many years ago to the Press. |
hkwiles Special user Howard Wiles 797 Posts |
Hi Tony,
The point I was making was simply what I said..If you have never had something ..you can only surmise what it would be like to have it.I stay clear of making comments about things I've not experienced to avoid the come back""What do you know ..youv'e never done (had) it etc.." I think the comments from our two Commonwealth friends say it all. To paraphrase your comment(with which I agree by the way) Just because they are absent(haven't been found)doesn't mean that they don't exist. Now where have I heard that recently?. Cheers Howard |
ChrisZampese Veteran user Hamilton, NZ 341 Posts |
Quote:
Chris, to suggest the Royals be free of taxes would surely be disastrous. It is the British public that brought about the gesture to voluntarily pay taxes by the Royals I think that was my point. By asking the Royal family to 'voluntarily' pay taxes, the public is undermining the entire premise of Royalty. I feel it is difficult for us (other commonwealth countries) to view the Royals as anything more than a....soap opera. Control of the Commonwealth is not seen (at least in NZ) to be with the Royal family. Unfortunately the view we got of the Royals over here is that they are little more than over-publicised figure heads for a failing Commonwealth. I am not trying to be harsh, or suggest that this is in any way accurate, that is just the view we get from our media. I guess what I was saying regarding the taxes/privacy etc is that the Royals would appear more...Royal if they were to put their foot down a bit on some issues..... Would love some feedback, as it is very interesting to hear the view of one who lives in the same country as the Royals (as opposed to halfway round the world - in a country whose population is about equal to hlaf of London!)
The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion which stands at the cradle of true art and true science. Whoever does not know it and can no longer wonder, no longer marvel, is as good as dead, and his eyes are
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Reg Rozee Special user Vancouver, Canada 592 Posts |
Political purposes and uses aside, I've noticed the opinion of the British monarchy varies widely from person to person in Canada, and there is definitely an observable variation by region.
From what I have seen, from Ontario westward seems to view the royals merely as celebrities having little to do with the politics of the country. Quebec of course is another story altogether, as is usually the case. In the Maritimes where I grew up, there always seemed to be a very strong pro-monarchy sentiment. I'm not sure if this is simply because of geographic proximity. (One of the odd things about a country as large as Canada is that Halifax is actually closer to London on the other side of the ocean than it is to Vancouver, on the other side of the country.) I remember my mother getting us all out of bed at 4AM to watch Charles and Diana's wedding live because tape just wouldn't do, and how she subscribed to "Majesty" magazine, and waiting by the side of the road with her for literally hours to see the Queen drive by and wave for one second. Neighbours and friends did not seem to view this as unusual behaviour, and many did the exact same things. I can't imagine what Canada would do without the Queen/Governor General as ceremonial head of state. The notion of a Canadian "president" seems too silly to contemplate. -Reg {*}
Reality is what doesn't go away when you stop believing in it. -Phillip K. Dick
Who are you going to believe, me or your own eyes? -Chico Marx |
Cheshire Cat Special user Wilmslow, UK 941 Posts |
As I mentioned before, I'm certainly not anti-monarchist, and The Queen certainly has fulfilled her promise she made to "serve" the Commonwealth 50 years ago. I just despair at the breakdown of marriages and family life of her three eldest children (Edward and Sophie so far so good!) - and the poor image given here.
I think we all still wonder as to the exact circumstances of Diana's death. Remember - the mother of the future King was going to marry the son of a millionaire Arab businessman that both Conservative and Labour UK Home Secretaries had refused British Citizenship to. Some may ask, - was death due to accident, - why was the mystery Fiat car that left a piece of lamp glass at the scene never traced? (I stray from the subject). Just what role or significance will this family have in the 21st Century? Just a tourist attraction and a name behind 100s of Charities, - or a real counterbalance to increasing presidential styles of Prime Ministers, i.e. Thatcher and Blair, and a real example of family values to citizens of the Commonwealth. I also note members of the Commonwealth not referring to "our" Queen but the British Queen! - and the Americans are not going to be drawn are they Howard? Perhaps they are still sore over Wallis Simpson! Although years before my time, and despite the fact Wallis had a 'colourful' past, I think a bonding of the USA and UK in a Royal marriage would have been great! (What's all this about the Bush family being related to the Spencers [Diana] by the way??) |
RandyStewart Inner circle Texas (USA) 1989 Posts |
I'm content as an American Veteran who doesn't have to care for my neighbor.....too often........oh shoot!
Iraq is calling again.....Be right back. |
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