Question for our friends from Great Britain

Daniel

All of Europe's royal houses have an interesting family tree, considering they're all related, and have been intermarrying for generations - apparently, family reunions were the place to meet your future spouse. Elizabeth II's husband is a cousin, and Prince Charles' great-great-great grandfather (Edward VII) is his wife Camilla's great-great grandfather (from his illegitimate daughter). Given the problems they've had when marrying "commoners" perhaps Parlaiment should enact a law restricting marriage to within the family (then they might breed themselves out of existence).

Alan, Tsar Nicholas was not Queen Victoria's grandson - but his wife was her grand daughter. Nicholas and his cousin George V did share the same grandfather in the King of Denmark, though. It's all one big, happy German family (except the Swedish royal family - which is French!)

Alan Fraser

Well Daniel...just goes to show my memory isn't perfect.

Let's hope that Charles has the same short reign that Edward had...the last son to follow a long-reigning mother.
I doubt he'll be remembered for an innovative, less cluttered style of architecture, though...like the one that bears the name of his great grandfather.

Personally, I'm undecided about the value of the royal family. Of course it's an outdated tradition, well past its sell-by date...and utterly irrelevant to the everyday lives of ordinary people. On the other hand, they do bring in the tourist dollars; and the queen does act as a figurehead...so we don't feel the need to imbue political figures with undue patriotic fervour, or fly the union flag from everything vaguely pointy.
They do have their advantages, but I'm pretty sure that will all change with a change of monarch. The new encumbents have pretty much blown all public respect with all their shenanigins. I think the future of the monarchy might all revolve around how William V performs.

We really could do with a proper national anthem, too. God Save the Queen isn't technically an anthem at all; and it's usually played so slowly that it sounds like a dirge. It's not very complimentary about Scots, either. A good job most people can't remember past verse 1.

john.warburton

I'd just about have managed Vicky, Eddie and Liz, but nothing more and not the numbers!

As for Royal shennanigans - my old Dad always used to say that Phil had his moments in his younger days. And Marge! Even I can remember that scandal followed her about. Phil was just fortunate not to have the instant global media coverage that the current disgraceful mob have had to put up with.

Personally, I have switched from being a supporter of the Royals (in my younger days) to wanting some serious overhaul of the current system.

PeterCharles

@alan fraser said:

I think the future of the monarchy might all revolve around how William V performs.

His full names being William Arthur Phillip Louis he'll probably call himself something other than William. How about taking the name Arthur so we can truly have a King Arthur on the throne!

JuanV.Soler

@petercharles said:

@alan fraser said:

I think the future of the monarchy might all revolve around how William V performs.

His full names being William Arthur Phillip Louis he'll probably call himself something other than William. How about taking the name Arthur so we can truly have a King Arthur on the throne!

i agree, i think the British love his Monarchy

not so sure in Spain
we are in trouble now

thomthom

Somewhat easier in Norway - we imported our Royal family from Denmark about 100 years ago - after the separation from Sweden. So we only have three Kings to keep track of.
Though - if you start asking about Viking kings... that's another story...

linea

I remember from school being told that the political value of the British monarchy was actually quite significant as the British Army are answerable to them, not the government.

Daniel

The British military swear fealty to the monarch, but take their orders from the government. I think one reason why the monarchy has survived in the UK to this day is because it is powerless.

JuanV.Soler

powerlees is in Spain for sure, though the King made a strong movement when the Government was kidnapped in the first eighties.
I think Queen Elizabeth would have done the same on their Country.
so really they are not powerless,
no, Daniel ?

Daniel

I think the Spanish king may have more power than the English monarch, who must follow the advice of the government. If he/she doesn't, it leads to a "constitutional crises;" the last English monarch to do so, Edward VIII, had to abdicate.

watkins

A useful summary with potted histories

http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/England-History/KingsandQueens.htm

The entry I like is:

HARDICANUTE 1040 - 1042
Son of CANUTE Died drunk, aged 24

Does nothing change!