The Royal Family - Is The End Near?

Many of our subscribers and reader's could be forgiven for assuming that here at www.itsgonepolitical.com we would be in the main supporter's of the Royal Family and the institution that it is.  For sure they do a lot of charitable work and in many cases through donations and their celebrity status create large sums of money for very good causes but apart from this we see very little else that is positive or worthwhile in maintaining such an institution.  

With recent events putting the British family in turmoil, a Queen at the end of her reign and pompous old Charles set to inherit the crown there is not a lot to be inspired about.  William and Kate may give it a good crack in time but then again what is the point in having a King or Queen, they have all the power yet no power?  They can't be seen to be involved politically and certainly cannot exert or use their position to influence anything of importance.

It is hard to believe that there is a more boring job in the entire world than that of being a royal family member.  Take a moment to think about what they have to do day in and day out apart from living in very large houses with all the trappings of life.  Endless functions, constantly being harrassed by media and generally keeping a "very stiff upper lip" seems to be their lot; frankly, we wouldn't do it for all the tea in China.  In fact, you kind of feel a little sorry for them despite their fabulous wealth and adoration of millions.  

We suspect Buckingham Palace would be more like a prison than a home, royal members trapped inside unable to live a real life with purpose or conviction.  It is understandable to see why Harry wanted out, no doubt his high-maintenance American wife had a lot to do with this although we don't see it ending well for them long-term.  And, in this day and age really who cares anyway what happens to them.  The Royal family is an over-rated institution that offers practically nothing to nobody apart from media fodder for the trashy magazines and gossip columns.

The discussion about the value of the monarchy misses the most important point of all: the damage it does to democracy.  While the Crown is the centrepiece of Britain's terrible constitution, it provides the commonwealth with a head of state who completely lacks any independence or purpose.  The Queen can only do what the Prime Minister tells her to do and she is unelected by the people.  They hold vast sums of land and property and maintain their status by simply claiming that they are "Royal"?  How completely strange. The escalating costs of maintaining the monarchy are growing at a rapid rate while the benefit or gains seem to be increasingly fleeting, mythical and made up.

The Monarchy is England's most exquisite display of romanticism and while in the past it represented grandness and glory, it may be becoming a relic of the past, one which the people no longer feel connected with.  Should they be preserved, or is the end near and time for a change?