I think the country recognised that at a time when a lettuce had become Prime Minister, it was useful to have a head of state that had a reputation for talking to plants.
That deserved more love.
“Some” is that 3 people or 3 million?
It's hard to quantify, isn't it. Why does anyone go anywhere on holiday? I highly doubt it's for just one reason.
One might go to Spain because it's close, warmer than here and they've always wanted to see the Basillica. If instead it was any one of notoriously rainy, over near the Pacific or Basillica-less, might they choose to go to France instead? Who's to say.
Tourists come to the UK for a lot of reasons.
I live and work in North Northumberland, we don’t see many “active” Royals up here, however, we have lots of people coming to see the castles, wildlife etc. There was a German coach trip in the other day, not one of them was looking for Charlie.
Very true. But plenty just come to London and have "visited England." Without anything beyond personal anecdotes to back it up, I'd say it's likely the majority. Your coachload of Germans there probably didn't have Northumberland as a final destination, they were on their way to Edinburgh or some such.
we have a high profile Royal family
What do you mean by "high profile"? I suspect most people living in the UK haven't seen the monarch, including the one who recently died and reigned for over 70 years.
If you mean high profile as always in the press some of it is for all the wrong reasons.
Your coachload of Germans there probably didn’t have Northumberland as a final destination, they were on their way to Edinburgh or some such.
Well sat next to a retired American couple on a flight from Newcastle to Schiphol, one their way to get there flight home.
They had just done a tour of the Border area, yes they went to Edinburgh but they did as part of a circuit, lots of castles seem to be the theme.
Although I except they were very much a minority and the vast majority of overseas tourists come to see London.
I still disagree that the Royals "generate" tourism. As has been said many times, Paris doesn't struggle attracting tourism.
What do you mean by “high profile”?
It's hard to argue that QEII wasn't an (perhaps even the most) instantaneously recognisable public figure of the 20/21stC for most of the world's population.
Mleh, choosing a Head of State is always a crap shoot whichever way you do it, It may as well be the Windsors (it is, after all, the only thing they have experience in)
What do you mean by “high profile”?
Are you unfamiliar with money?
It’s hard to argue that QEII wasn’t an (perhaps even the most) instantaneously recognisable public figure of the 20/21stC for most of the world’s population.
High profile means recognisable? Well yes having your face on all the coins and banknotes of the 5th wealthiest nation on earth, along with all the stamps, for 70 years, as well as being head of state of 32 countries, does give someone a certain degree of recognisability, it would indeed be very hard to argue against that.
Are you unfamiliar with money?
I hadn't realised that high profile in this case referred to recognisability.
There is little doubt that Adolf Hitler would be recognised by millions of people across the world, despite the fact that he has been keeping a very low profile for almost 80 years.
Adolf Hitler
And we're there - Godwin for the win !!111!
That's probably enough about germanic autocrats, Saxe Coburg Gotha or otherwise...
Asian tourists...who wouldn’t have visited if it wasn’t for the royals.
Before COVID, France had about ten times as many Chinese tourists as the UK, despite not having a live royal family.
https://jingdaily.com/op-ed-brexit-will-deter-chinese-tourists/
It’s hard to argue that QEII wasn’t an (perhaps even the most) instantaneously recognisable public figure of the 20/21stC for most of the world’s population.
You're really overstating the importance of Our Liz to the average Chinese, Indian, Congolese, Brazilian person...
I think there's probably a handful of people that you could show a photo to anyone in the world and they'd know who that person is. Elvis, Mohammed Ali, Einstein, The Queen. A few more maybe.
I don't have any idea how important any of them they are to some-one in Bangladesh, but I'd bet you 50p that they recognise them.
but I’d bet you 50p that they recognise them.
So you are not particularly confident then?
The 50p might give them a clue.
I hadn’t realised that high profile in this case referred to recognisability.
Fair enough. What did you suppose it referred to?
What did you suppose it referred to?
I had assumed that it meant the normal dictionary definition of the term...."attracting much attention or publicity".
they’d know who that person is. Elvis...
You're definitely overstating the importance of Elvis to the average Gabonese, Burmese, Kazakh person...
PS we could elect Elvis as Head of State.
I had assumed that it meant the normal dictionary definition of the term….”attracting much attention or publicity”.
Right. Now take that definition and apply it back to your original question. Glad we cleared that up.
PS we could elect Elvis as Head of State
Isn't he on the moon, fighting the drug war undercover for the CIA for Nixon? And/or running a chip shop? anyway, maybe a bit busy?
Right. Now take that definition and apply it back to your original question. Glad we cleared that up.
I did exactly that, you obviously didn't bother reading my post. The claim was high profile 'royal family' no mention of QE2.
This is what I said before it was sidetracked into whether someone in Bangladesh would recognise the former UK monarch:
If you mean high profile as always in the press some of it is for all the wrong reasons.
anyway, maybe a bit busy?
Well, his multitasking is impressive, at least.
Do you suppose they’d have the same international appeal if they lived in a 3-bed semi in Barry Island?
Obviously not which proves my point. Tourists come to see the sites like the Palaces etc - hence my first post pointing this out. With or without that lot leeching the tourists would still be coming.
Like them or not – and I’m not particularly a fan myself – it’s well documented that they’re a net benefit to the country financially. US tourism alone probably pays for them, I’ve been to the US many times and quite often as soon as I open my mouth the second question (after “where are you from?”) was “ooh, have you met the Queen?” They’re obsessed.
We’ve had this argument before. (Unsurprisingly, as we’ve had most every argument before.)
Is it well documented? How's that then? Seeing as they are above the law and most of their finances/taxes are a closely guarded secret (I wonder why) I'm not sure how you come to that conclusion. Offshore anyone? Tax evasion? Avoidance? But they're the country's most patriotic servants aren't they? Surely they would swerve taxes? Absolutely flawed.
And I don't care anyway. Even the most narrow minded flag waver can't make any sort of moral argument for the money they take from the country, all the while millions are suffering and public services are struggling more than ever. They are an out dated bunch of scrounging lazy perverted wrong uns. If those frauds all disappeared tomorrow this country would be in a far better place.
The OP claiming they're 'doing the right thing' (what does that nonsense even mean?)fighting the good fight in the face of a shambolic tory government is so cringeworthy and ignorant its difficult not to burst out laughing. Must have been living in a cave for the last few decades.
I’m a fan of Charlie – he’s done a lot for the environment, the countryside and was way ahead of his time with knowing about climate change. And, no I’m not a flat earther, covid denier or any of those other ridiculous things.
All well, that makes everything ok then. You and the other flag wavers are far worse than anything you mentioned there. Far worse.
Imagine being a 'fan' of that lot. Sends shivers down your spine.
And I don’t care anyway
And therein lies the problem. Plenty of reasons to get rid of tne monarchy, I get that, but you'd better be damn sure that whoever fills that void is "better", however we want to define it.
Sends shivers down your spine.
Get a grip. Whatever your personal opinion of the monarchy the majority of people in the UK have a positive opinion.
I’ve been to the US many times and quite often as soon as I open my mouth the second question (after “where are you from?”) was “ooh, have you met the Queen?” They’re obsessed.
I have worked in the US many times, sometimes for weeks at a time.
I have never once been asked if I had met the Queen.
Obsessed? The vast majority of Americans don't even realise there is a World outside of the US and maybe Canada. They are absolutely indifferent to it.
Who can forget the saintly and do gooding Prince Charles was mates with that horrific vermin Bishop Peter Ball.
All just another coincidence of a Royal being mates with a peado of course.
Charlie boy even wrote to this monster in support and lobbied on his behalf even after the accusations were pouring in. Even harassed the archbishop to reinstate him. Renting him a house on his estate. Wonder what the payment terms for that were? That must have been another innocent error of judgement, of course. Just how unlucky are this family?
Of course when the brown stuff hit the fan with Peter Ball, Charlie boy tried to reverse asap and claimed he'd been deceived for years. Now where does that ring a bell? Oh yes, Randy Andy and Epstein. All just another coincidence, just like it was with Savile.
Bless them, so very very unlucky.
you’d better be damn sure that whoever fills that void is “better”
Ireland and Israel both have parliamentary systems reasonably similar to that of the UK, and their models for Presidency could easily be adapted to the UK system without reorganising the rest of the state.
In fact, we could ask Ireland if we could borrow their head of state. He seems be popular and...you know...considering the history
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_Israel
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_Ireland
I did exactly that, you obviously didn’t bother reading my post. The claim was high profile ‘royal family’ no mention of QE2.
Did you read your own post?
"What do you mean by “high profile”? I suspect most people living in the UK haven’t seen the monarch, including the one who recently died and reigned for over 70 years."
You're being wilfully obtuse. It's not helpful to the conversation.
I have worked in the US many times, sometimes for weeks at a time.
I have never once been asked if I had met the Queen.
Obsessed? The vast majority of Americans don’t even realise there is a World outside of the US and maybe Canada. They are absolutely indifferent to it.
Then your experience is different from mine. That's anecdotes for you. The US is a big place.
All just another coincidence of a Royal being mates with a peado of course.
Makes you think.
You’re being wilfully obtuse. It’s not helpful to the conversation.
That is spectacular coming from you.
Here is my entire post:
we have a high profile Royal family
What do you mean by “high profile”? I suspect most people living in the UK haven’t seen the monarch, including the one who recently died and reigned for over 70 years.
If you mean high profile as always in the press some of it is for all the wrong reasons.
For some bizarre reason you have decided to take issue with that, as you relentlessly pursue me through the thread.
All just another coincidence of a Royal being mates with a peado of course.
To be fair, while charlie is brother to the prince of nonce, I am not sure they are mates.
I’m a fan of Charlie – he’s done a lot for the environment, the countryside and was way ahead of his time with knowing about climate change
IM sorry but what has he actually done? He still insists on private jet and helicopter flights everywhere with an entourage of servants. He still thinks that having multiple homes so he can travel between them is a good thing. So apart from making a few speeches what has he actually done?
Get a grip. Whatever your personal opinion of the monarchy the majority of people in the UK have a positive opinion.
Brilliant. That's the greatest example of barrel scraping I think I've ever read. Astonishing. I'm humbled.
The majority of people in this country still have a positive option about a lot of things. Biggest so what ever.
Seeing as a majority voted for Boris and the Tories at the last election (probably the same bunch of flag waving led by the nose self defeating unfortunates) they're hardly a yardstick for sane, rational thinking are they. I mean Boris Johnson FFS.
I suppose if a choice had to be made between Charlie and Boris you'd probably be forced into going with Boris, because despite all his shortcomings shall we say, he's probably a decent upgrade on old Charlie and his poisonous, mis-guided grubby little letter writing to bail out his mates from hideous crimes. Although it is a tough one I'll admit.
To be fair, while charlie is brother to the prince of nonce, I am not sure they are mates.
Aye,too similar I suppose. When it comes to being mates with the dregs of society these two have plenty to choose from aside from each other.
IM sorry but what has he actually done? He still insists on private jet and helicopter flights everywhere with an entourage of servants. He still thinks that having multiple homes so he can travel between them is a good thing. So apart from making a few speeches what has he actually done?
Yeah but apart from all that he's done a lot for the environment, the countryside and was way ahead of his time with knowing about climate change
So wave your flag and say hello King Charlie is going to save the planet you know.
That’s the greatest example of barrel scraping I think I’ve ever read.
Hyperbole much?
What are you under the impression that I am scraping the bottom of the barrel for?
You suggested that people who support the monarchy "Sends shivers down your spine.
Shivers down your spine? Whatever your personal opinions of the monarchy people who support it aren't weirdos, they are just very normal average people, the majority of the population in fact.
As I said, get a grip.
I do find it strange in this thread that the person that claims to have the least amount of interest in the royals has the biggest word count.....😉
So apart from making a few speeches what has he actually done?
Well he got rid of the grouse moors and well stocked pheasant shoots.
Oh wait no he didnt.
Ah well looks like it is just speeches.
The majority of people in this country still have a positive option about a lot of things. Biggest so what ever. Seeing as a majority voted for Boris...
That's not quite true. A plurality of those who voted voted for the Tories. It was not a majority of people in the UK and nor was it even a majority of people who bothered to vote. You could even say that a majority of voters had a negative opinion about the Tories - but that majority couldn't agree about who they would prefer, so quite legitimately the Tories won.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_United_Kingdom_general_election
I do find it strange in this thread that the person that claims to have the least amount of interest in the royals has the biggest word count…..😉
To be fair, there's probably a pattern to that...
I suppose keeping the Windsors does add something to the UK brand. As the family slowly unravels like a badly made imported jumper, it mirrors the image of faded opulence that the nation has come to represent to the rest of the world.
Dubious morals, decreasing global relevance, out of touch but desperate to cling on to power.
Perhaps the royals just align nicely with the idea for outsiders that the UK is a living museum or worse, a slow motion car wreck.
60% of international tourists, from which my buisness benefits to the tune of around 15k a year, say that the monarchy is part of the reason they visit the UK.
I'm sorry, but that's patent nonsense. Republic has already been linked up - it really is worth spending some time on that site as they expose the mendacious sh*t that goes with the Royals.
And that tourism stat... you'll have heard of France? Where they get 3 times more global tourists than the UK does, and tourism is an even bigger chunk of the economy? And what happened to the French Royals...?
The clear take away is that if we are concerned about the economics of the royals - and we should be concerned about benefit cheats - then we need to abolish them and make their/our palaces into proper tourist attractions like Versailles. Or something useful like homeless hostels.
The royals are an absolute blight on the UK for the way in which they entrench the class system. Frightful people.
^ Well said ^ and now we have queen effing Camilla
I bet the tourists are queuing up. 🙄
