Exploring Different Opinions on the Monarchy
The Monarchy is no doubt an institution in England and the rest of the UK (and sometimes abroad in Commonwealth countries). Many people adore it, saying that it’s part of our cultural makeup and brings in huge tourism income (and the alternative of a President would be unthinkable).
Others believe that to be ruled over someone, just because of them being born ‘with a silver spoon’ in their mouth (and run by the head of a Church that sometimes has less morals than the rest of us) is no way to run a country.
The financial argument is also often pooh-poohed, as the combined incomes from the Duchy of Lancaster and Cornwall, outweighs the oft-used argument that the tourism income is more (if you factor in these two tax-free incomes which are huge and sometimes take rent from the NHS), in fact we lose income.
How Many People Support the Monarchy?
If you watch the news or read newspapers, you would be forgiven for thinking that nearly everyone supports the Monarchy. In fact, it’s pretty equal. Around 50% either way, with way more young people not supporting a monarchy at all.
One reason why people loved Queen Elizabeth II was not really because she was a monarch. But because most people had grown up with her almost as ‘the nation’s granny’. She didn’t air her laundry in public, and was one of the last examples of an age where she provided a stability, no matter what happened in life.
You may remember when Princess Diana died, she was criticised for not coming out to talk to the media (while people who never met the young princess wailed in the streets). The Queen just remained quiet (despite the media going for her).
And it later turned out she was simply taking the time to comfort her young grandsons, rather than be bulled by media into doing what they wanted.
The recent furore with Meghan and Harry is not so much to do with whether they are royal or not. But more than after first ‘eloping’ to live in a life of peace in Canada with their young son (everyone sympathised), they then have spent years selling their stories to the highest bidder. Now most people have lost sympathy.
Criticism of the Monarchy
Obviously everyone can see that most members of the Royal Family are decent people (the Duchess of Kent who had suffered depression, would give out the Wimbledon trophies then go off to her volunteer work as a Samaritan).
But the institution itself has attracted criticism. At a time when many people can’t afford heating and eating, watching taxpayer money be used to fund incredible wealth and property sticks.
And as mentioned above, the combined incomes from the Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall means that the Royal Family receive huge untaxed income on top.
Although King Charles would never take advantage of his powers, he still has some powers that are quite scary.
He could pardon serial killers (and himself of any crime), and dissolve Parliament if he didn’t like it. After a whole country had elected someone of their choice. He could also drive over the speed limit without a license, and not get fined.
The Future of the Monarchy
Some suggest reforms like a ‘bicycling monarchy’. This basically means reducing funding to just a few members and less of it.
Others want more transparency, like having the Monarchy publish how much money they receive from us, and what they use it for. This would go to heal some resentment from those who struggle, and see others live lives that are so lavish, they need not really live like that.
Such wealth does not also sit well with the general public. Recent in Spain, the Royal family were pelted with mud by members of the public, who had lost their relatives (including children and dogs) in the tragic floods. Some say it was because they were accompanied by politicians, who they feel had not given them fair warning.
The History of England’s Monarchy
Our royal family started hundreds of years ago, and up until the reign of Henry VIII, was staunchly Roman Catholic. However, when he wanted a divorce, he banned the Catholic church (many monks and nuns were killed) and replaced the Pope with himself as head of what is now the Church of England.
Today the monarch still is ‘defender of the faith’ yet still practices some antiquated practices (Catholics can marry into the monarchy but can’t practice the faith). And the family still runs along ‘bloodlines’ (it’s unlikely children would be adopted, it’s all about ancestry). While the rest of society has moved on, and treats adopted children as of much worth as any others.
How Much Does the Monarchy Cost?
Our monarchy costs around 10 times more than similar (smaller) monarchies in Europe (the 20-year Netherlands heir princess recently turned down a hefty income as she did not feel comfortable accepting it).
Our monarchy costs around £90 to £120 million each year, and also the royal family receives a lot more (non-taxed) income from two inherited estates (the Duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster). Prince William now owns a third of Dartmoor, and environmentalists are not happy at ‘small potatoes’ plans to rewild just a tiny area.
Our frequent floods are made worse by flattening peat bogs (for grouse shoots – pheasants also cause road accidents and eat endangered sand lizards, due to being over-bred). Yet King Charles, Prince William and Princess Kate all attend grouse hunts, seemingly unaware of the issues.
The royal family owns around 250,000 acres (outside 600,000 acres of crown estate) with environmentalist Guy Shrubsole saying if this was the same for everyone, England would be owned by just 250 people.
Many people want parts of the Crown Estate (often used for golf courses) to be given over to provide free outdoor space like public parks in inner cities. This could reduce NHS costs due to better mental health, walkable communities and fresh air.
Graham Smith (who works for the organisation Republic) writes that if you compare the income given with tourism income, then it is good value. But when you add on the huge (untaxed) income from the duchy estates, the figures change considerably.
Knowing that most people still want a monarchy, it advocates a fixed annual budget (with an annual salary for the King) and income from both Duchies to be subject to corporation tax (and for the royal family to pay inheritance tax, like anyone else).
On his mother’s death, King Charles inherited £650 million which could have raised £200 million inheritance tax – enough to build, fund and staff a brand new hospital.
Palaces are all owned by the Crown, and London is home to quite a few.
Buckingham Palace is of course the seat of our monarchy, controversial due to the huge expense (when homeless people live within walking distance). Originally a townhouse built for the Duke of Buckingham in 1703, the palace has:
- 188 staff bedrooms
- 92 offices
- 73 bathrooms
- 52 private bedrooms
- 19 state rooms
- A swimming pool
- A doctor surgery
- A cinema
- A jeweller’s workshop
- A 42-acre Garden
- Lakes and a tennis court
- A landing pad for helicopters
- Royal Mews (that house cars and carriage horses)
The palace was bombed 9 times during the Second World War, which destroyed the chapel. In modern times, some rooms are open to the public to raise funds (after a claim to heat the palace from public community energy funds was rejected). Due to fears on public opinion, when many people can’t afford to heat their homes.
No Need for Bearskins for Guards
A.A. Milne (who wrote the Winnie the Pooh books), wrote the famous poem on how ‘they’re changing guards at Buckingham Palace’. Even those of us who are not monarchists, can appreciate the sense of history and tradition, when the King’s Guards hand over their shifts, using precise military tradition.
The Captain of the Guard can choose the music he likes (sometimes classical, sometimes Tom Jones!)
The changing of the guards usually happens at 11am on certain days of the year, and is sometimes cancelled in rainy weather. The spectacle is a major draw for London tourists, so it’s understandable why the tradition will continue for many years to come.
The soldiers are known for their iconic red tunics (said to be so that from a distance, they would blend into ‘one’ so enemies would not know how many soldiers there were) and black hats. But what you may not know is that the hats are still made from real bearskin, from the hunting trade in Canada.
Why Are Real Bearskins Still Used?
It’s a mystery. Animal charity PETA says that the Ministry of Defence has consistently refused to test ECOPEL (known to have the same water-run-off and warmth textures, and is quicker to dry) – even with a free offer of the faux fur until 2030. So one presumes it’s just stick-in-the-mud tradition.
Yet Italy and Sweden have already switched to faux fur (and even Canada from where the bear fur is sourced) are considering a ban on real fur for ceremonial purposes.
Nearly everyone in the UK wants a switch (it’s unclear what the position of the royal family is – they do hunt, but King Charles III has banned foie gras from palaces and Queen Camilla has stopped wearing real fur).
Where Does the Bear Fur Come From?
The Ministry of Defence says the fur (one bear is killed per hat) is from regulated hunting in Canada, and that no bears are ‘sourced for hats’. But a Freedom of Information Act found that the UK government does not know the supply chain for the fur its buys for bearskin hats.
The online ‘royal collection shop’ even promotes a child’s replica, promoting it as the alternative for the ‘iconic bearskin hats’, as if it’s something that youngsters should be proud to be part of. Not likely, most children are more wildlife-aware than older adults.
Critics also say that real bear skin hats (which cost over £2000) are a waste of money – remember it’s your taxes that are paying for them.
We are a compassionate nation. And bears are living, feeling beings – not fabrics to make caps from. Allow us caps worthy of a royal guardsman. Allow us caps worthy of the UK. A Royal Guard
King of the ‘save the bears from being made into caps’ campaign is Stephen Fry, who says ‘tradition is never an excuse for cruelty’. He was shown footage of wild black bears being lured by buckets of cookies, then shot with crossbow bolts (often not dying instantly, suffering from infected wounds and blood loss).
How We Can Stop Bear Being Killed for Hats?
The decision lies with the Ministry of Defence (and could be supported by vocal help from the monarchy). A few SNP MPs have researched and contacted the MoD about alternatives. Saying that many bears killed are just coming out of hibernation, so weak easy targets (others are nursing mothers, the cubs starving to death).
Canadian government culls are infrequent, and only authorised to kill the small number of bears straying too close to human habitation. The MoD has no idea about the provenance of the dead bears it buys. John Nicolson MP
Petitions have now closed. So the best way to help is simply to write or email your MP asking them to bring the issue up in parliament. Hopefully an MP can bring a Bill to change the law, it would likely be supported by most MPs on all sides.
Black bears live on many foods (berries, nuts, seeds, salmon, crabs, mussels). In the forest, they disperse more seeds than birds, and use their paws to break logs while grubbing, which returns nutrients to the soil.
When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world. John Muir
Yet over 1 million black bears have been killed for trophy hunting in the last 25 years, in North America. Black bears only venture into ‘human areas’ due to lack of habitat or lack of food.
My chances of being murdered by a human are 60,000 times greater. In working closely with wild bears, I have used bad bear manners on occasion and been slapped, but they were usually just welts. Black bear claws are strong for climbing trees, not sharp for holding prey. Lynn Rogers PhD (black bear expert)
Buckingham Palace by A. A. Milne
They’re changing guard at Buckingham Palace
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
Alice is marrying one of the guard.
“A soldier’s life is terrible hard,”
Says Alice. They’re changing guard at Buckingham Palace –
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
We saw a guard in a sentry-box.
“One of the sergeants looks after their socks,”
Says Alice.
They’re changing guard at Buckingham Palace –
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
We looked for the King, but he never came.
“Well, God take care of him, all the same,”
Says Alice.
They’re changing guard at Buckingham Palace –
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
They’ve great big parties inside the grounds.
“I wouldn’t be King for a hundred pounds,”
Says Alice.
They’re changing guard at Buckingham Palace –
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
A face looked out, but it wasn’t the King’s.
“He’s much too busy a-signing things,”
Says Alice.
They’re changing guard at Buckingham Palace –
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
“Do you think the King knows all about me?”
“Sure to, dear, but it’s time for tea,”
Says Alice.
