The traditions of royalty also helps to provide continuity in a otherwise changing society, with governments changing every 5 years the single monarch, lasting many years, is an perfect example of this, and these traditions is also a very important income in the form of tourism for the country. This revenue from foreign tourists coming to the country outweighs the annual cost of £75million to keep the Monarchy. This small cost, is also much less than other countries spend on supporting their head of state, such as in the United States, where the Presidential bill is many times greater.
The monarchy also manages to stay out of party politics, as it is not a member of any particular party. This makes the elections fair, and in the event of a tied vote, they can decide fairly, where as with a Presidency, in which the President would be a member of one of the political parties, there would be obvious bias. The monarchy is also superior to a Presidential system, as the President, was put into power with the help of supporters, which he owes favour to when he is in power, where as with our queen, she inherited the thrown, and owes it to no one, additionally as her power is limited, she can not abuse it. The queen’s allegiance is to the people. Not just allegiance to the people who voted for him or his political party, but allegiance to all the people of the country equally.
However, although there are many clear points for the monarchy, there are also numerous reasons against the monarchy. The way in which it is a hereditary principle is not acceptable in a modern democratic society, it is unfair, and people should gain a position of power by their abilities not because they are born into a rich family. This inequality is added to in the way in which the royal family emphasises the divide between rich and poor. This case was should very clearly with the Prince Michael of Kent who pay just £69-a-week for a five bedroom, four reception room, when they should be paying around 100x that amount, and still perform very little Royal Duties compared to other Royals. These ‘outer circle’ royals are abusing their power.
These days the respect for the Royal Family has also dwindled, and they no longer have full support, when in August 1997, only 48% of population thought the country would be worse of with no monarchy. The reason for this falling in support, is probably to do with the recent behaviour of the royals, before they were the model family, who idealised family life, however they are now full of affairs, bankruptcies and internal bickering Such event such as Prince Harry’s under age drinking and drug taking, Prince Charles affairs, and the numerous drug taking and financial problems of socialites such as Tara Palmer Tomkinson,
The cost of the monarchy is also said to be a waste, considering the tourist revenue ends up not in the public purse, and so the abolishment of the monarchy would not end tourism. These palaces and estates would still be visited, and new figures would replace the queen, such as a President or Prime Minister. Lastly the monarchy duties, as head of state, could easily be replaced by an elected President, or an existing post such as the Speaker of the House of Commons, it would seem simple for the speaker to dissolve parliament and choose the Prime Minister.
In conclusion I think the monarchy should not be abolished and is a integral part of British society, I have found that most arguments against the monarchy can also easily be counter argued, as republicans say that the monarchy continues class injustice. Well the monarchy is a concept which can transcend class divisions in the sense that, in the eyes of the monarch, all are equal before the Crown. You can look at modern monarchies such as in Japan, Norway and Netherlands, these are all prosperous fair countries, and then look at republics with so called ‘equality’, such as the countries of central and southern America and Africa, rife with oppression and class injustice. Additionally the cost of the monarchy is far less than other countries spend on their president and are needed for the monarchy to be the majestic group, it should be. The idea that the monarchies behaviour is extremely bad, is just the same actions, as recent governments have been, which hold the equally important responsibility to be respected. Are affairs, bribery, corruption, lies, prostitution and paedophilia acceptable? No! but all have been connected to recent governments. Doesn’t the government seem much worse?
Bibliography:
http://www.sovereignty.org.uk
http://www.republic.org.uk
