Another heir to the throne

[richw]

Does anyone actually have any figures to support that they are expensive to the taxpayer - for example how much do they cost when the income from tourism that they generate is deducted, in comparison to say the presidents of the USA or France? I'm not super-keen on any of the royal family as people after the Queen or the Duke of Edinburgh but I'd rather live under a monarchy than a republic: of course this also allows for some perpetual political neutrality in the country's governance (same with the HoL).

I've seen the figures previously about 2-3 years back, and the money from tourism and also business from abroad related to the royal family were generating more money than they were costing the UK.
They were a considerably profitable asset to UK PLC.

 

[transmanche]

Since the British monarchy was re-established in 1660, what logical reason is there for a British constitutional monarch to be Head of the Armed Forces ?

I am sure someone with full British monarchical knowledge on this forum will come up with the logical reason for this to be so.

It's common for the head of state to be the titular head of the armed forces, but with de facto control in the hands of the head(s) of government.

For example, the Queen is also head of the Canadian armed forces - which would leave her in a bit of a pickle if our two countries ever went to war!

I guess it means you have a neutral non-political head that the servicemen/women swear allegiance too. In the same way that police constables swear to uphold the "Queen's peace".

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Why should a British constitutional monarch have any titular involvement with any Canadian military establishment, ceremonial or otherwise ? Is the Queen anything to do with military establishments in New Zealand, Australia...or any other Commonwealth nations ?

This sounds like something out of a comedy script from The Two Ronnies

 

[Pride Of Crewe]

I'm pleased for her... but its gone into overkill.

 

[yorksrob]

Better out than in

 

[ReverendFozz]

Look at the people in government, almost anything would be better than them. Election is no magic wand after all the Germans elected a Mr A. Hitler and look how that turned out.

Leave well alone, any change will almost certainly be for the worse, would you want to lick a stamp with for example Tony Blairs picture on it?

If I saw a stamp with Tony Blairs head on, I would get confused as which side to spit on

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I'm pleased for her... but its gone into overkill.

Anyone remember an old saying that Vic Reeves used in his show some years ago..just change the first word and you get...They wouldn't let it lie.....

Thank goodness there are numerous other channels to watch that are not obsessed with old news.

 

[Oswyntail]

Why should a British constitutional monarch have any titular involvement with any Canadian military establishment, ceremonial or otherwise ? Is the Queen anything to do with military establishments in New Zealand, Australia...or any other Commonwealth nations ?

This sounds like something out of a comedy script from The Two Ronnies

It, of course, depends on the Constitutions of those countries, as maintained by their democratically elected parliaments, as with the UK. It would, of course, be possible for any country to ask for ER to be head of their armed forces - bizarre, but possible.
If you read Bagehot on Constitutional Monarchy, IIRC he states that its chief importance lies not in what the Monarch is empowered to do (which is often tiddly-squit) but in the powers that having a Monarch denies to others. The Canadians have seen the wisdom of this; their ex-colonial neighbours have not.

 

[Manchester77]

Well the baby's heading home

 

[ainsworth74]

Why should a British constitutional monarch have any titular involvement with any Canadian military establishment, ceremonial or otherwise ? Is the Queen anything to do with military establishments in New Zealand, Australia...or any other Commonwealth nations ?

I would imagine for the same reason that she's head of the UK armed forces, because she's the head of state of Canada.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I would imagine for the same reason that she's head of the UK armed forces, because she's the head of state of Canada.

What is classified as "titular" in Britain may well be an accepted fact of life there, but surely is now totally meaningless in a country such as Canada in the 21st century.

I still await the answer to my earlier posting of how the Queen is involved with the armed forces of New Zealand and Australia, remembering the ANZAC battalions.

 

[transmanche]

Why should a British constitutional monarch have any titular involvement with any Canadian military establishment, ceremonial or otherwise ?

Because as well as being Queen of the United Kingdom, she is also Queen of Canada - and the Canadian head of state.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

What is classified as "titular" in Britain may well be an accepted fact of life there, but surely is now totally meaningless in a country such as Canada in the 21st century.

I guess the Canadians are happy with a constitutional monarchy.

I still await the answer to my earlier posting of how the Queen is involved with the armed forces of New Zealand and Australia, remembering the ANZAC battalions.

The Queen (as Queen of Australia and Queen of New Zealand) is the head of state of both nations. So the head of the armed forces will either be her, or the respective Governor-General - who is nominally the Queen's representative and the de facto head of state.

 

[ainsworth74]

What is classified as "titular" in Britain may well be an accepted fact of life there, but surely is now totally meaningless in a country such as Canada in the 21st century.

Because the people there are happy to have her as their head of state. There's been plenty of polling, discussion and debate and the result always seems to be in favour of maintaining the status quo. Indeed Australia, Tuvalu and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines have all had referendums in recent years and the result was in favour of keeping the Queen as head of state.

I still await the answer to my earlier posting of how the Queen is involved with the armed forces of New Zealand and Australia, remembering the ANZAC battalions.

She is the head of the armed forces (well I believe the Governor General is in her stead) in those countries just as she is the head of state.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

My thanks are extended both to ainsworth74 and to transmanche for their most excellent posting hypotheses in response to my "Devil's Advocate" postings.

 

[transportphoto]

The name of the Royal Baby has been announced:

His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge.

Full name: George Alexander Louis.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are delighted to announce that they have named their son George Alexander Louis.

The baby will be known as His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge.

TP

 

[ainsworth74]

Prince George is the name they've gone for with the middle names of Alexander and Louis.

 

[Qwerty133]

Alexander

Only decent bit in the name

 

[Eagle]

That is all.

 

[SS4]

Whilst we are on this theme, why do the BBC weather forecasters have to report from locations external to the broadcasting studio in all weathers. I really feel for those who have to make their reports in winter in bitterly cold conditions, whilst the other presenters are in climatically approved surroundings inside the studios.

If we're griping about the weather surely we must start with all reporters overtly passing off their opinion as fact. It will not be nice tomorrow - you think it will be! It will be 23 degrees. Imagine if the main news programming did that

 

[ReverendFozz]

That is all.

Lmao, was thinking about Blackadder when I heard the news...Prnce Georges opinion on socks
"Socks are like sex, plenty around and I'm getting none"


Sent from my HTC Wildfire S A510e using Tapatalk 2

 

[ATW Alex 101]

Nice to see my first name as part of the name for the little one.

 

[starrymarkb]

So how long before the baby is replaced by a camp pink hippo... People with Photoshop skills get working!

 

[Eagle]

So how long before the baby is replaced by a camp pink hippo... People with Photoshop skills get working!

That'll please the Canadians. But who will be Sharky?

 

[AntoniC]

Good luck to them and thats coming from a staunch Republican like me , who is a Crown Servant.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Prince George is the name they've gone for with the middle names of Alexander and Louis.

How sad that the opportunity to totally move away from the Germanic House of Hanover has been missed, who were the first British monarchs to use the name George.

Could the influence of the "old guard" had a hand in this naming.

 

[ainsworth74]

And here I thought George was an English name what with St George and all!

 

[IanD]

St George wasn't English so why would his name be English?

Love the Blackadder reference.

Hope he marries a Princess Mildred.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

And here I thought George was an English name what with St George and all!

I think that besides the Germanic connection, there are also historical links to the Greek monarchy.

 

[starrymarkb]

I think that besides the Germanic connection, there are also historical links to the Greek monarchy.

Yes, Prince Philip...

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

And here I thought George was an English name what with St George and all!

The story of St George and the Dragon was brought back to Europe by returning Crusaders. St George was born in Palestine and was a solder in the Roman army and was said to be an early Christian martyr.

He is especially venerated by the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria due to his birthplace and all the known Eastern Orthodox Churches also venerate him.

Georgia and Bulgaria are two European countries that make special note of him, but the Eastern Orthodox religion that prevailed for eons, despite persecution by invaders, will have surely been instrumental in this matter.