Queen calls emergency meeting

[PhiltheGreek]

I'm not a pygmy, in fact, I have 1,71 m and for a woman, I'm tall

In the past, your Queen didn't invite the Prime Minister's wife of my country because he was not married. Came from that immoral family it's ironic.

If they're not married she couldn't be his wife. Anyway, IIRC that was just an excuse. The real reason is that she has halitosis, the manners of a navvy and drones on like a fishwife.

Erm, The Queen is the King's wife, whoever she is. It doesn't work the other way around as in a male dominated society that would put the Queen's husband above the true monarch. Or have I failed Royalty 101?

Personally I'd like to see Elizabeth II to be the last monarch and we should use the opportunity to drag the country into the modern world. Though after Brexit I'm not optimistic.

Have a monarchy knowledge gold star. BTW - the alternative is finding someone to vote for every 5 years. How well do you think that would work?

[The_Equalizer]

Then put 'Royal Family' out to competitive tender to see if the UK can get a more economically advantageous deal.

I think that's what's known as confusing cost with value.

[Bee]

Certainly the queen's husband doesn't become king, but I thought the king's wife doesn't always become queen. Diana would've IIRC and Camilla/Kate won't but I'm not sure the details.

I think you are right. But I don't know if Prince Charles can decide to make Camilla a Queen consort.

"In the United Kingdom, there is no automatic right of the consort of a queen to receive any title, as with any husband of a suo jure peeress. Queen Elizabeth II (acceded 1952) did not create her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh a Prince of the United Kingdom until 1957, five years after her accession. He has never been formally designated Prince Consort or King Consort".

[OwlHoot]

Personally I'd like to see Elizabeth II to be the last monarch and we should use the opportunity to drag the country into the modern world. Though after Brexit I'm not optimistic.

You novelty hounds find it impossible to grasp, or you forget, that new does not always mean better.

(More often than not these days, besides technical and scientific advances, it's the opposite! )

[VectraMan]

BTW - the alternative is finding someone to vote for every 5 years. How well do you think that would work?

Not necessarily. Theresa May is in charge of the government, just like Angel Merkel is in Germany. We have a head of state based on a medieval right of succession; their president is chosen by a vote of the politicians (I forget exactly how). In both cases it's based on the idea that they do not get involved, so what does it matter? If you vote for someone then that gives them an implied mandate, and means they end up having political allegiances, and that's not what a head of state should be doing.

OTOH we could simply do what works in the US and France and make The President the real head of the government.

[PhiltheGreek]

Not necessarily. Theresa May is in charge of the government, just like Angel Merkel is in Germany. We have a head of state based on a medieval right of succession; their president is chosen by a vote of the politicians (I forget exactly how). In both cases it's based on the idea that they do not get involved, so what does it matter? If you vote for someone then that gives them an implied mandate, and means they end up having political allegiances, and that's not what a head of state should be doing.

OTOH we could simply do what works in the US and France and make The President the real head of the government.

Christ man, think what you're saying.



FWIW, we never set out to be liked by everybody, just to do a good job.

[VectraMan]

You novelty hounds find it impossible to grasp, or you forget, that new does not always mean better.

Yes the "Republic" is a new idea I've just thought of.

[WTFH]

Yes the "Republic" is a new idea I've just thought of.

I think Plato may have beaten you by over 1600 years.

[OwlHoot]

I think Plato may have beaten you by over 1600 years.

Obviously he was implying that it isn't a new idea. But it would be new for the UK, unless you count the Commonwealth period. Perhaps Vetran would prefer an all-powerful "Lord Protector", like Oliver Cromwell?

Even an elected head of state would throw our constitution completely out of kilter, as they would have no less democratic legitimacy than MPs including the Prime Minister and other ministers.

[SueEllen]

Obviously he was implying that it isn't a new idea. But it would be new for the UK, unless you count the Commonwealth period. Perhaps Vetran would prefer an all-powerful "Lord Protector", like Oliver Cromwell?

Even an elected head of state would throw our constitution completely out of kilter, as they would have no less democratic legitimacy than MPs including the Prime Minister and other ministers.

Cromwell tried to make it hereditary. ...