The Republic of Great Britain - think it will ever happen?

You know, demote their Royals so they're nothing more than a fancy name?

Establish a true Republic, where there is no Monarch as head of state?

Seems like a no brainer to me - but I'm a Yank

When I lived in Thailand the royal-worship seemed strange to me too

they are a figure head nothing more, they have no political power. Hell they don't even vote, because they don't like taking sides.

On paper only

BUT...if you think about it the Royals are some of the biggest welfare queens in the world

I see that scenario is much more likely than a republican federative republic.

Is there anything more arrogant than someone from one culture insisting every other culture look and behave exactly like his?

It's human

I mean, do you really think its right that Saudi Arabia beheads adulterers?

And don't hide behind PC now...

pomp and circumstance. Here they work under a secret veil to run the government in their favor and we have a supreme count that endorses it ...

I think they like it the way it is in Great Britain.

That's not really different.

Rightly or wrongly, the feeling seems to be that a figurehead is needed to handle the ceremonial duties of state, while a prime minister does the actual work.

It used the Term "Commonwealth of England" but it was a Republic, with Oliver Cromwell as its "Lord Protector".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_of_England

In the battle of the Dunes, Cromwell lead his New Model Army on the beaches of France, allied with Cardinal Mazarin against the Spanish forces out of then Spanish Netherlands (Present Day Belgium). The Spanish were supported by the Future British Kings Charles II and his brother, the later King James II.

For more on the Battle of the Dunes:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Dunes_%281658%29
http://www.british-civil-wars.co.uk/military/anglo-spanish-war-flanders.htm

Thus, Cromwell, who was KNOWN not to tolerate Catholics in England proper (Mostly do to the Catholics support for the King against Parliament, and the greater support of Catholics from the poorer elements of English Society) agreed to protect Catholics and their Churches in Dunkirk, which became English as a result of the Battle. The Keys to the City of Dunkirk was given by Louis XIV himself to Cromwell (After the Restoration, Charles II sold it back to Louis XIV to get the money needed to pay off the New Model Army, which had been in arrears as to pay for over ten years. The New Model Army refused to disburse till its was paid, and until it disbursed it was the main power in England).

And, the Third Republic only remained a Republic was the then heir to the French Throne refused to be crowned under the Tri-Color, if he had agreed, it would have been the second restoration of the French Throne (If we ignore Napoleon's 100 days that divided up the rule of Louis XVIII). By the time that heir died, the Third Republic was well-established and the push to bring back the King was finished (For the time period, it comes back every so often even in the 20th Century).

In some ways, the Fifth Republic is more an elected King then a true Republic, that is what De-Gaulle thought France needed and what he agreed to when he came back to power in the late 1950s and formed the Fifth Republic after the short lived Post WWII Fourth Republic.

I've asked LOTS and have NEVER had one say they were ready to see the Royal Family abolished from daily British life. Not one.

Why do you care?

Spain:


Belgium:


Monaco:


Sweden:


Norway:

:rofl:

USA:
Paris Hilton

Juan Carlos should be credited for what he did in 1975.

Did you know that a UK Legoland attracts more tourists than a nearby royal palace?

Obviously Legoland should be made the titular sovereign of the UK!

...sort of like Disneyland.

Nothing more than celebrities there, just like we have here with Michael Jackson or whatever.

and that goes for all those other non-American countries out there. Yee Ha.

They're just harmless celebrities now, even the most ardent Monarchist doesn't believe that they actually determine government policy. Hence, people don't blame them when stuff goes wrong, and they get to throw a big party every now and then.