The role of the British Monarchy, Popularity and Future discussion

[Curryong]

Wow they couldn't wait for the Queen to catch a flight, couldn't wait for a 'few hours' for touchdown! Whoever pressured the QM and M...they wanted out ipso facto/ASAP...

That would have been the PM, Ted Heath, who ordinarily would have discussed things on a visit to BP and given up his commission. As it was, he was deep in talks with Jeremy Thorpe, head of the Liberals, intent on a coalition to cling onto power. Depending where the Queen was in Australia at the time the crisis broke (she could have been in an outback town)  it would have taken at least 24 hours to fly home after she?d heard about it.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-26381917

[Curryong]

The Queen and crises of this sort in her reign.

No hung parliament means a sigh of relief for the Queen

[LouisFerdinand]

Is 1974 the only year of Queen Elizabeth II's reign that Parliament was dissolved?

[Curryong]

Is 1974 the only year of Queen Elizabeth II's reign that Parliament was dissolved?

1974 was an exceptional year. Read the article I posted earlier though.

In theory, if there has been a general election and the Party hitherto in power is not able to cobble together a coalition with (a) minor Party or Parties then that Party has lost power in the Commons and the PM must resign, leading to the Opposition being asked by the sovereign to form govt.

If that proves undoable then another election is called. That is usually when Parliament is dissolved by the Sovereign. However Heath (a very stubborn man facing revolts from within his own Party, the Conservatives, and facing a probable leadership challenge), seemed determined to hold on to power by hook or by crook. He did not succeed.


From the article I linked below.

?Whereas four general elections in the first half of the 20th century left no party with a majority in parliament, in the second half, every election except one delivered a majority to either the Conservatives or Labour.

The Queen?s role

The exception was in February 1974, when Labour emerged as the largest party but without a majority. A contemporary record of the negotiations that led to Harold Wilson forming a minority Labour government articulated a number of principles regarding the Queen?s role.

That the sitting prime minister, Edward Heath, had the constitutional right to remain in office until parliament met, even though his party had secured fewer seats than Labour and he was not yet in a position to guarantee that he would be able to command a working majority with the support of other parties.

The Queen should not be required to take action until the sitting prime minister had tendered his resignation.

While she should not be involved in the negotiations leading to a new administration, she should be kept fully informed of the developing situation via her private secretary.?

[TLLK]

Why the Royals need to move on from Prince Andrew and 'Megxit' - YouTube

Three recent controversies threaten to overshadow this year's Jubilee celebrations: Prince Andrew's 'sexual assault' case, Prince Charles' cash for honours investigation and Prince Harry's upcoming memoir.

Each of these three issues generates a huge amount of coverage which may well detract from the usual wave popularity associated with Jubilee celebrations.

In the latest episode of Royal Insight, The Telegraph's Associate Editor Camilla Tominey explains why it will be so important for the Royals to move past these controversies.

[wannable]

[Curryong]

Well, whoever was polled doesn?t have to worry because the last thing the Sussexes would want would be to go back to the UK under any circumstances to join any working royal roundup.

This sort of question is reminiscent of the British tabloids who have been screaming since 2019 that the couple are getting no work, they?re running out of money, Harry never smiles, is never happy, is missing the UK etc. All of which is palpably untrue.

[TLLK]

I realize that there's been some stories circulating that the PoW would like to offer the Sussexes are role in his reign, but at this point in time I don't see it happening at all. As far as I can tell they don't want to return to that life again and if they wanted to, it would have happened during the one year review was up. Now  on the very off chance that  the couple ever choose to return full time to the UK, I'd see them at the most taking on a role that is similar to their cousins Beatrice and Eugenie. Meaning  they're present at all of the wider public family events: the next couple of coronations, funerals, weddings,  Trooping, Ascot, the occasional BP garden party while acting as patron to their current patronages/charities that they've retained.
However I really don't see them choosing to leave California at this point in time or the near future.

[TLLK]

How the Royal family is changing before our very eyes - YouTube

The Queen's reduced mobility has forced some significant concessions to the Royal calendar and has significantly changed the nature of her engagements.

At 95, it's hardly surprising that the monarch has had to prioritise quality over quantity when it comes to the Royal diary.

Equally, the future heirs to the throne have played a significant role by stepping up and filling in for the head of state.

But in the aftermath of the Cambridges' Caribbean tour, as well as the departure of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, it has become increasingly evident just how different the monarchy will be in the future.

In April's episode of Royal Insight, The Telegraph's Associate Editor Camilla Tominey analyses the future of the monarchy.

[TLLK]

I somehow missed the 2022 YouGov Quarter One Popularity Poll for the BRF- January-March 2022.

The most popular royalty in the UK | Politics | YouGov Ratings
In order of popularity for all adults: 1. QEII 2. William 3. Phillip 4. Catherine 5. Anne 6. Charles 7. Sophie 8. Camilla 9. Zara 10. Edward. 11. Harry 12.  Beatrice .  13. Eugenie 14. Meghan 15. Andrew.

You Gov needs to remove: Phillip-deceased.

[Curryong]

That latest YouGov poll is ridiculous. A dead man on it (and gone for over a year) and six non working royals!

[TLLK]

I agree @Curryong.  I don't understand why the DoE is still an option?

[TLLK]

Writer Tina Brown has some "suggestions" for the PoW when his reign begins. IMO the one that seems to be the easiest to implement would be Prince Andrew moving to another part of the UK.

archive.ph

It?s 2030. King Charles is on the throne, with Queen Camilla by his side. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are touring the country, shoring up the Union. The Duke of York is wiling away his days in Cornwall, out of sight and temptation. The Sussexes are back as working royals, touring the world to promote ?the new Commonwealth?, of which Charles is no longer head of state. ?The Firm? has never looked more modern and its credit rating is higher than anyone dared to imagine after Charles?s coronation. Wishful thinking by arch-monarchists? No. This is what the woman who wrote the book on the royals thinks could happen, provided the monarchy plays its cards right.

A recent YouGov poll on who will make a better king in the future-Charles or William the poll includes the views of those who would prefer to have an elected Head of State.

Who will be a better monarch: the Queen, Prince Charles or Prince William? | YouGov

And today's YouGov poll on which of the Wales' brothers is the best role model for young people. A similar poll was taken in 2012 for the Diamond Jubilee. There are the expected divisions between the age groups.

Britons see Prince William as a good role model but are split over Prince Harry | YouGov

[wannable]

YouGov's latest poll before the start of Jubilee events this week

[LouisFerdinand]

Why is Prince Henry being considered a role model? He stepped away from royal duties. If he wanted a private life, why is he forever in the news?

[Amabel2]

He is not, thankfully forever in the news.  but it was always likely that he would be in the news in spite of claiming to want a private life.  how else can he make a living?

[Nightowl]

As my friends have said to me.....*we are so damn glad William was born first*, William rose to the challenge and made his family proud of him for the way he is tackling the responsibility of a future king....Harry is a spoiled brat who wants what he wants when he wants something as shown by his actions and behavior......let Harry and wifey stay in Ca doing what they do best.....and not saying what they do best as it is not printable here........ :wacko:

[TLLK]

According to YouGovUk, King Charles III is enjoying a boost in how the UK views him and his prospects as a monarch. The Queen Consort is also being viewed more favorably as she begins her new role. Interestingly 1-3 Britons believe that King Charles should consider abdication at some point in the future.

Britons? first impressions of King Charles III | YouGov

Three quarters think he has provided good leadership in the aftermath of the Queen?s death, and three in five expect him to be a good king

With King Charles monarch for just a few days now, a new YouGov/Times survey shows that attitudes towards the new king have already shifted substantially.

Asked how they anticipate his reign, 63% say they think Charles will do a good job as king, with only 15% thinking he will do a bad one. This is a marked improvement for the new monarch: in a survey in May Britons were split 32% to 32% on whether or not the-then Prince Charles would make a good king.

Britons also think that Camilla ? now Queen Consort ? will do a good job in her new role, at 53% to 18%.

One of King Charles?s first acts as monarch was to address the nation about the passing of his mother. Three in five Britons say they saw or heard the King?s speech, with almost universal approval ? 94% of those say it was a good speech.

[Curryong]

This is the honeymoon period, when public sorrow for the late Queen and for the new monarch and his family is at its height. Wait until after the Coronation when things have settled down a bit, say mid 2024, before we see the less ecstatic feelings of the British public towards Charles and Camilla, especially the latter.

I remember the feeling of magic and excitement in the air around the Queen?s accession and Coronation. That feeling didn?t evaporate much until 1954-55, and even then the Queen had the advantage of being attractive, with a young and handsome husband and two young children.

Charles and Camilla do not have those and are a couple well into their 70s already. Wait until the first time Charles is said to have meddled in something political or Camilla?s state of health deteriorates meaning less engagements, or Charles?s  extravagant way of life and excessive air travel starts to bite. There will always be something. 

[wannable]

We shall see. His first speech as King was so amazing he has new fans 😍

Yes hopefully he will do a great job.

I am sure he will improve DOL, Sandringham, Balmoral and SG. He is great with that.

Everything else is, will he write letters to PMs 😭 like he promised NI today he will pledge for welfare. The only way is writing ✍️

[Curryong]

There?s already backlash from the public about Andrew being allowed to wear a uniform for the Vigil in London and another one re redundancy notices for over 100 Clarence House staff, many of whom have worked there for over a decade.

[wannable]

He can?t do anything about the 100. Or he is too excessive or a backlash.

Andrew is the son of the Queen. I?ll leave it there.

2 minor problems that have no right way.

[Nightowl]

I would like to think that there are bigger things to worry about then a darn uniform for either Andrew or Harry as after all that uniform is all about their egos and how they see themselves.   :laugh10:


Please give Charles a darn break......bashing him while he is burying his mother and taking on and doing all the duties required of him .......good grief!  Thrown that darn pen across the room if I was him..no wonder he is frustrated now, he needs deep sleep and a great home cooked meal and no phones or TV for 24 hours...recharge is needed by him and Camilla before he has a darn heart attack.

[wannable]

The purple hues are positive
The orange hues are negative

The lighter purple hue, the individual has to work on it to keep it rather than have it fall to orange
Same goes with the lighter orange hue, the individual should improve to make it a purple hue.

[Curryong]

Camilla?s figures aren?t so great.

And why is YouGov still including those who have left the working royals in these polls? Supposedly they?re including everyone in the BRF so where are Eugenie and Beatrice on this chart, and Lady Louise?  Not to mention the Wessexes, the Kents and the Gloucesters.