Popular protests against the monarchy and whispers of British opposition to the monarchy and the Queen herself have started in the UK and the Commonwealth. Public protests against the monarchy began after the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, costing British taxpayers £ 6.35 million. The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and its staggering cost during Britain’s difficult economic situation have also added fuel to the fire. The British people are now faced with fundamental questions about the continuation of the monarchy. The first question is, in the 21st century, why does this country need an expensive monarchy? Or what is the rationale for the existence of this extravagant and costly dynasty at a time when the British economy and people are in crisis, given the high costs, salaries and benefits of the royal family? And basically, why is the taxpayers’ money spent on costly celebrations, entertainments and ceremonies by this family? These and dozens of other questions have led the British people, for the first time, to publicly oppose the monarchy.
Liverpool Fans Booing Royal Family
Liverpool fans once again protested against the royal family at Wembley. Prince William was loudly booed by Liverpool fans. As soon as William walked out on the pitch, the boos began. When his name was announced, the boos got louder and louder. Describing most Liverpool fans as “wonderful people”, Jürgen Klopp said: “Of course I have thought to myself, but in such cases one has to ask the question: ‘Why did this happen?'” He added: “They do not do that without a reason.” I have been here long enough to know the reason, and it is undoubtedly due to historical issues; and you probably know the answers to these questions better than I do. Most of our fans are wonderful people; they are very smart and have experienced hot and cold times and they will not do so for no reason.
The Inefficiency of the Monarchy
Once upon a time, the British royal family and the kings and queens were the symbols of unity in the great colonial empire, and it was said that the sun never sets on the empire. But today, such a dictatorial system no longer meets the needs of a crisis-ridden economy, ethnic and racial divergences and other problems. Today, the system of the Queen and the Constitutional Kingdom of Britain can no longer prevent the disintegration of the four main components that make up this country.
Today, talk of separatist independence movements in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are heard more than ever before, signaling a weakening of the central government and that the people of these regions no longer want to be ruled by the Queen as forced allies of Great Britain.
The Queen’s Unlimited Powers
While many Britons are under the misconception that the Queen’s position in the “British Constitutional Monarchy” is a ceremonial one, the Queen’s unlimited powers show that she is the only powerful ruler in Britain. The existence of the government, parliament, prime minister and judiciary, is nothing more than a deception. To better understand the powers of the queen, let us enumerate some of these:
- Appointment and dismissal of ministers, dissolution of parliament (the Lords and Commons) and invitation to form or close the parliament
- Appointment of members of the House of Lords
- Appointment and dismissal of the prime minister
- Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces
- Determining foreign policy
- Determining the highest judicial authority and issuing an amnesty and mitigation order for convicts
More interesting and thought-provoking is that with all this absolute power and unlimited authority of the king and queen, they are not responsible and accountable to any of the three ruling forces of Britain.
The Severe Economic Crisis in Britain
Perhaps the most important reason for the anti-monarchy protests is the economic crisis that has affected many people in this country, especially the working classes. The British people, who suffer from many economic problems, unemployment, job insecurity, and the austerity imposed by their rulers, cannot see the extravagance and fun of their Queen, who, regardless of the problems of the people, organises costly celebrations with their tax money. This is why the people are running out of patience and want to overthrow the monarchy. Some news outlets reported that many Facebook users posted a picture of Queen Elizabeth II, mocking her and writing: “It cost millions of pounds.” “Unlike other British citizens, she is not accountable to the law, she does not pay any inheritance tax,” said one protester. “Many British people are pessimistic about the monarchy,” said another London protester.
The Spread of the Wave of Independence and Separatism in Britain
Evidence shows that the old colonial power is not facing a problem that has previously been promoted in other countries. Today, the voice of independence and secession is heard around the UK, in the three regions of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, with Scotland leading the way. The Scottish National Party continues to pursue independence from the central government these days. The independence of Scotland, home to the UK’s largest oil producer, is not far-off. With the strengthening of the Scottish identity and aversion towards the central government, the secession movement seems to be gaining strength in the region, as it is gaining ground in the other two regions in Britain, namely Wales and Northern Ireland. It is noteworthy that the wave of opposition to the monarchy and the Queen is more visible in these three regions than the English part of the union.
Why Do Some Britons Want An End To The Monarchy
When asked about the British monarchy a significant part of the citizens want the laws to be amended and prefer the leader of the country to be elected by the people.
“I personally think we do not need a monarchy anymore. I’m not sure what their purpose is. They are an institution left over from the colonial era and a very different time,” a citizen said. “If we look at the time when Queen Elizabeth came to the throne, we see that it was not long after World War II and the Commonwealth was in a completely different situation. At that time, the empire was more meaningful than it is now. “We choose, so I do not know why we need the monarchy. In theory, everything should be approved by the Queen, but in practice she is just a ceremonial official, which also costs a lot.”
“Taxpayers’ money is also spent on supporting many members of the royal family who have been given special jobs because of their titles and need security and other things. But what are they actually doing for the country? I’m not saying anything,” Kirsten said. “They do not do anything, but what do they do that is so special and so related to the monarchy that no one else can do it?”
“Queen Elizabeth has reigned for a long time and she has done so in good faith. She looks like a good woman, but I see no need for a monarchy other than tourism, and I think people who want to visit Buckingham Palace ‘can go there without a monarchy.’”
“I think members of the royal family are government employees who have a lot of privileges. They were born with jobs and they cannot change them,” said Sami Knight. Sami, who was born in Canada but is a British citizen, believes the monarchy has no place in the future of the country and the Commonwealth.
“I think with the death of the Queen, the monarchy will disappear as an institution. I do not care about the monarchy, but the Queen is an extraordinary woman. I am sorry for the death of Prince Philip because now only the Queen remains. I admire the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, they have had a really wonderful life and I think they are incredibly dedicated to serving the people despite their advanced age. I do not like the younger members of the royal family and I think it is time for the people of Britain to elect their leader.”
“As a Scotsman, I could no longer feel alienated from the monarchy. The only thing that reminds us of their existence is taxation,” said Matthew Burton-Webster, a childcare specialist from Kirkcaldy on the east coast of Scotland. “They claim to be the owners of places in Scotland and spend their holidays here on their private property, but apparently do not give anything in return. They have formed a vain English institution and tradition that no one else “It does not benefit them.”
Conclusion
Protests by the British people against the monarchy, currently rooted in the economic crisis and independence movements, are due to a larger issue overall, which is the inefficiency of a medieval monarchy in the eyes of the people and many experts. This system does not have the necessary efficiency for convergence, unity, integration, or solving the economic problems of this crisis-stricken country. With the monarchy having added to the country’s economic woes, plus many other problems such as the high cost of extravagant celebrations, ceremonies and salaries, the British people want the monarchy to be dismantled. This will lead to the collapse of Britain in the future, given the whispers of independence in other parts of the UK.