Republicans Campaign to Abolish British Monarchy

Reuters ^ | Wed Apr 6, 2005 03:57 AM ET | Paul Majendie

[risk]

Republicans Campaign to Abolish British Monarchy Wed Apr 6, 2005 03:57 AM ET By Paul Majendie LONDON (Reuters) - A leading Republican group, galvanized by popular unease at the wedding of Prince Charles to his longtime lover Camilla Parker Bowles, launched a campaign on Wednesday to abolish the British monarchy. "This marriage is making the case for us," said Stephen Haseler, head of the pressure group Republic which believes the time is right to put an end to the House of Windsor. Republic is embarking on its first ever membership drive, with national newspaper advertisements, e-mail petitions and the distribution of 20,000 "End the Royal Farce" leaflets. Convinced it could build a groundswell of support in parliament, Republic also plans to raise the issue with candidates in next month's election. The run-up to Saturday's civil ceremony has been plagued with problems. First the venue had to be switched from Windsor castle to the local town hall in a license mix-up, then Queen Elizabeth declined to attend and finally the date had to be changed to avoid a clash with Pope John Paul's funeral on Friday. "This farce is making people think about what an inadequate institution the monarchy is," Haseler told Reuters. Opinion polls show the British ready to accept the wedding of the two middle-aged divorcees after their 35-year romance. But opposition is as strong as ever to the idea of Camilla ever becoming queen. She is widely seen as "the other woman" who broke up Charles' marriage to the ill-fated Princess Diana. "What we are scenting is that the public is beginning to change its mind on the future of the monarchy when they look at the possibility of King Charles and Queen Camilla," Haseler said. MIXED SUPPORTERS Republic, formed in 1983, boasts an eclectic mix of supporters from gay rights activist Peter Tatchell to actress Honor Blackman. It wants to replace the Windsors with an elected head of state. "It could be either through parliament or by public voting like with Irish President Mary Robinson. In a democratic age, people want their monarchs or heads of state to have some accountability," Haseler said. He also believes the unease in Britain over the wedding could boost their cause in Commonwealth countries where Queen Elizabeth is head of state. "This will give a shot in the arm to republicans in Australia, New Zealand and Canada," he predicted.

[risk]

The name Saxe-Coburg-Gotha came to the British Royal Family in 1840 with the marriage of Queen Victoria to Prince Albert, son of Ernst, Duke of Saxe-Coburg & Gotha. Queen Victoria herself remained a member of the House of Hanover.

The only British monarch of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha was King Edward VII, who reigned for nine years at the beginning of the modern age in the early years of the twentieth century. King George V replaced the German-sounding title with that of Windsor during the First World War. The name Saxe-Coburg-Gotha survived in other European monarchies, including the current Belgian Royal Family and the former monarchies of Portugal and Bulgaria. --Saxe-Coburg-Gotha at royal.gov.uk

[Spktyr]

Sounds like it's time to throw Chuckie from the train and disinherit him from the succession. William appears to be better king material, and if it is known that he will be king it will probably defuse this threat to the Windsors.

[risk]

Those non-Celtic poseurs may have had their day... I say finish the job we started in 1776. Is this a GGG or CW2 ping? How about a Republican Reptile ping? Is it too late for an April Fool's joke? Bwaaaaaahh! Remember 1066!

[Route101]

Hey!...Charles could buy a pub in Wales and retire for life!

[tjwmason]

I say finish the job we started in 1776.

I thought that the job you started in 1776 was self-determination. If so, then you should not try and influence us. You should also be aware that the entire republican movement comes from the hard-left of British politics.

As a conservative my only response to drivel such as this article is a heartfelt cry of God save the Queen.

[tjwmason]

Sounds like it's time to throw Chuckie from the train and disinherit him from the succession. William appears to be better king material, and if it is known that he will be king it will probably defuse this threat to the Windsors.

This is no real threat. Republicans who also have brains (admittedly this is a small proportion of them) know full well that the British Monarchy is as firm as a rock for the rest of the life of our beloved Queen.

Prince Charles goes up and down in the public estimation, and Mrs. Parker-Bowles has been rising slowly in it for some time. Once they are married, the people will 'get over it' as they have got over most things. The opera aria title could be changed from 'la donna e mobile' to include the whole of the population.

As for Prince Charles leaving the succession, I think that would be a bad idea. His major problem is that he is heir to the throne, as such every movement he makes is perceived as 'newsworthy' nobody can thrive in such circumstances; if he is removed then Prince William will be in exactly the same situation. I can see a very good argument for Prince Charles' accession to be followed very swifty by an abdication; but anything now would be most premature.

[freedumb2003]

Charles could buy a pub in Wales and retire for life!

Sounds like it would make a great sitcom -- "Cheerios."

[Selous]

You should also be aware that the entire republican movement comes from the hard-left of British politics.

Wrong. Or, as Louis B Mayer said, "Include me out"

[ken5050]

and today's trivia question is...

What movie role made Honor Blackman famous, nay, even a household word?

[freedumb2003]

I dunno.

Sounds like another joke:

"On her or off her?"
"Thank you, your Honor that's the best offer I've had all week."

[tjwmason]

To be British and republican is explicitly to be non-conservative.

[mewzilla]

As a conservative my only response to drivel such as this article is a heartfelt cry of God save the Queen.

God save the whole family. They surely need it.

[ken5050]

"Goldfinger"....she played Pussy Galore..

[Selous]

Avoiding the various, and not wholly congruent, dictionary definitions of conservative, would you care to expand on your assertion.

[libertylover]

What? Give up all those tourists going to see the Changing of the Guard everyday?

[JudgemAll]

Funny how Republic greenies use against Charles his own progressist promiscuous greeniness too...

This would be the end of British history as we know it, the final blow before being swallowed by the EU, with no Royal family to remind what the German Nazis did to its Teutonic relatives over there.

By the way, catholucs are asking for term limits on the Pope....and thus on the Bible!! and its Saints testimonies!!! It's nice to be able to go on and forget like Clinton loves doing (sarc

[JudgemAll]

Funny how Republic greenies use against Charles his own progressist promiscuous greeniness too...

This would be the end of British history as we know it, the final blow before being swallowed by the EU, with no Royal family to remind what the German Nazis did to its Teutonic relatives over there.

By the way, catholucs are asking for term limits on the Pope....and thus on the Bible!! and its Saints testimonies!!! It's nice to be able to go on and forget like Clinton loves doing...Clinton wanted all but himself to move on

[tjwmason]

would you care to expand on your assertion

Being brief - Conservatism is the non-ideological ideology. It is essentially the natural outworking of the community in which it is located. Thus in America it is inter alia incredibly (and rightly) proud of the achievements of that Republic in its short history. Thus in Britain, it is strongly focused on that most fundamental basis of Britain and British government - the Monarchy.

I would also argue that conservatism more generally leans towards monarchy, as it is familially based governance.

Finally, conservatism is always opposed to unnecessary change. Thus an argument has to be built as to why the Monarchy is wrong; I have never come across one which holds any water - except from radical leftist perspectives.

[Cronos]

Remember 1066!

err... in 1066, a non-Celtic King (Saxon) was replaced by another non-Celtic King (a Norman-Viking).

[lowbridge]

Or, as Louis B Mayer said, "Include me out"

Samuel Goldwyn. Not Mayer.