(Photo: Chris Jackson/Pool via REUTERS)
Are the roles of Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles and the rest of the royal family in danger of being abolished? Debates about changing the form of government in the U.K., thus effectively removing the monarchy, has been going on for years.
While many British people still love the royal family, these talks have once again come to light because of the royals' recent controversies. What will likely happen if the British monarchy is gone?
In 1994, then Labour MP Dennis Skinner suggested some alternative jobs for members of the royal family at that time. Skinner, who is notoriously anti-monarchists, said with much sarcasm that Princess Diana and the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, could work as marriage guidance counselors. During this period, both Lady Di and Fergie were having problems in their marriage to Prince Charles and Princess Andrew, respectively.
Skinner also said that Queen Elizabeth can tend to horses when she's no longer the ruler. Her husband, Prince Philip, could probably run a kebab shop in the north of London.
The politician was confident that the British public is growing increasingly against the monarchy. But 25 years later, Queen Elizabeth and the royal family are still at Buckingham Palace though the monarchy is yet again threatened by its latest scandals.
According to Vice, anti-monarchy sentiments are usually born from the idea that the royal family enjoys an enormous amount of privilege at the expense of taxpayers. So, there are those who see the benefits in abolishing the monarchy since the money generated by the Crown will be given back to the people in the form of government funds. Buckingham Palace alone is said to be worth close to $16 billion (£12 billion).
However, even if this is the case, members of the royal family may continue to live a relatively privileged life because Queen Elizabeth and her ancestors have clearly defined which properties belong to their personal estate, such as Balmoral in Scotland and Sandringham in Norfolk. Thus, they will still have enough fortune to support their next generation.
Eventually, however, the royal family will not become as popular as they are today if the monarchy is abolished. They will be relegated to private citizens who may or may not be asked at high-profile events.
Pro-monarchists don't think that the monarchy will be dissolved. The British constitution's centerpiece is all about the Crown and it could take generations to change its provisions.
