It was announced recently that the Queen will be rewarded with 369 million pounds to renovate Buckingham Palace. However, major questions were asked and a petition was consequently launched for the Queen herself "to pay for (the) huge repairs", as the Metro newpsaper noted. In light of this, it has led me to question, do we still need the Royal Family anymore and are they a good or bad thing for Great Britain?
Where they do good
It is important to state that the Royal Family and Queen Elizabeth II do bring a lot of good to the country. One key argument is the #financial aspect.
The website TopTenz stated that the monarchy brings in around 500 million pounds annually from overseas tourists. In addition, the Independent newspaper claimed that the total value of the monarchy to the UK's economy was an estimated 1.155 billion pounds in 2015.
There is also the charity work aspect. In addition to the financial benefits, there is the simple truth that the world has seriously benefited from the Royal Family's charitable work. It has even gone as far to provide a good reputation of Great Britain as a result and support too from outside our own four walls. A survey found, as TopTenz reported, that 71 per cent of the American public believe that the monarchy is good for Britain.
There is also the diplomatic angle. The fact that the Royal Family is apolitical ensures that they can represent the country's values without being criticised of partisan politics. Even more so, there are even those who advocate the view that 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'.
The criticisms
However, despite this, there are many ways in which the monarchy is bad for Great Britain.
One aspect is financial. Counter-research claims by the Campaign group Republic stated that the Royal Family actually costs the tax payer 344 million pounds a year, according to the Independent newspaper. There is also the argument that the Royal Family members
There is also the argument that the Royal Family members take advantage of their position for their own benefit.
In addition to the story regarding the Queen at the top of the article, it was also claimed in July of this year by the website AOL that Prince Andrew abused his position. He spent 5,000 pounds in taking a "taxpayer-funded helicopter" from his home in Windsor to play a round of golf in Kent.
There is also the undemocratic element. It is not only the case that the Queen is an unelected official but pays no tax. This surely goes against every grain of reasoning in a civilised society as is ours. There is also the law to consider. The dictionary defines the rule of law as "the principle that all people and institutions are subject to and accountable to law that is fairly applied and enforced".
However, despite this, there is one person who is above that said rule of law; the #Queen of England.We all abide by and follow the rule of law but the Queen somehow seems to be above it.
How can that be tolerable in a fair and decent society?
Where now going forward?
In reflection I do not deny that the institution of the monarchy has served us very well for a long period of time. But the question now is, are they needed anymore? The times have changed now. There is no longer the great British Empire that there once was.
The Queen's role is mainly #ceremonial and is restricted largely to advising and consenting. It is the Prime Minister, his/her Cabinet and the MPs themselves who run the country instead and this is how it should be. They have been elected by the people and they represent those people in Government and Parliament. Is it now time Britain comes together and ultimately modernises with the times. The nation needs it. We need it.
