Why?

So did we, had a great day good food, good drink, and some lovely quality time with my family.

Christmas came Airlie

Although from all accounts "you was robbed" according to Justin that is...... Long live our gracious Queen.....

because you're peddling garbage that the Queen has some kind of power, when she doesn't.



It's a poor republican argument with no substance or evidence.

No power apart from having to give assent for any act passed by parliment to become law you mean, it may be a formaLITY IN recent times, but in theory she could refuse to give assesnt to any act and it wouldn't be law.



She can also (again in theory) disolve parliment unilaterally,

The Queen is head of state. She has the power to dissolve Parliament on a whim, she has to consent to any laws that Parliament passes, the elected Prime Minister has to ask her permission to form a Government - the list goes on. This is [ireal power[/i whether or not it has been used in recent times.



On top of that, members of the Royal Family have enormous influence if they choose to exert it - as our future King has done on any number of occasions.



None of this is a 'poor Republican argument' - it's fact. I'd prefer those powers to be invested in an elected representative with legal and constitutional restraints on their usage rather than have them reside with someone chosen by an accident of birth with NO legal or constitutional restraints.



I'd also prefer to be a Citizen rather than a Subject. The difference may seem to be minimal on the face of it but I feel that the symbolism is powerful. Maybe if we were all Citizens we might develop more of a sense of identity as a country and ownership of our own destiny.



I'm far from a rabid Republican and don't have a particular axe to grind with the Royals just because of their status. I just feel that there are better ways to run a country in the 21st century.

You are deluded, there is no other explanation for your irrational thought on this matter.

Does it not say British CITIZEN on your passport? Who classes you as a subject? Except yourself on some ancient technicality.



Still waiting for you to present some evidence to Standee to back up this claim that the Royals influence government.

kosh guevara the great revolutionary. His face will be emblazoned across millions of t-shirts in the future. Power to the people

I think the point is they could if they wanted too. A very valid one.



I think there is room for both personally. The Royals, in my opinion should have no potential to influence the governing of this country, i.e. dissolving of Parliament etc. I don't want a "president" either. The solution would seem to be to completely dissolve the powers over goverment, even ceremonial of the Royal family, and allow them to be in law what they are in fact now, cultural ambassadors of the UK operating like the rest of us within a parliamentary democracy.

His point was that he believes the royal family exact influence over our government. And that he is classed as a subject and not a citizen. Tell me, how did you take the news when you found out?

It's more that we retain a culture (albeit a fairly vestigal one) of deference based on bloodlines, for me. It just seems silly - but there are worse things in the world than silly, I suppose.