Chatter

British Monarchy

Anyone who knows me well enough, understands just how much respect I have for the
British Royal Family. Ever since I was a small child, I would sit, transfixed on the
television, whenever the Queen came on. Of course I have never met Her Majesty, but
this Lady meant something to me. Apart from my own family, the Queen, was the
constant in my life; the woman that never went away. Like a lot of British people, I felt
I had a bond with Her, that was personal, enduring with real depth. The Queen was the
person that held all of us together as a Nation, a mother figure and a Head of State, that
never put a foot wrong. Most people at one stage or another, including me, have dreamt
of having tea with the Queen at Buckingham Palace and like most people, It has or never
will happen. We live Worlds apart, I do however, respect and acknowledge her and the
Royal Family, for the work they do, benefiting us all. As Head of State, at 92 years old,
she has worked tirelessly for her Country, all her life, 65 years as Queen, she is the only
Monarch most of us have ever known; still showing no signs of slowing down.

I am often criticized for my Royalist views; in 2017 it is not fashionable to support the
Queen and her family, certainly not, among my generation. I have often been ridiculed
for my opinions, by people who have no concept of the workings of a modern European
Monarchy. The detractors, will often only see the surface trappings, enjoyed by a
privileged few, but beneath this gilded cage, the real business of Monarchy is hard at
work, making all of our lives a little better. I am well aware of the work that is carried
out by the Queen and others, far over and above any other Head of State!

It was about a week ago, I was in Carabassi, having a rather heated discussion about the
Royal Family with a fellow Expat, part of the course when you live in Spain. A lot of us
like to discuss Britain, the state of the Nation and links to a Country, we used to call
home. It just so happened, that Prince Harry had just announced his engagement to
Maghan Markle, so all matters Royal were on our minds. The main attack, against the
Queen, Prince Philip and others, was, just what do they do and what are we paying for?

The Queen and the Royal Family costs 56p for each per person in the UK annually,
which works out at approximately 34 million pounds per annum. 24 percent down, on
2008/9 figures, in real terms. If we compare that expenditure to that of our nearest
European neighbour France, we see a marked difference. France spends 103.5 million
pounds annually on its Presidency, more than three times as much. The Queens personal
fortune, estimated at 340 million pounds is a small fraction compared to the richest
Royal Family in Europe, Lichtenstein, estimated at 4.9 billion pounds. Further afield,
Thailand’s Monarch for example has a fortune worth, 20.8 billion pounds, making the net
worth of our Head of State, seem tiny in comparison. Much of the wealth owned by
generations of British Monarchs (The Crown Estate,) was surrendered to the state in
1760, by George III, in exchange for civil list payments, that continue to this day.

The Crown Estate is valued at approximately 14 billion pounds and is the biggest land
owner in the UK. The income generated from this organisation, is 285 million pounds Per
annum; remember, this was land owned by the monarch. If one deducts the payments
from the Civil List, as a Nation, Britain gains 249 million pounds in income from these
holdings. On that basis alone, each person pays 3.80 pounds less in tax per year, just
because they have a Monarch. The Monarchy is still the biggest tourist earner, with most
visitors sighting the Queen and others, as the reason they were visiting the UK. Here an
estimated half a billion pounds is generated in income. Other benefits of a Monarchy,
include a boost for the fashion industry, through clothes warn by the Royal Family as
well as an extra injection of money, into the economy through one off royal events; all
producers of income for the British tax payer. Already my Head of State is generating
more money for UK plc, than she is taking from the Civil List, far more!

One of the biggest beneficiaries from the Monarchy are charities. Members of the Royal
Family are Patrons to many charitable trusts, throughout the UK. In 2012 the Queen was
Patron of 510 charities, generating an income, estimated at 1.4 billion pounds, a huge
figure by anyone’s standards. the Queen and members of the Royal Family have
promoted a culture, where giving money and time for the good of others is a normal
thing to do. As a person who has volunteered myself in the past, I can confirm that, part
of my dedication was due to the recognition given to volunteering, by the Queen. As a
role model, Her Majesty offers an outlook on life, that all of us should aspire to. Her
work ethic, even at 92 years old, sense of duty, responsibility and belief in the work that
she champions, is a role call of her dedication. This Lady is a beacon for all of us and we
should never forget, just what she has done for the British nation. It is easy to dismiss
her as irrelevant, until you begin to scratch the surface, of just what she actually does.

Elizabeth II is a stickler for routine; she wakes every morning at 8am. After a light
breakfast she will then deal with all her correspondence, followed by her dispatch
boxes, which include important Government papers, that need Her Majesty’s oversight,
opinion or signature. After lunch she will then deal with matters relating to the
monarchy, royal palaces and staff; this is all on top of numerous public engagements,
overseas visits and yearly events, that fill the royal calendar. The Queen lives a busy
life, which benefits all of us, who call her majesty head of state.

The most important advantage to the Nation is continuity and stability. In a changing
World, with trouble around every corner, unelected autocratic leaders, war, revolution
and turbulence, the Queen has remained steadfast in her position as Head of State, not
only in Britain, but also fifteen other Nations. The Monarchy has remained in its current
form since the seventeenth century, after the civil war. The stability we enjoy is due to
the position of the crown in the structure of society. The monarch remains the check
and balance, that binds the nations of the United Kingdom together. While other
monarchies fell across the World, Britain remained in a position of strength, united
under a single figure head, leaving the politicians to govern. Her Majesty is the glue that
holds all British people together. The key to the success of the British constitutional
monarchy, is its ability to adapt to change, while in the face of disaster, other royal
houses, refused to admit the need to evolve. The line of succession is secure for another
hundred years, as younger royals take up the roles, HM can no longer execute; the
future looks bright!

The next time, any one of us sits and ponders about the Royal Family, dismissing their
relevance, mocking their abilities and denying their worth, we should all remember, just
what their value is. Would Britain be the country it is today without them? I doubt it!
The Queen herself remains the best public servant we have; we all owe her a great deal.
Public opinion regards her highly, more now than ever. Whether you agree with me or
not, one thing is for sure, the Monarchy is here to stay, at least in my lifetime and
probably yours.