God save the queen.

The american national anthem is gay.

 

I think its really good actually. Off the 4 anthems I feel a connection to, the US is the one I like the most.

 

**** the queen

 

Stupid in what sense? Have you actually conducted any research or read anything about what they cost the country or are you peddling the "the royals cost each person about 50p a year and bring in lots of tourism" line that is actually totally untrue?

The crown estate is worth 13 billion alone, if that was sold tomorrow you could end poverty in the uk over night and save the NHS, do you think the few million pounds that they generate is going to make up for that? Do you think if they abolished the monarchy and all the royal hangers suddenly all the tourists would forget the centuries of history, architecture and culture and stop coming to visit then UK? London would be wiped off the interesting places to visit list because we don't have a queen? Bit far fetched for me I'm afraid.

I personally don't think they serve any purpose other than as a reminder of an outdated feudal system that oppressed, the income they produce is marginal in comparison to the price of the land they own and the cost of keeping them. It's also nice to know that anyone living in Britain is technically not considered a "citizen" but a "subject of the queen". The fact that they didnt actually do anything whatsoever to merit any of it other than simply be born is obsolete to most people too. You may think my post was stupid but if you did some research on the subject matter you may reconsider. The jubilee bank holiday and royal wedding alone cost the uk economy billions last year, probably over 1000 times more than the tourism generated for that weekend brought in. But of course you know best, stick to your ill informed views and lets all keep living in a massive hypocrisy swearing allegiance to a family of parasites!

 

The royal family generate more revenue than they cost to te tax payer. This is FACT. And the Queen paid for the entire cost of the Jubilee celebrations from her own estate. It didnt cost tax payers a penny!

Anything else you have read is shameless, false anti royal propaganda. To turn the palaces into tourist locations you would have to buy those palaces back from the royal fanilies which could cost millions. It would be a foolish investment from the tax payer.

I dont really see a need for the royal family either but your reading **** and spreading it!

 

The jubilee celebrations and the royal wedding cost the uk over 1.2 billion pounds rob. I didn't make this up, it was in last years budget from the chancellor.

And why would we have to buy back buildings from a family that never owned them or paid for them?

There are no figures collected on what the royals generate in tourism so writing "fact" after youve made something up doesnt work, but its marginal in terms of the social cost we suffer and the draconian nature of the idea of royalty.

 

The way things are going,the Queen will be getting a telegram from herself.She could easily live longer than her own mother.That would put Charles at nearly 80.At that point,due to the popularity of William and his wife,they aint gonna change it Rob.Personally,Ive been conditioned to stand up for the anthem,and would do for most other countries,but I don't sing it.Dont boo others either.Thats just jingoistic crap.

 

In what way do they generate a "**** ton" of money?

 

Mate. Have a read about how much hotel, tourist and retail money the Royal Wedding and Jubilee generated. Being a socialist doesn't mean you have to be ignorant.

Think we're forgetting the fact that the wedding and the Jubilee in general went down a storm and millions of us had a few good days whether we like the monarchy or hate them!

 

And the 1.2 billion was supposedly the cost to the economy having a day off (not the cost of the celebrations) you know, in this manufacturing powerhouse United Kingdom plc.

 

Errrr, it ISN'T part of the anthem :roll:

That verse has NEVER been part of the anthem.

 

Urgh, bore off :roll:

 

I hate that song with a passion. The nationalist side of Scotland makes me ill - it's depressing that so many in my little nation define themselves by such an old event. Most of them don't even know what the lyrics describe.

 

However much it generated it wasn't going to cover the 1.2 billion we lost though?

The truth is no one knows how much tourism the royals directly generate as tourists don't fill in surveys when they go in and out of the country! I think its massively over stated in any case, everything the royals do is PR driven, even down to how they have played the whole Kate Middleton thing, she was specifically favoured because she's "just" a commoner and they thought by allowing her into the fold she would show that the royals aren't a bunch elitists.

I couldn't even enjoy my extra days off work that much because every time I left the house I had to deal with some utter bellends waving royal flags around and playing **** music, plus I'm self employed so the royal parasites actually cost me money!

Each to their own anyway, I personally have no time for them and find them a total embarrassment and an arrogant rabble, although of all of them the Queen less so. The rest are just a pointless expensive freak show.

 

I commissioned an article last year on the real economic benefit of the Olympics, etc from one of the UK's top economists. Know what he said? "Not a lot".

As usual, there was a good chunk of government spin. I use that as an example for how the government has, over the decades, spun the myth of Royal-related tourism. Yes, they generate some income, and yes they function well as diplomatic dignataries to encourage business, investment, international trading etc. But in terms of their cost to the economy, there is very little real argument for what they bring.

The Jubilee actually cost the economy more than it generated (can't find the exact figures to hand). The Royal Wedding between Wills and Kate generated around £2bn in tourism, retail etc according to some sources. But it also cost between £2-5bn in losses to retail (which was meant to benefit) and banking (through lost trading days, etc) according to others - the figures are very inexact and depend on who you ask and what their agenda is. The argument was the boost to "good will" that these events generate was worth the cost. Although I avoided both events for the shams they were and went to the cinema instead.

Also, Rob, where do you think the Queen's "estate" comes from? It's not like she's renowned for her various business holdings. That money is... dun dun DUN... taxpayer money. The properties they live on are owned and maintained using... dun dun DUN... taxpayer money. It was why, a few years back, the government cut the amount the Royals used to get. Many of the more obscure Royals had to go and get proper jobs in life-coaching, fox-hunting and opening art galleries for under-privileged Royal artists to make ends meet.

The generations of Royalty provide enough tradition for the UK to sell to tourists. It's not as if tourists get to meet the Queen, is it? The reduced costs of supporting them would be a massive benefit to the UK.