Queen Beatrix Of The Netherlands To Abdicate.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22348160

[starone]

So - just as there is not a King Philip in this country is it possible for there not to be a Queen Camilla? Only asking!

[humbersloop]

if baiting helps fill out your day aog, happy to assist

the thought of Ruud Gullit's certainly brightened mine..

[mikey4444]

You are probably right sunny, and we should be ashamed of ourselves.

[andy-hughes]

AOG - "/// Is there a reason for your post AOG? ///

Is this not the news topic section?"

Indeed it is - but simply plucking a news item which at first sight is not especially relavent to us seems unusual - which is why I queryed it.

[starone]

And (continuing) as we have PRINCE Charles and she is his wife why isn't she Princess Camilla?

[jim360]

That's because, having just bothered to read it rather than open my big mouth:

"Clarence House announced that when the Prince of Wales ascends the throne, Camilla will not be styled as a queen, but instead she will adopt the title Princess Consort, which is similar to the style of Prince Albert." - Wikipedia.

source: https://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/media/press-releases/announcement-of-the-marriage-of-hrh-the-prince-of-wales-and-mrs-camilla-parker

[starone]

Thanks for the explanation jim. Sounds silly, but there you are, most of it is.

[Brenden]

Diana was not Princess Diana she was Diana Princess of Wales.

[LazyGun]

The arcsnity of titles and nobility, in this day and age - Amazing it still has any relevance

[Brenden]

Jim, bet when Charles becomes King (if ever) he will insist on Camilla being called Queen Camilla.

[jim360]

Yes, and everyone will ignore him. After all, the Royal Family has no real power, and no mechanism for gaining it back either.

[LazyGun]

Not sure if the Guardian are creating a mountain of a molehill - but it appears that the Royalty in the UK may actually have more of a role in legislation than people think;

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/jan/14/secret-papers-royals-veto-bills

[ichkeria]

"Queen" Camilla doesn't mean she

[ichkeria]

(whoops) she'd be a ruling queen. But Queen consort

[jno]

yes, queen has two meanings: queen in her own right (like the current Queen Elizabeth) or Queen consort (like her mum, who was also Queen Elizabeth, but was married to a king, not a queen herself)

[Kromovaracun]

Republic please.

[jim360]

I'm fine with the current system. Retains links to our past, a fine institution that gives us an apolitical representative on the World stage, while leaving the business of actually running the country to the democratically elected government. Seems to be no reason to get rid of the monarchy, we've done all the important work of squeezing it out of power already.

[LazyGun]

@Jim Did you read the link I offered? Any thoughts?

I mostly agree with you regarding the Monarchy, but I still have issues with it. Not least because it tends to perpetuate a class system, but also for the principle of privilege through birth.

[jim360]

It seems to be saying that only one piece of legislation has ever been vetoed by the queen since, say, 1995. And that was the one that gave the power of declaring War to Parliament. Given how many people disagreed with, say, Iraq, I think it's definitely not clear that there was ever a democratic mandate for that war. No-one really voted for it (though I supported, and still support, that War in principle) -- and War is such a huge thing that maybe it should be given to an impartial person. If not the Queen/ Monarch, then certainly some independent body. Everything else merely had Royal consultation, that doesn't say what, if any, changes were made because of the influence of Her Majesty.