Quote: bren2k "I don't think there are that many 'royalists' left, outside of nursing homes and retirement communities - and most of the goodwill that exists towards them will die with the queen. (Magnificent woman, gawd bless her maj, hardworking, such a difficult year etc etc.)
What there are however, are great swathes of reality TV, gossip-obsessed numbskulls, who accept the royal family and their ultra privileged lifestyles at taxpayers expense, in return for lots of juicy goss; it's a version of Love Island, but with crowns and carriages, hence the industry that exists around them - and the fact that 'royal correspondent' is an actual paid job in 2020, rather than something that emotionally disturbed loners do in their spare room, via the medium of scrap-books and HTML blogs.
Harry and Meghan have probably accelerated what needed to happen anyway - the minor hangers on should fend for themselves, and the royal family should be significantly reduced in size and importance; transitioning towards a gradual phasing out altogether - which for mine, can't happen soon enough.'"
They (the Royal Family) realised long, long ago that, by throwing the masses a few crumbs every now and then (weddings, christenings, funerals etc) keeps them on side and perhaps prevents too many questions about their relevance and value.
I think that you're right about things changing when The Queen abdicates.
For the older generation, I think that The Royal Family has given them something to hang on to when things weren't too great and a focal point when we are at war.
I have a discussion with my mother in law regularly about their worth and whilst it would be cringeworthy to have someone like Bojo as head of the nation, it doesn't seem to affect other countries that dont have a monarch.
Buckingham Palace would make a great hotel of some uber posh apartments or, just charge visitors for a look round.
