Should the monarchy continue after the Queen? Many are now confronting the inevitable: Her Majesty cannot live for ever and we may not want her heirs to reign after she has gone.
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End of an era as Charles takes the reins
Should the monarchy continue after the Queen? Many are now confronting the inevitable: Her Majesty cannot live for ever and we may not want her heirs to reign after she has gone.
X
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Should the monarchy continue after the Queen?
Yes: It is an institution which provides continuity in an unstable world. It is a vital part of Britain's international image. Choosing a president who was not divisive would be extremely difficult.
No: It is something which is completely out of place in the 21st century. Nobody who might succeed the Queen commands the same respect - most members of the royal family are a liability.
Or... Fundamental changes must be made if it is to survive. Only working members of the royal family should have royal privileges. The heir to the throne should be the ablest, not the oldest, child.
Keywords
Yeomen of the Guard - Also known as Beefeaters, they are officially the Queen's bodyguard.
The cellars - The search is traditionally carried out to guard against a repetition of the Gunpowder Plot.
Lord Great Chamberlain - A hereditary position. The holder is in charge of the royal apartments in the Palace of Westminster and also plays a major role in coronations.
Nearly 60 years - The Queen has missed the state opening twice before, when she was pregnant with Prince Andrew and then Prince Edward.
Heir to the throne - In 1819 it was the Prince Regent, later King George IV. He took the role because his father, George III, was mentally ill.
Cenotaph - A monument to those killed in World War One. The word is Greek for empty tomb.
Regency - A situation in which someone takes the place of a monarch who is too young or no longer able to rule.
Motley - Strange or dubious. It was originally the name given to a jester's outfit.
End of an era as Charles takes the reins
Glossary
Yeomen of the Guard - Also known as Beefeaters, they are officially the Queen’s bodyguard.
The cellars - The search is traditionally carried out to guard against a repetition of the Gunpowder Plot.
Lord Great Chamberlain - A hereditary position. The holder is in charge of the royal apartments in the Palace of Westminster and also plays a major role in coronations.
Nearly 60 years - The Queen has missed the state opening twice before, when she was pregnant with Prince Andrew and then Prince Edward.
Heir to the throne - In 1819 it was the Prince Regent, later King George IV. He took the role because his father, George III, was mentally ill.
Cenotaph - A monument to those killed in World War One. The word is Greek for empty tomb.
Regency - A situation in which someone takes the place of a monarch who is too young or no longer able to rule.
Motley - Strange or dubious. It was originally the name given to a jester’s outfit.