Could reform lead to a British Trump? The death of the Queen has unleashed a storm of debate among under-35s who want to see either the end of the monarchy – or radical reform.
Time for a new debate say royal sceptics
Could reform lead to a British Trump? The death of the Queen has unleashed a storm of debate among under-35s who want to see either the end of the monarchy - or radical reform.
As a baby, Princess Elizabeth cried as the water was poured over her head on her christening day. It was, said commentators, "the last time she ever made a scene in public".
As a two-year-old, Winston Churchill said she had an "air of authority and reflectiveness".
When she became Queen, her supposed motto - "never complain, never explain" - was quoted time and time again as an emblem of British stoicismA philosophy that originated in the ancient world and still has many adherents today. Stoics seek to control their emotions and preserve their happiness in the face of adversity.. For many, she simply embodied Britishness.
As such, it is no surprise that her death has been accompanied by an unspoken "what now?". Lauded a "political genius" for her balance of diplomacyThe art of dealing with people in a sensitive way. , mystery and sellability, her successor, King Charles III, is more of a live wire, steeped in controversy and haunted by bad press.
Elizabeth II was seen by many as a buttressA supporter or defender against something. against the looming threat of autocracyA society ruled by a single person or group with absolute power. and populismA type of politics that claims to represent the common people in the fight against a powerful and "elite" establishment.. She won the respect of figures as wide-ranging as Fidel Castro and Donald Trump. For decades, she was the figurehead unto whom many declared undying loyalty. In her absence, the prospect of a populist politician who can claim to similarly embodyTo personify or give a visible form to an idea or feeling. the nation arises.
But is this truly a realistic prospect? In some ways, the British monarchy has enjoyed a remarkable strength. It is the only European monarchy that is still the head of an established church. It has a greater role in Parliament than its counterparts. Elizabeth had approval ratings sometimes hitting 75%, figures only dreamed of by most politicians.
Yet in other ways, the monarchy under Elizabeth seemed to be proving itself continually more frail. Just last year, Barbados became the world's newest republic, shaking off the Queen as its head of state and forcing then-Prince Charles to acknowledge the "appalling atrocityAn extremely cruel or terrible act. of slavery" which took place under English colonial rule.
Australia's new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is a famed republicanSomebody who supports the idea of a country having an elected head of state, such as a president, rather than a hereditary king or queen.. Just 21% of Canadians are in favour of retaining the monarchy.1 And officials in six countries of the Caribbean have signalled a desire for their countries to become republics.2
In recent decades, a string of damaging headlines has risked ruining the monarchy's credibility. The at-times tense relationships of new members of the Royal Family, from Princess Diana to Meghan Markle, have been poured over by celebrity magazines. Today, a new genre of marketable shows such as Netflix's The Crown and the 2021 film Spencer prove the family is far from untouchable.
OpticsThe way in which an event looks to the public. may also cause problems for the Windsors. The UK is experiencing a cost of living crisis, an energy crisis and a shift towards recessionA period of economic decline. A recession occurs when a country's Gross Domestic Product falls for six months in a row. . Coronations and funerals alike are a costly and extravagant ordeal. If they are not careful, the Royal Family could become Britain's greatest symbol of inequality.
For some, the death of the Queen is an opportunity for a greater transition than simply adapting to life with a King: it is time to do away with the monarchy altogether. But others insist abolition would only lead to autocracyA society ruled by a single person or group with absolute power..
<h5 class=" eplus-wrapper" id="question">Could reform lead to a British Trump?</h5>
Yes: This is a convenient time to peacefully split from the monarchy and invest its assets in resolving the economic crisis and inequalities.
No: Now more than ever, in this time of crisis, in Britain and beyond we need strong and familiar figureheads to guide our sense of national self.
Or... We should reserve our judgements until later in King Charles III's period of rule. For now, stability is key.
Stoicism - A philosophy that originated in the ancient world and still has many adherents today. Stoics seek to control their emotions and preserve their happiness in the face of adversity.
Diplomacy - The art of dealing with people in a sensitive way.
Buttress - A supporter or defender against something.
Autocracy - A society ruled by a single person or group with absolute power.
Populism - A type of politics that claims to represent the common people in the fight against a powerful and "elite" establishment.
Embody - To personify or give a visible form to an idea or feeling.
Atrocity - An extremely cruel or terrible act.
Republican - Somebody who supports the idea of a country having an elected head of state, such as a president, rather than a hereditary king or queen.
Optics - The way in which an event looks to the public.
Recession - A period of economic decline. A recession occurs when a country's Gross Domestic Product falls for six months in a row.
Time for a new debate say royal sceptics

Glossary
Stoicism - A philosophy that originated in the ancient world and still has many adherents today. Stoics seek to control their emotions and preserve their happiness in the face of adversity.
Diplomacy - The art of dealing with people in a sensitive way.
Buttress - A supporter or defender against something.
Autocracy - A society ruled by a single person or group with absolute power.
Populism - A type of politics that claims to represent the common people in the fight against a powerful and "elite" establishment.
Embody - To personify or give a visible form to an idea or feeling.
Atrocity - An extremely cruel or terrible act.
Republican - Somebody who supports the idea of a country having an elected head of state, such as a president, rather than a hereditary king or queen.
Optics - The way in which an event looks to the public.
Recession - A period of economic decline. A recession occurs when a country’s Gross Domestic Product falls for six months in a row.