William V

William is a cunt, but he is right about wanting a VERY scaled-down royal family, similar to Spain's. It needed to happen yesterday.

Oof, pancreatic cancer is painful.

I really wish Diana was alive, living maybe in London and being a presence.

For the British DL'ers, do you think once he becomes King he'll turn into a raging cunt, or will he be compassionate like his mom?

He could pick another name, although I'm sure he'll just stick with William.

I don't think it will move strongly in either direction. On one hand he sees the need for slow change, but his actions show that he has been institutionalized and believe deeply in a monarchy it has had far more time to work on him than his mother did. I love it if you did something dramatic, though. The culture of minor royals in the UK, along with their hangers-on, is where the true rot is.

Voice to text hates me before coffee, but you get the gist.

I hate Meghan a lot by the way!!!

Every member of the Royal Family outside his immediate family will become non-people.

Just curious, who would be considered his immediate family? If he makes the precedent of only immediate family being royals, does that then make his two younger children “non-people” when they grow up and have their own families and are no longer considered George’s immediate family anymore? Or are siblings forever immediate family?

Oh no. My dad died from pancreatic cancer. It's an awful illness. So painful. No wonder Camilla cried the other day when Charles was giving a speech.

Most people in the UK view the monarchy as a distant entity that has no impact on daily life. If they are visiting your town/ city there might be some brief excitement, but that’s all it amounts to. We don’t lose any sleep over them.

What does the V stand for?

Roman numeral V = 5. He will be William the Fifth.

He will be a major asshole and he and his wife are LAZY, so the royal family will recede into the woodwork, while collecting more and more money. Let's be honest here, the way his two younger kids act, shows that they too will likely grow up to be assholes as well, especially Kate Jr.

But William finally cutting out the fat, looking at your Harry and Meghan, and retiring Anne and Andrew wouldn't be so bad. Time to move forward...towards irrelevancy.

^

Anne is widely respected here in the UK. She gets on with public engagements without any fuss, and is down to earth in person. Andrew is the entitled one, famous for “Don’t you know who I am?” moments.

Oh good - another opportunity for Americans with absolutely no idea to postulate on the British Royal Family based solely on the knowledge that they gained from binge watching The Crown.

Next steps:

British posters chime in to correct the many mistakes and ridiculous assumptions made by the American posters.

American posters join to tell the British that the monarchy is doomed and a waste of money compared to a shining republic like…hmmm…the USA, perhaps?

British posters respond with actual facts and figures.

Thread peters out because Americans don’t like being proved wrong.

r15 Anne is also ancient and deserves a retirement. You all may like her but Anne and Andrew are on borrowed time when William V, William the Conqueror (in his head), takes the throne. He only cares about his crotch-fruit and sometimes his wife. That's it, so everyone else will need to find other hobbies.

William beefs with Camilla now, so I can't wait to see how he handles her when he's king. Expect the popularity of the monarchy to fall a bit under William.

R17 You have a vivid imagination.

No one outside the UK gives a shit, OP.

William will stop concealing his scaly green tail once he's king.

Also not everyone knows this, but Anne is the workhorse of the royal family.

r18 this is a prediction thread. Just sharing my predictions on what that asshole will get up to.

Was there a question in OP's meandering intro?

R19 If that were true, DL would have shut down years ago.

I don’t think retirement is something Anne would contemplate without being forced to by illness. She’s old school.

Hopefully Catherine turns out to be a long term cancer survivor.. But otherwise I hope Charles dies fairly soon and then William somewhat downscales what the Royal Family even is.

Also hope Harry divorces Meghan..

The Crown will continue in the UK for several reasons.

1. Despite a vocal minority insisting otherwise the Monarchy is generally popular and people like William and Kate

2. The alternative - an elected president - fills people with dread. After the last 10 years we want less politics not more.

3. There will be voluntary reform of the monarchy to make it smaller

When William becomes King, the people who would be best suited to be working "royals" would ironically be the Middleton family. They would be excellent at the job, but nobody would want it including the Middletons or the Wales. And it goes without saying that the people of the United Kingdom would most certainly not want them. They would be good at it, however.

OP thinks the royal family “rules” and has inside knowledge of the cancers they are suffering from.

The rumour about pancreatic is pretty persistent, r28. And Camilla broke down crying in Australia when Charles gave his goodbye speech. Not something she's ever been seen doing.

The rumour about Catherine getting massive plastic surgery to disguise William's beatings of her was persistent, too, all courtesy of Russia's (and Russia tools) failed ongoing attempts to destabilize its enemies. Lame R29

William probably will "tighten up" the royal family, creating further distance with Andrew and Harry. But, with his children as minors and Catherine's health problems, he no doubt will continue to rely on Anne, the Edinburghs, and the Gloucesters, all of whom will have aged out when William's children become young adults. Camilla will probably be allowed to serve to the extent she wants to -- she has her own home and her own life, so she may opt out and just live out her life as queen-dowager.

And I am telling you I'm not going..

One of the most popular "minor" royals is the now retired Duchess of Kent, most associated with Wimbledon and the way she comforted Jana Novotna when she burst in to tears after losing in the final.

And one of the most unpopular royals is Princess Michael Of Kent aka Princess Pushy.

They both married the sons of Prince George, who was the younger brother of Edward 8th (Nazi Yankee fucker traitor) and George VI (Queen's dad, Colin Firth, Jared Harris). George was killed during WW2 in an RAF crash, aged 39.

The other children of George V were Princess Mary (became Lascelles, no idea) Prince Henry (never heard of his kids) and Prince John (died at 13, was the story of The Lost Prince)

The Middletons would not be asked to do royal duties because they are not members of the royal family.

Royal scholars of DL…Will Queen Catherine get a number, and if so, what will it be?

R35, Catherine, if she is alive when William becomes king, will become a queen-consort. Queens-consort are not sovereigns and therefore do not add a number to their name. The present queen-consort is Camilla (no number) and the ones before her were Queen Elizabeth (wife of King George VI and later known as the Queen Mother), Queen Mary (wife of King George V), and Queen Alexandra (wife of King Edward VII). Only sovereigns are numbered: Charles III, Elizabeth II, George VI, Edward VIII, George V, Edward VII. Queen Victoria did not have a number because, although she was a queen-regnant rather than a queen-consort, there hasn't yet been a second. The woman we know as Queen Elizabeth I was never "numbered" in her lifetime; only in retrospect, once there was a Queen Elizabeth II, do we refer to her as Elizabeth "the First."

[quote]2. The alternative - an elected president - fills people with dread.

And is likely to do so for the rest of the century, if the Worst happens this week in the US.

So if Princess Anne retires, and William streamlines the Monarchy, who will do all of the work that Anne currently does? Or will all that activity not be done by a royal anymore?

They're basically a more glamorous chamber of commerce and ceremonial official. Personally, I think the royal households should continue is some sort of "secular", non-constitional fashion because there's centuries of subject matter expertise in things like animal husbandry and gardening that is truly of value to the world. Instead of Royals, they could staff ceremonial positions from the armed forces like they do at the Tower, and create consitional positions that are basically ceremonial/diplomatic like the President position Michael Higgins has in Ireland.

[quote]And Camilla broke down crying in Australia when Charles gave his goodbye speech.

Primary symptom of pancreatic cancer: Spouse crying.

That’s genius.

[quote] Royal scholars of DL…Will Queen Catherine get a number, and if so, what will it be?

No.

Only queens regnant get numbers. Queens consort do not.

R38, in time the children will probably be working royals.

Princess Anne isn't going anywhere. She'll remain the important link to the past of Queen Elizabeth II. William won't do anything regarding Harry and Meghan. Those to will, sooner rather than later, fade into obscurity. Just like the D&D of Windsor and he was a king. I think the UK will energetically support the relatively young couple taking over. Plus their kids will be hitting their teens soon and be a lot more interesting than a Prince and former baggage handler. William would only take risks doing anything and have absolutely nothing to lose by just letting it slide as it is.

[quote]Within just a few years--maybe even sooner--there will be a new king of the British throne,

I'm guessing sooner. Much sooner. I'm guessing within just a few months, if not weeks. I'm guessing the family is out at Harrods today 'shopping for funeral clothes' as I type this.

Anne and many of the older royals follow the tradition of Queen Elizabeth II, with many, many patronages. William and Catherine have made it clear that they will be patrons of a more select set of organizations that align with the issues that are of greatest importance to them. Charles, to give just one example, is patron of "Music in Country Churches." Anne was president of the "Smeatonian Society of Civil Engineers," as another example. These examples are drawn from just the past few days in the Court Circular. You will find William and Catherine to be patrons of fewer and a more focused set of organizations. They do continue the military patronages as the church and the military are particular responsibilities of the royal family.

I hope they return to the more traditional, keep your mouth shut, never complain never explain, monarchy. Less will be a lot more. The one I'm most curious about is how Charlotte will turn out. She's either going to be beautiful or, well, more Anne-ish.

[quote]And is likely to do so for the rest of the century, if the Worst happens this week in the US.

An elected president in the UK would be in theory be a politically neutral figure who takes on the role of the King/Queen for constitutional issues and state visits.

Everyone I've spoken to about it has an idea of who they would like - Floella Benjamin, Ian Wright, JK Rowling, Coleen Rooney - but flinch at the prospect of President Johnson, President Farage or President Corbyn.

Anne will be cutting a ribbon on the day of her funeral.

R47, I'd love a President Ian Wright.

I could be your president. The English love me. It would be a lovefest. It would be beautiful. I would be the best president you would have in Engle Engu England.

and it's a Trump thread. Kudos deranged girlfriend.

R50,

The woman holding the sign is Scottish comedian Janey Godley, who died yesterday. It was to protest against his visit to one of his golf clubs in Scotland. Everyone I know thought it was hilarious, and would have irritated Trump no end.

Donald Trump would have loved Janey Godley, if he knew who she was.

Her jokes about black people were hilarious!

[Quote] And Camilla broke down crying in Australia when Charles gave his goodbye speech.

[Quote] Primary symptom of pancreatic cancer: Spouse crying.

[Quote] That’s genius.

It points to him having something serious, pillock @ r40, and PC usually entails a death sentence within 2-4 years of diagnosis. Ergo, her emotional outburst.

Of course it's conjecture, which is the entire point of this site.

But you knew that. Instead you tried - and failed - to be clever.

He doesn’t have to reign as William you know.

[quote] The culture of minor royals in the UK, along with their hangers-on, is where the true rot is.

I couldn’t agree more. Clear them out, I say! The lot of them!

All this talk is just academic you know. Charles, William and George are and will be simply keeping the throne warm for a true Majesty.

[quote] It points to him having something serious, pillock @ [R40], and PC usually entails a death sentence within 2-4 years of diagnosis. Ergo, her emotional outburst.

Of course it's conjecture, which is the entire point of this site.

But you knew that. Instead you tried - and failed - to be clever.

No one is trying to be clever. We’re just trying not to be total idiots, like you. Assuming, first of all, that her tears indicate his condition is terminal, pancreatic cancer accounts for less than ten percent of cancer deaths. Its weird and stupid to assume that, just because you assume that he is dying, that he has pancreatic cancer

Lead poisoning, for example, is a cause of mental impairment but not a terribly common one. Therefore, it would be weird to assume that you suffer from lead poisoning just because you’re mentally impaired

For fuck”s sake, Americans, calm down.

They are desperate for another funeral, R59. Hopefully Kate’s so that they get their “Goodbye England’s Rose” / flowers left at Kensington Palace moment.

They will not be ignored!

Seemingly, one of the key things the royal family provides is patronage to various organizations and charities. This makes the organizations substantially higher profile and gives them much more public visibility just by the participation and attendance of a member of the royal family.

While it does make sense to scale down, there are only so many organizations that can be supported with fewer members.

I wonder what impact it will have not having a royal patron to bring the media, cameras, and donations.

If he’s harder on Andrew than Charles was…good. There’s no reason for the Crown to keep paying for a disgraced pedo who can’t do any actual substantial work for them (in as much as anything the royals do is “work”.

As for Harry, he’s not a working royal and receives no money from them already, so no change is going to be made there (unless Will wants to reconcile which seems doubtful). They’re not going to remove him from the succession because that involves having every territory in the Commonwealth vote on it, which is why they haven’t done that already.

Removing him from the line of succession does not require the vote of every country in the commonwealth.

R62 The only thing that needs a vote from all Commonwealth countries is who will be its head. While the monarchy is a hereditary institution, the Commonwealth isn't. A change in the Line of Succession would require an Act of Parliament by the UK government. Possibly also in Canada and anywhere else where they're monarchs in their own right, but I'm not 100% sure on that part.

We agree

Why bother?

He’s 8th in line.

Let's clear a few things up. There are 56 member nations of the Commonwealth of which 36 are republics, i.e., Charles is not king in those countries. He is simply "Head of the Commonwealth." Any changes in the succession to the crown have to be approved by all the countries of which Charles III is king. That's why the law in 2013 that removed male primogeniture, first proposed in 2011, took two years to take effect. So, yes, a law removing Andrew (or Harry) from the succession would have to be approved in, for example, Canada (where Charles is king) but not in Barbados (where Charles is not king).

And to add to the complication, in some countries like Australia which have states or provinces with individual governors, approval is also required at that level.

For example in Australia there are six states and two territories. A change to the succession would require the approval of a majority of voters in a majority of states and territories, as Charles is King of Australia in his own right, not just as King of The UK.

It’s also why it would be so challenging to ditch the monarchy here in Australia, as the referendum to do so would require the majority of voters in the majority of states and territories. No problem in NSW or Victoria - very difficult in the more conservative states.

It’s like subscribing to Amazon - easy to sign up but they make it difficult to leave.

I admire your work R68. Thanks.

I'm going to complicate it further however. Apologies in advance.

I'm a Brit and also R64. I was under the impression a change in something like the Line of Succession could, theoretically, be made in the UK but not elsewhere. Like how if we in the UK decided to abolish the monarchy in the morning, they'd still be the Royal Family of Canada etc.

I'm not sure it's necessarily the case a change in the LoS that's gone through the UK parliament would need separate acts by other Commonwealth countries in order for it to be applicable.

Thanks R69. Funnily enough I originally included the potential anomaly of the line of succession being changed in the UK, or ditching the monarchy altogether, and not here if it was put to referendum, and we would be left with potentially different monarchs (depending on how it was changed) or UK as a republic and Australia still with a British monarch as Head of State.

But my wording was clumsy so I edited it out. But I should have included “a change to the succession in Australia” as this would be possible with Charles as King of Australia.

If I seem like a bit of a wonk on this - I worked on the Australian republic referendum in 1999 when I was was both younger and more idealistic!

[quote]The woman holding the sign is Scottish comedian Janey Godley, who died yesterday. It was to protest against his visit to one of his golf clubs in Scotland. Everyone I know thought it was hilarious, and would have irritated Trump no end.

They did ? They thought this was hilarious ? Seriously ?

You don’t know many Scots, do you, R71?

R72 Nope. Tell me, do most of them have this sophomoric sense of humor they find hilarious ?

Different countries have different norms and customs, R73. Amazing concept, eh?

It may not be to your liking but I’m sure that the Scots would cope with your disapproval.

Just a reminder that you are currently posting on a site where “cunt”is not so much an epithet as it is a conversational prop.

R14 You appear mentally ill and have difficulty with reality testing.

My good friend who lives and works in the UK for the past 12 years has remarked to me on several occasions, that, according to their co-workers, all Brits, William is not at all popular in the UK, but Catherine is wildly popular. In fact, after Princess Anne, Catherine is a close second in popularity. The fact that she was diagnosed with Cancer, and has pulled back from public duties was a real blow, especially since Charles is ill with Cancer. Charles knows William is a vengeful grudge carrying prig, and he will no doubt provide for Camilla very well. I also expect Charles to do something for Harry and Harry's two kids. But the rest of them are on their own. Although Edward and Sophie have stepped up admirably and Anne is Charles's favorite person in the world after Camilla. Sophie has shrewdly become friends with Catherine. I guess Beatrice and Eugenie are on their own. Anne's daughter Zara and her hubby tried to elbow their way to center stage for a minute but that f izzled out. Rugby Man has too many rough edges and he talks too much. He does love the spotlight.

R76 you switched from possibly well-informed feedback from actual British co-workers of your friend to your own baseless speculation almost half through your post.

How do you know what Charles knows about his eldest son? Of course Charles will provide well for Camilla - she’s his wife ffs. You expect Charles to provide for the Sussex spawn - have you told His Majesty? You know that the Duchess of Edinburgh “shrewdly” developed a friendship with Kate, how? “Zara and Mike elbowed their way to center stage” - of what? They are independently wealthy, have no need for royal fame as they have both earned their own fame and fortune through their sporting prowess and can do what they like. “Rugby man has too many rough edges” - the petty snobbery practically drips off the screen. Edward and Sophie will have been looked after by his mother and grandmother. The York princesses might get something from their father unless Fergie blows the lot. They’ll also likely have trust funds from their grandmother. Why would Charles leave anything to anyone but his wife and sons?

The bottom line is that each Sovereign leaves the bulk of their estate to their successor, having made allowances for some others from their private fortunes. It’s a handy arrangement that minimises death duties. When Charles dies it will mostly go to William - as Elizabeth II’s went to Charles and George VI’s went to Elizabeth. It’s also how the aristocracy have maintained their wealth - everything goes to the heir and a relatively small amount is divvied among the rest.

[quote]Catherine also has cancer, and the rumors are that it is ovarian or uterine.

She has ass cancer, I thought.

It was in the news.

The only dolts who give a rat's ass about this worthless pegger are you dotty royalass cultists and hard boiled egg fetishists.

I thought Charles had prostate cancer, not pancreatic.

R74 Babbling nonsense about 'different norms and customs' doesn't answer the very simple question ' do most of them have this sophomoric sense of humor they find hilarious ?' It only requires a 'yes' or a 'no'.

"worthless pegger"

Just curious, r79, why, to you, is a form of sexual activity a basis for condemnation?

Unless its sexual crime, it wouldn't occur to me to take into account whatever consenting adults enjoy in their bedroom as a basis to judge them.

Meh, R16.

You’ve spent time in the states, or no?

Either way, remember this: most Americans, whether well or poorly educated, do not give thought to the British monarchy.

Most Americans who eventually travel to the U.K., view the monarchy much how tourists who travel to America view Mickey & Minnie Mouse at the Magic Kingdom, only difference is that tourists visiting a Disney theme park can snap a photo with Mickey & Minnie, while no one is snapping a photo with Charles & Camilla.

In no way do I write this as a dressing down. Look who is on the presidential ballot for us tomorrow as an indication supporting my opinion.

does anyone think he's ever sucked c*ck or licked a guy's ass?🤔

R83 I'm not R16 but the vast majority of media interest in the monarchy comes from the US.

I feel like a broken record at this point, but the majority of DL is American. I have never seen as much interest/obsession with the monarchy than on DL. I'm a Brit and find the obsession fascinating, as I've never experienced it in my own country. No-one in the UK (apart from those handful of lunatics who turn up to royal events in Union Flag suits) would invest as much time and effort as the DL royal obsessives.

The Brits (and a few Australians, I've noticed) tend to only get involved in these threads to point out how wrong the ideas Americans have about the UK and the Commonwealth and its relationship with the monarchy.

[quote] My good friend who lives and works in the UK for the past 12 years has remarked to me on several occasions, that, according to their co-workers, all Brits, William is not at all popular in the UK, but Catherine is wildly popular

Thank god you have a friend in London. If not, how would we ever know what’s happening in the UK and what people think of the royal family?

[quote]r85 I'm a Brit and find the obsession fascinating

People who use the word “fascinating” are not.

Pursue braver word choices. Avoid the generic. Please.

Trump is not liked in Scotland. He lied about the huge investments in his golf courses which came to nothing. This was after promising jobs in areas where they are badly needed. He also went berserk when local landowners refused to sell adjoining land. His relatives on Lewis keep a very low profile, and never talk about him. I imagine they are embarrassed by him. I would be.

Do you think that after the election people will stop inserting Trump into every thread?

[quote]Do you think that after the election people will stop inserting Trump

Oh god I hope so.

If Charles’s cancer was pancreatic he would probably be dead already…it’s rare for people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer to live past a handful of months.

if William has been with a guy, what do you think is his favorite position - on his tummy getting cornholed or on his back, legs in air?

[quote]If Charles’s cancer was pancreatic he would probably be dead already…it’s rare for people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer to live past a handful of months

It's true that in most cases, by the time it's diagnosed, you're likely terminal.

However, Steve Jobs survived eight years after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

[quote] if William has been with a guy, what do you think is his favorite position - on his tummy getting cornholed or on his back, legs in air?

I've never heard any rumors that William has been with a guy.

[quote] My good friend who lives and works in the UK for the past 12 years has remarked to me on several occasions, that, according to their co-workers, all Brits, William is not at all popular in the UK, but Catherine is wildly popular. In fact, after Princess Anne, Catherine is a close second in popularity. The fact that she was diagnosed with Cancer, and has pulled back from public duties was a real blow, especially since Charles is ill with Cancer. Charles knows William is a vengeful grudge carrying prig, and he will no doubt provide for Camilla very well. I also expect Charles to do something for Harry and Harry's two kids. But the rest of them are on their own. Although Edward and Sophie have stepped up admirably and Anne is Charles's favorite person in the world after Camilla. Sophie has shrewdly become friends with Catherine. I guess Beatrice and Eugenie are on their own. Anne's daughter Zara and her hubby tried to elbow their way to center stage for a minute but that f izzled out. Rugby Man has too many rough edges and he talks too much. He does love the spotlight.

Your source for all this is just one person, who is not himself even an actual Brit?

His source who is not an actual Brit is the source for the first four lines of the quote - all of which is in the public domain.

The rest is the product of R76’s fevered imagination.

Oh do run along, clutching your pearls, R81.

Better yet head over to Scotland (you’ll need to scrape together the fare and sort out a passport), travel to Glasgow, go into the first pub which you find and then in your loud disapproving American voice pronounce to the crowd that you find the use of the word “cunt” to be “sophomoric”.

Do report back on the outcome.

[quote]r92 what do you think is his favorite position - on his tummy getting cornholed or on his back, legs in air?

Ask Rose “Ol’ Strap On” Hanbury?

R98 zzzzzzzzz

R98 you idiots are still incapable of spelling her actual name and title - I.e. “Marchioness of Cholmondeley”. Totally understood - all those scary letters and syllables!

[quote] His source who is not an actual Brit is the source for the first four lines of the quote - all of which is in the public domain. The rest is the product of [R76]’s fevered imagination.

It’s all his imagination. William’s poll numbers are quite favorable.

I was never a fan, and this week’s Dispatches programme about the secrecy surrounding Charles and William’s wealth is no surprise.

Royalty freaks are just about as wackadoodle as the true crime freaks. All the more reason for a republic.

And yet here you are, R103. Why do you think that that is?

Them people is rich as cream.

If Charles dies and William becomes King, does Camilla get the title of Queen Stepmother?

it grossed me out when they showed them eating rats.

r106: No.

She will be the Dowager Queen Camilla.

[quote]She will be the Dowager Queen Camilla.

I've was not a big Diana fan, but I wish Liz had not caved on letting Camilla have the Queen title.

The title was hers by right, R109. Much as Camilla was legally the Princess of Wales. I think it's nice QE2 expressly said she wanted Camilla to be known as Queen Consort.

QE2 had absolutely no say, r109. She could have expressly said she did not want Camilla to be Queen Consort, and then the second she died her wish would have been overturned.

[quote]It’s like subscribing to Amazon - easy to sign up but they make it difficult to leave.

It wasn't that easy to sign up, R68.