The future of the British monarchy after QE?

She has come to dominate the brand, even become the brand. Given that she is dying, slowly maybe, the risk is that little is left after her demise.

Dunno, there's a kind inertia to the situation, I'd say it would take something like the Abdication Crisis to push them into changing their system.

Charles isn't wildly popular but I think most people recognise he is a sincere guy, plus his reign likely won't last long.

I'd say if Brit republicans could observe our farcial presidential elections up close for a few days they'd run screaming back to their constitutional monarchy.

When Liz passes (and I think it will be soon) then Charles will take over, I give him five years in the job just to show a steady hand at the controls before he steps aside and allows William to take the reins for the next few decades.

I think that's likely.

The one thing that is certain is that every option will have been looked at and planned on for years

You'd be happier in a monarchy. Good luck with that.

It would be a wise move to do that, however I wonder if we're going to see a period of time where the British Monarch is going always be elderly. If Charles lives as long as his parents have, William will be pretty old by the time he gets his turn...and so on...

George VI was relatively young when he died (56) and that was after years of being a very popular war-time King. Then handing over to a very young Elizabeth gave the British monarchy a boost that it think it managed to ride all of these decades since. Passing the Throne between elderly men for the next 50-odd years might not help its survival.

I also feel that Liz's end is near. I fully expect my news apps to explode with notifications in the middle of the night one day within the next year, if not soon after that.

I think the future is Charles will become king when his mother clocks off. She won’t abdicate because she made a promise on radio when she turned 21 to do the job for life. And there is little to no chance of Charles passing it to William because he’s the longest reigning(?) Prince of wales and he wants his turn.

The British royal family has an extra generation where the other European royal families have young monarchs with young heirs(majority of them female) and the Europeans monarchies seem okay to abdicate, such as the Dutch queens since the early 20th century have done.

Short to medium term the monarchy is in good shape and will continue.

Long term probably safe enough too barring some unforeseen catastrophic event.

Sounds like they're completely unnecessary and things would function perfectly fine without them then?

The Brits have Princess Charles, who will slot neatly into the spot when queen lizard-breath pops her clogs!

I always thought they should have got a good taxidermist to stuff lady die, and roll her out for special occasions.

I mean, would you really notice any difference? Most monarchs are practically inanimate objects anyway. They make some pointless public address, that is carefully crafted to mean nothing and offend no-one. You could just put an empty suit of armor next to them with a pre-recorded tape, and it would get the job done just as well. 😄

But doesn't the same go for a purely ceremonial elected president of our type? Most countries seem to find a need for someone at the top of the pyramid to sign the bills and cut the ribbons and all that, however they are chosen.

I don't think it is within her gift to pass the monarchy directly to William. That could only happen if, either before or upon her abdication, Charles declined the throne. Maybe that is what you meant - if so, apologies.

There has been a huge shift in the space of 5 years in how the young think on this, with 41% favouring an elected head of state. I can only see that growing as we move into an era of Charles and a line of males succeeding to the throne. Also, if Charles succeeds with drive to ensure Camilla is called the Queen, support will go off a cliffedge.

Yes, you're quite right old boy...

Living in a council flat, in some sh!thole part of the UK - in the dying vestiges of a once great empire - is made all the more bearable by keeping alive that dream you could one day drag yourself up by your bootstraps to become king / queen of your country!

It's what we all dream of really!