It's fine that you support the monarchy. Others, including me, don't. And that's fine too. No need to try to put people down for their opinion.

The Queen is indeed an asset to the UK but I don't agree with you that she has "tried her best to modernise the monarchy", I suspect that any changes have rather been forced upon her by circumstances, including public dissatisfaction at the apparent extravagances of the Civil List at the time.

I couldn't care less where Harry & Meghan live, be that the UK or Canada or LA. I will be much happier when they are rightfully ignored as the vacuous non-entities that they are.

Charles is another congenital idiot with an over-developed sense of entitlement. As an institution, the monarchy are parasites.

Glad to hear we agree on something, that the Queen is an asset. To be fair to her she listened to the public and made the changes, wasn't that a step towards modernising the monarchy? lets not forget that they are also bound by centuries of protocol.

I think thats why Harry and Meghan left the UK for.... so they can be ignored.... well... Harry for sure.

I am not a great fan of Charles either, especially as the next monarch, I think passing the crown straight to William would place the monarchy in a far better position, hes younger and far more in touch with the public, but unfortunately that's not going to happen.

I didn't.

Sorry then. I thought the 'sour grapes' comment was having a dig, but it wouldn't be the first time I've been wrong.

I think the UK Royal family are an anachronism and I deplore the (literal!) bowing, scraping and a life of immense privilege that is afforded people who've done nothing to earn it, except to be born 'royal'. I don't have a problem with people who think differently, and I don't expect them to have a problem with me either (a general comment, not aimed at you).

Well I am for the Royal Family, but just the immediate family, not all the hangers on. I think the Queen is a wonderful asset to the country, I think William and Kate will be too. As for the rest of them...cut them loose.

Who bows and scrapes to them? When have you ever had to?

I can't see why anyone would want to fawn over them, but I feel the same way over those that fawn over celebrities too. Each to their own and all that.

Do you also have a problem with, for example, the children of Bill and Melinda Gates and other similar children that have simply been born to parents that offered them an advantage over most of society?

The sour grapes reference was no more a dig than calling the monarchy parasites. No one writes a post on a thread on a public forum like that without exepecting some kind of reaction. There are monarchists on this forum aswell as republicans, as you said we all think differently, so using words like parasite is an opinion of an individual person wanting a reaction.

In my opinion the Queen works very hard, not physical work, but no different to the work of a CEO of a huge corporate conglomerate (and they get to enjoy a private and free life) . and I don't know many 93 years old CEOs that are still commited to their cause which she will be until she dies or no longer well enough to do it.

So...not watching The Crown on Netflix then.

A ridiculous idea, It's not a popularity contest, it's a hereditary line. Like it or not, the crown goes to Charles. I think he's all right. He certainly was ahead of the curve on enviromental issues and he's as dedicated a public servant as his mother. Willian, well, by that stage they ought to be phased out.

Certainly fair comment. I think Liz and Charles as individuals born into an anchronistic system are tolerable. Future royals not so much. I balk at the idea that George, many decades younger than myself, may one day be "king". Enough is enough.

Last week Charles flew to Davos on a private jet to talk about climate change. Honestly between him and Harry you couldn’t make this stuff up.

Surely all the bowing and scraping is the point? Where’s the fun if they’re just the same as everyone else?

I agree.

The private v commercial flight thing is a bit complicated all round. If we want world leaders and high profile people to speak out about climate change in the hope of influencing change for the better - which I personally do - I really want this in everyone's faces - then they have to get there somehow. Those of a certain profile require security so that means ensuring their all round safety. A jet is more efficient than a commercial plane however that doesn't factor in the amount of people actually flying those air miles.

If we don't want high profile people flying on private jet then it will need to be commercial flights. That will likely mean a bevy of security and the like on those flights with them + empty seating around them.

If we want to still be able to fly & do that with less impact on the environment the way forward is to do away with the cushy first class /biz class and have everyone, but everyone, in one class only regardless of their means to pay for more. Same goes for sea travel & road travel. The thing is people with the means to make their travel more comfy won't like that anytime soon but really it comes down to that. Personal responsibility to try to do something no matter how small or inconvenient.