- Question
Should the monarchy be abolished?
The Royal Family is considered a pillar in the British cultural and political landscape. The country tunes in for their weddings, places bets on their baby names and earnestly discusses their wardrobe choices. However, polling shows that many people have a critical view of the royals and do not support the way they operate – for example their secrecy or tax-avoidance – or the public money that's spent on them. Given the monarchy's diminished role in politics, is it time to get rid of the royals? Or do they still serve a purpose in modern society?
Yes, we should abolish the monarchy
This position holds that the monarchy should be abolished. It argues the institution is outdated and undemocratic, has no place in the modern UK, reinforces the country's class system, wastes valuable taxpayer money, and is ultimately an embarrassment that ought to go.
We should reform the monarchy
This position holds that the monarchy should be reformed rather than abolished or preserved unchanged. It argues that the institution is worth keeping but must adapt to modern expectations — for instance, by becoming financially sustainable and funding itself.
No, we should keep the monarchy
This position holds that the monarchy should be kept. It argues the monarchy is a valuable part of British public life—drawing in tourists, serving as a key source of the country's soft power abroad, and carrying a cultural and ceremonial value worth preserving.
Commonwealth countries should become republics or have their own monarchy
This position holds that, whatever becomes of the monarchy in Britain, Commonwealth countries should not remain under it. It argues that such nations should become republics or adopt their own monarchies rather than keep a British monarch as their head of state.