British Monarchy Debate | Munk Debates

About this episode

With the death of Queen Elizabeth, one of the longest serving monarchs in world history, the commonwealth is adjusting to a new normal and a new face of the firm, Charles III. “God Save the Queen” is back to “God Save the King”, there’s a new face on postage stamps, a new face on the pound, and a slew of other changes big and small. But above all, Britain is grappling with their identity, and what the monarchy means for them today. For some, this means that the time has finally come to do away with the outdated parliamentary monarchy system in favor of a proper modern republic. They argue that the British Royal Family is out of touch with ordinary Britons and represent an unsavory colonial history that must be left behind. The slew of scandals plaguing the Royal family hurts the country's image internationally. They argue the Royals represent the past, and Britain must move into the future.

But others argue that the royals serve an important albeit limited function. Beyond representing a rich and storied history, the Royal family is a unifying force amid political and cultural divisions. And without the royal family, the UK loses an important piece of their cultural identity at a time when the British are struggling to define themselves. The Royal family may have problems, but they’re existence is necessary.