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.

“If they are the sovereign and we are the subjects, we are subject to the absurdity of this extraordinarily ordinary family, who had after all the highest education available ended up being so very little intellectually interested in anything, beyond the polo and corgis.”

-POLLY TOYNBEE

“There’s nothing ephemeral about a reign such as the Queen, and there’s nothing ephemeral about an institution that’s lasted a millennia.”

-RICHARD FITZWILLIAMS