Poll shows support for Royal Family

[Hopeless Romantic]

The majority of British people believe the country is better off because of the Royal Family, a new poll has revealed.

An ICM survey for The Guardian found that 63% of those questioned thought that the UK would be worse off if the monarchy was not in place.

Just over a quarter (26%) said they believed the country would be better off without the royals, with 11% not knowing.

Nearly seven out of 10 people (67%) think the monarchy is "relevant" to life in Britain today, while 60% agree that it makes the country more respected around the world.

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/feedarticle/9612468

[T_i_B]

1. Given what's happening this week.

that poll is hardly a suprise.

Myself, I'd rather worry about other things then the Royal family.

[Matilda]

2. They've taken a nosedive with lovers of The Chaser comedy series here.

They were due to air a special from London at 7.00 pm on ABC2, the same time that the festivities begin on ABC1. But thanks to a last-minute deal worked out between Prince Charles's office and the BBC, the rights to air the program include a clause that prohibits the footage from being used in any comedy, drama, or satire.

There's little doubt that this clause was aimed at The Chaser team, who are best known for driving through the security at the 2007 APEC conference in Sydney, and making fools of John Howard and all his security goons. It seems it's fine for Dame Edna Everage to be the commentator for Channel 10 in Australia, and what is Edna but satirical? Oh, wait – her alter ego, Barry Humphries, is a pal of Prince Charles. Makes all the difference.

This is truly pathetic, and tells us all very clearly that the Royals truly believe that they are on a different plane to the rest of us. There is no doubt that The Chaser's programme would have been irreverent, but Charles has just lost a heap of support in this country for his narrow, unhumorous attitude. The team are very clever and funny when they're at their best, and I have a feeling they'll find a way of getting back. They might not be able to use wedding footage, but I won't be surprised if they find another way of showing their displeasure, and it will probably be more lethal than a wedding spoof.

"But users of Facebook and Twitter have vented their anger, calling the BBC "wankers" and directing obscenities towards the Queen.

"The royals: such a joke that they can't take any," Jay Dessi wrote on the ABC's Facebook page.

"How do I complain? They need to know they should come to their senses or they will turn me into a republican. I never cared before, but I care now," said Sharnell Shipard.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/04/27/3201822.htm


For someone who has actually lived here, Charles has misjudged the Australian people quite badly. We really don't take kindly to people throwing their weight around. Especially upper-class Poms.

Edited to add a link to the ABC's promo for The Chaser's show:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/youtube.htm?v=aDjwgtWebas

[Hopeless Romantic]

3. Although...

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/special-reports/republic-support-lowest-in-17-years/story-fn888sz0-1226044282588

[Matilda]

4. That poll was taken before the news about The Chaser censorship.

I probably wouldn't have watched The Chaser until after the event anyway - sometimes they're brilliant, sometimes not. But the whole idea of censorship by the Beeb and the Palace makes me mad. It's so feudal! The new contract was sent to the ABC only this week, so it really does appear to be aimed at that one particular show.

The Chaser's audience is mainly in the 18-35 demographic, and they have been found to be simply disinterested in the whole republic issue; don't care one way or the other. But they love The Chaser, and they're angry, and it's not good news for the future of the monarchy in Australia. We baby-boomers and the Generation-Xers have long ago made up our minds; it's the uncommitted young we need to energise.

Tonight the ABC is running a special edition of their political panel discussion show, entitled "Is the Royal Romance Over?", a discussion on the republic. I think The Chaser censorship will add a spark to events. Sometimes what appears to be something unimportant in the grand scheme of things can take on a whole new dimension, and I think this may be on of those occasions.

[SydneyDundee]

5. "Censorship"..my @ss

The Chaser team are a pile of unfunny cr@p who, I am glad to say, were put in their place by the Clarence House - something many in Australia would love to do but havent got the bollards......

I find it strange that 99.99% of the world's media/news channel agencies had no problem with the reasonable request from Clarence House etc to respect the occasion (including Australian TV's ABC1 and Channel 9, whose coverage was very dignified and good, but those precious wankers in the ABC2 and The Chaser don't get it? As for the Australian way with "Class" etc....well I live here in Sydney and a more pretentious set of nouveau riche tosspots I have yet to see, someone's always crawling up someone else's @ss....

GIRFUY!

[mackerel]

Relevent:

"Nearly seven out of 10 people (67%) think the monarchy is "relevant" to life in Britain today, while 60% agree that it makes the country more respected around the world."

relevant in what way? I find relevance is used in an ambiguous way of late.

[mackerel]

6. Relevent:

"Nearly seven out of 10 people (67%) think the monarchy is "relevant" to life in Britain today, while 60% agree that it makes the country more respected around the world."

relevant in what way? I find relevance is used in an ambiguous way of late.