Will The Royals Become More 'Diverse'?

[Orchid]

Will the royals become more 'diverse'?

Proposals for constitutional reform range from the absurd to the sensible, but without a written constitution real change is unlikely.

The idea that the hereditary monarchy should become more ethnically and socially diverse is one of the more absurd things I can ever remember hearing. But as it has just been suggested in earnest at a conference on constitutionalism attended by senior figures, including the senior law lord, I feel justified treating it as at least a semi-serious idea.

The idea is being floated by the Fabian society as part of, it has to be said, some reasonably sensible proposals for reforming the monarchy. Transparency in the royal finances, yes. Why is there no divide between the official public residences – which the Fabians say should belong to a trust for the public benefit, a bit like the National Trust – and private residences such as Sandringham? And it is ridiculous that the Queen pays no tax on her income but, in a typically untransparent example of British convention, donates a comparable sum voluntarily. These arrangements seem obscure in a modern democratic state.

But the proposal that the monarchy should be more "representative" strikes me as ridiculous. Unless I am completely missing something, the concept of a hereditary title is inherently incapable of producing anyone "representative" or, for that matter, diverse.

Read More: The Guardian - Will The Royals Become More 'Diverse'?

[jmax]

   How on earth can the Royals be diverse?    Their very existence implies a belief in social betters.  Otherwise, why have one family as generational heads of state in the first place??  It makes no sense!

Either you believe in the inherent ability of these people to do the job they were born to both well (meaning they have a natural ability to do the job) and better (meaning you wouldn't have as good a head of state if you, say, elected him or her) than someone who's earned the position, or you believe in inherent equality.  The two are anathema to each other and cannot coexist.  

If the British are so desperate for equality, why don't they just chuck the institution altogether???

[Stix Chix]

But the proposal that the monarchy should be more "representative" strikes me as ridiculous. Unless I am completely missing something, the concept of a hereditary title is inherently incapable of producing anyone "representative" or, for that matter, diverse.

the ironic thing is that there is nothing more representative then the RF.  they represent the government, the church, the military, the nation and the commonwealth.  

the Fabian Society hasn't actually said that the RF themselves are too rich and white to be representative of modern Britain....but that's what the writer seems to be inferring with her article.

if you want them to be genetically diverse they are already that.  the joke is to call them Germans but they are actually descended from way more countries then that.  if it had a monarchy (and what country hasn't?) then the RF can probably claim decent from it.  they are very well bred mutts.

if you want them to be racially diverse right now....tough beans because unless they fall in love and marry someone from outside their usual set of their own free will its impossible.  you could try forcing their hands at it.  the law already says they cant marry catholics.  but i think its rather unlikely that a modern government will agree to make a new law saying members of the RF can only marry non-aristocratic people who are darker then beige (self-tanner not counted).

what the Fabian Society does say on diversifying them is....

To make the monarchy more representative of a diverse Britain of four nations, many cultures, many faiths and no faith, the report also recommends: ending the historic ban on non-Anglicans, or anyone who marries a Catholic, succeeding to the throne, and the preference in the succession given to younger brothers over elder sisters; and ending the position of the head of state as Supreme Governor of the Church of England.

you can read the Fabian's plans here....
Fabian Society calls for overhaul of monarchy
their plans don't so much diversify and modernized the monarchy as it makes them religiously, socially and politically obsolete.  which is no doubt the real goal.  

[Hale]

This part of the article which say's the Queen doesn't pay income tax, I don't know the truth about that.  But I was under the impression that Euro MP's also do not pay income tax.

As for diversity.  Take a good look at those who work behind the scenes at those who work behind the scenes at No.10 Downing Street, as well as the heirarchy of the Labour party.  Not much diversity there.   

Never forget the Fabian Society are like the intellectual wing of the Labour Party.  Perhaps Fabians themselves should first set an example and practice what they preach.