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| A nostalgic addiction to monarchy | A nostalgic addiction to monarchy |
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| Visitors to Petworth House, a National Trust property in West Sussex, are rather depressingly invited to "Experience life as a servant …" In The English, Jeremy Paxman suggests that National Trust devotees are "venerating feudalism", while Sunday Times columnist and author AA Gill goes much further in The Angry Island: Hunting the English, maintaining: "What the National Trust actually says is that the best is all behind us … All our endeavours from now on should be to preserve and lust over the stuff of the past", adding that: "The heritage industry and the mushy, soft, fearsome addiction to nostalgia is more damaging and depressing to England and the English than drunkenness or crime … It fixes the old class structures in the aspic of heritage." | Visitors to Petworth House, a National Trust property in West Sussex, are rather depressingly invited to "Experience life as a servant …" In The English, Jeremy Paxman suggests that National Trust devotees are "venerating feudalism", while Sunday Times columnist and author AA Gill goes much further in The Angry Island: Hunting the English, maintaining: "What the National Trust actually says is that the best is all behind us … All our endeavours from now on should be to preserve and lust over the stuff of the past", adding that: "The heritage industry and the mushy, soft, fearsome addiction to nostalgia is more damaging and depressing to England and the English than drunkenness or crime … It fixes the old class structures in the aspic of heritage." |
| Reading the uncharacteristically lame defence of monarchy by chairman of the National Trust, Simon Jenkins (1 June), served only to reinforce my deeply held republican beliefs. Contrary to Jenkins's urging, I will neither sit back, relax, nor enjoy the dreadful dehumanising deference of the diamond jubilee. Joe Sharkey Petersfield, Hampshire | Reading the uncharacteristically lame defence of monarchy by chairman of the National Trust, Simon Jenkins (1 June), served only to reinforce my deeply held republican beliefs. Contrary to Jenkins's urging, I will neither sit back, relax, nor enjoy the dreadful dehumanising deference of the diamond jubilee. Joe Sharkey Petersfield, Hampshire |
| • I thought Saint Polly was rather harsh ("Queen's diamond jubilee: a vapid family and a mirage of nationhood. What's to celebrate?"). I'm not a monarchist, but blaming Her Madge for public schools and tax havens seems a bit harsh. The way I look at it, I'd prefer a titular head who belongs to a bunch of benign, horsey, fancy-dress freaks (who bring in a few quid from tourists) to a President Blair, Cameron or (God help us) Johnson. Keith Martin Portsmouth, Hampshire | • I thought Saint Polly was rather harsh ("Queen's diamond jubilee: a vapid family and a mirage of nationhood. What's to celebrate?"). I'm not a monarchist, but blaming Her Madge for public schools and tax havens seems a bit harsh. The way I look at it, I'd prefer a titular head who belongs to a bunch of benign, horsey, fancy-dress freaks (who bring in a few quid from tourists) to a President Blair, Cameron or (God help us) Johnson. Keith Martin Portsmouth, Hampshire |
| • Polly Toynbee and Simon Jenkins both miss the main point when debating the monarchy from their separate republican and pragmatic perspectives. Simon comes nearest to the practical advantages of monarchy for a country without any written constitution or guaranteed local powers. As with popular football teams and other heroic symbols, the monarchy offers something gloriously permanent in our otherwise transient lives. All clever prime ministers know how to play this card if sections of the population should start to take our parliamentary government seriously. Des McConaghy Liverpool | • Polly Toynbee and Simon Jenkins both miss the main point when debating the monarchy from their separate republican and pragmatic perspectives. Simon comes nearest to the practical advantages of monarchy for a country without any written constitution or guaranteed local powers. As with popular football teams and other heroic symbols, the monarchy offers something gloriously permanent in our otherwise transient lives. All clever prime ministers know how to play this card if sections of the population should start to take our parliamentary government seriously. Des McConaghy Liverpool |
| • As you note (Editorial, 2 June), the level of bunting and flag waving for the latest royal jubilee is likely to be rather less than it was in 1977. The same is true of opposition to the monarchy and republican sentiment. Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee in 1897 certainly did not pass without dissent, but the strength of feeling was nothing like that of the 1870s, when republican clubs were set up. Support for the monarchy ebbs and flows, as does opposition to it. Dr Keith Flett Socialist Historians Group | • As you note (Editorial, 2 June), the level of bunting and flag waving for the latest royal jubilee is likely to be rather less than it was in 1977. The same is true of opposition to the monarchy and republican sentiment. Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee in 1897 certainly did not pass without dissent, but the strength of feeling was nothing like that of the 1870s, when republican clubs were set up. Support for the monarchy ebbs and flows, as does opposition to it. Dr Keith Flett Socialist Historians Group |
| • Everyone who supports democracy, transparency and fairness should speak up over the coming days. Sadly, I am not strong enough to stomach this state-sponsored propaganda and am joining the people crossing the Channel this weekend to seek temporary asylum in the democratic republic of France. Gareth Morgan Abergele, Conwy | • Everyone who supports democracy, transparency and fairness should speak up over the coming days. Sadly, I am not strong enough to stomach this state-sponsored propaganda and am joining the people crossing the Channel this weekend to seek temporary asylum in the democratic republic of France. Gareth Morgan Abergele, Conwy |
| • As Britain marks the Queen's jubilee (and republicans spurn it), I wonder if there's a compromise. If, when the Queen dies, British people were offered the chance to vote between the option of King Charles, with the continuation of the royal succession, or President William Windsor as the first elected head of state, how would they vote? Tony Sophoclides London | • As Britain marks the Queen's jubilee (and republicans spurn it), I wonder if there's a compromise. If, when the Queen dies, British people were offered the chance to vote between the option of King Charles, with the continuation of the royal succession, or President William Windsor as the first elected head of state, how would they vote? Tony Sophoclides London |
| • Whenever a monarchist sneers: "So, if we had a republic, who would you vote for as president, Tony Blair?", answer, "No, the Queen, she'd be rather good at it." They never know what to say. Simon Platman London | • Whenever a monarchist sneers: "So, if we had a republic, who would you vote for as president, Tony Blair?", answer, "No, the Queen, she'd be rather good at it." They never know what to say. Simon Platman London |
| • Even if the royal family were all Nobel prize winners, monarchy would still be a ridiculous institution. Being a subject is just not grown up. An elected president (Irish model, not American) would do nicely and give us some dignity. Sally McHugh London | • Even if the royal family were all Nobel prize winners, monarchy would still be a ridiculous institution. Being a subject is just not grown up. An elected president (Irish model, not American) would do nicely and give us some dignity. Sally McHugh London |
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