Whose wedding?

Yeah that's right I live under a rock.

I didn't watch it, I think it would have been a mildly interesting watch on TV, but I had better things to do/watch. I would have quite liked being there myself though, purely because i recently got a new camera and there will have been some great photo opportunities there. However I live quite a way from London so definately not worth the trip.

From what  I understand, we don't pay taxes or anything that goes towards the monarchy. However when a Royal visit happens we pay for that, which I'm sure is quite expensive when you take security into the equation.

Why do people keep the monarch? Thats easy. Its a mixture of several things.

1: Conservatism. Many conservatives in this country are monarchists.

2: Some people are Monarchists because they don't think the change will be of any benefit and they think its a waste of time. This includes some progressive people, I know a few.

3: Fear that the change could be detrimental to the way our political system works. The role of the governer general isn't very politicised and is mainly ceremonial with some reserve powers added. This has caused a split in the republicans in the past between those that don't want an elected President and those that do.

4: Whilst the majority of Australians support a republic (fluctuating from 55% and 60% at any one time) the support isn't rabid. Everyone knows its going to happen eventually, but since the Queen doesn't actually have a say in our government and we aren't being repressed or something by an absolute monarch, it just doesn't seems like a top priority to many.

5: Finally almost all Australian have a great fondness towards the Queen, this includes republicans. Many are content to wait it out until she dies and her bumbling son becomes King. King Charles and Queen Cammilla? Thats enough to make anyone throw up.

Those... mostly seem like pretty horrible reasons.  I mean, i guess i can get the "It doesn't hurt and it's fun!" type of arguement but even then... it's just kinda silly.

Given the choice the US might take the option to welcome back the queen!   I saw something on a news site making fun of the fact that the US coverage on the royal wedding was actually grander and bigger then the UK coverage.

My mom ended up watching the royal wedding i guess.

You'd figure the commonwealths would pay nothing, or else they would raise more of a stink about it?

I was wondering more if there were like "Royal Estates" or anything kept up.  Or like "Monarch Day" holidays or some such.

You wont hear any disagreements from me. They are horrible reasons. Just telling you how it seems to be for most people I've talked to that are in favor of the establishment.

To have a hereditry foreign monarch in a country thats independant, largely secular and democratic is just absurd.

The UK will never get rid of a monarch and im glad, it's got massive history and culture and i'd MUCH more prefer having a King and Queen instead of a president. Supposedly there was Massive interest from America, why?, it's probably because there's nothing like it in the U.S the History there is non-existant compared to the UK and most European countries and Asian countries for that matter. People might say its boring or whatever but it's a whole lot more interesting than presidents and prime ministers.

 Although i've got to admit when the current Queen dies or decides to step down I'd much more prefer Will and Kate or Harry and his Girlfriend to be King and Queen rather than than Charles and Camilla. The problem with Charles and Camilla, they're far to Upper-class and and arn't in touch with the working class people, where as Will and Harry are.

We may not have any kings... but we had the best emperor ever.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Norton