Why does britian still have a royal family?

I thought you guys were all democratic and stuff now the Parliamentary System. What exactly does the Queen/Prince/etc. etc. do? Do they just sit there and collect public money? It seems like a drain on the economy to me.

Well at least in American politics, the president only gets around 400k/year, which sounds like a lot, but then again the president IS running a whole country.

When a president finishes his term, you are correct, he gets taken care of for life; so I consider it to be like a government pension plan.

This is different from the royal family, as our presidents often times have pretty much a lifetime of public service under their belt. Before being presidents, they served decades as members of congress, or as governors, etc. etc.

What has the royal family done in terms of policy or public service, in the past 50 years?

Look its not a knock on the UK or anything at all; I honestly am curious about the role of the royal family.

I mean maybe its something I can get on board. So you just have to be part of the family eh? Does the queen have any hot grand daughters or anything?

UK isn't the only country with royal family. Nethelands, Spain, Denmark and lots of others still have them.

One word - Tourism

haha

There are many benefits of Monarchy. The person of monarch is trained to become a head of state all his life, he is aware of what he can and cannot do, and he represents his country well. You dont get many gaffes from Royals, and look at Presidents around the World. Further Monarchs arent politicians they arent trying to be populist or popular they do what has to be done, there is no such thing as corruption etc. etc.c

They are icons that are able to unite a nation, again President is more of a politcian, uniting mainly those that have voted for him.

Monarch does not constipate the Political system, theoretically he has huge powers, but in Practice all the power lies with the Prime Minister, which is good , things get done and only one person has to be scrutinised. Head of State is not blocking Parliament, by vetoing.

Yes, Zara Phillips is your best bet there.

Eitherway, I'm not fussed really parting with my small amount of money for the royals, none of it is their money really and it pays for the many staff they have, no royalty means a lot of people would/might lose their jobs. They have many charities giving out millions every year as well.

Oh and as highwaystar said, Tourism.

a question i ask many of my countrymen and women, yet none of them have yet provided me with an answer that i deem acceptable.

the monarchy is antiquated, pointless, undemocratic and a waste of taxpayers money, i say were abolish the monarchy immediatley.

It's not just Britain, here is the list of the countries she 'rules':

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize, Antigua and Barbuda, and Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Because we got rid off them and then asked for them to come back.

Its all because of foreigners thinking the queen is so cool so they pay £££ to come over here.

Tourism makes the world go round.