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  |  Community  |  News and views  |  (Figure) head of State?
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(Figure) head of State?

The Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations have sparked furious debate on our message board on the nature of the monarchy. Do you support the Queen or would you like to see a republic? Find out what other iVillagers have to say...

The Queen's Jubilee
The Queen's Golden Jubilee will be marked by an extra bank holiday on Monday 3rd June 2002. The Spring Bank Holiday, which had been due to fall on 27 May, will move to Tuesday 4 June to allow four days of celebrations. Prime Minister Tony Blair has described it as a 'joyous occasion and a very special milestone.'

But do iVillagers agree?

Calls for a republic

  • 'I think we should mark that dreadful woman's 50th year with a widespread campaign for a republic, and an end to the public antics of her ridiculous family,' says Thomasina, a regular member of the Politics Today message board, who obviously doesn't agree with Blair. 'The Royal Family is a fundamentally undemocratic institution, with tremendous prestige, wealth and power in this country, and for what reason? None other than a bizarre form of inheritance (which excludes Catholics and, where possible, women) and ensures that a privileged minority hold sway over the rest of us in the name of tradition.'

  • 'I think the monarchy is unnecessary - it doesn't fulfil any meaningful functions in terms of governance so I'd be in favour of a republic. At the same time I don't wish the Queen herself any ill. I think she's done her best but I think we should scrap it. I actually feel a bit sorry for her; apparently she doesn't really want any fuss made because she thinks people aren't keen. I think we should just let the monarchy die when she does.'
    Alice

    Did you know?
    Calling for the establishment of a republic in print is actually against the law, punishable by life imprisonment. No one has been charged under the Treason Felony Act 1848 for 123 years, but the threat still stands. So much so that the Guardian newspaper is currently mounting a legal challenge to the act, arguing that it violates article 10 of the European convention on human rights - the right to free speech. The paper wants the act to be amended to allow it to campaign for the establishment of a republic by peaceful means.

  • Over the page: Support for the monarchy

    iVillage TV - Celebrity gossip

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