Does the UK need a monarchy?

Of course not. Republics manage without one, and so could the UK if it wanted to. There are plenty of countries that are governed in the same kind of way, except with a figurehead president instead.

But as it HAS a monarchy, and most British people don't mind it or even like it, why change? It would be awkward changing the name of the country for a start. And if you look around at other countries that are this kind of republic, who you tend to get as president is some failed politician. The place they usually get dumped now is Brussels as an EU Commissioner, but they could be the British President. Becoming a republic would also result in calls to have a written constitution for the first time, which so far we've managed to avoid doing. That would be a big job to make sure we get it right.

Test question: Who is the President of Germany? You will be doing well if you can answer that without looking it up (and deserve a booby prize for getting it wrong by naming the Chancellor). But everyone knows who the British monarch is, because they're around for longer and monarchy is unusual. It's good to be noticed.

Yes that way we dont have stupid Presidential elections a Monarchy adds Dignity

during my holidays the people of Hungary Russia and France have said we would Love to have a Monarchy but like Spain or the UK

and Look at the Money it makes Charles and Dianas wedding London alone made $400 Million on tourism

remove the Queen and all we end up with is a Lot of Museums Sandrignam and windsor castel are the queens Property as are many other Buildings and we would Lose

the Royal family gets paid from the Royal estates and the Government gets the rest in Fact the Queen is cheap to Maintain

Depends on your definition of 'need'. Every country has a head of state of some sort, many of which are largely ceremonial figurehead roles, like our monarch. I suppose a country could function without a head of state, but I can't see why it should. Of course we could end the monarchy and declare the country a republic, if you have something against royalty per se, but then we'd have another ceremonial figurehead instead, probably called president. Not sure how much that would change things, except to give the job that currently runs in a family to the politicians. And if you think that's an attractive option somehow... just think, would you really want to have President Blair as your head of state?!

I guess they don't 'need' one.

On the upside, they make a lot of tourist income, it's kind of an interesting tradition dating back hundreds of years.

As you visit London and see all those people hanging out around the castles and Buckingham palace, these are all people spending their money on public transport, hotels, gift shops, restaurants, and so on.

I think the royals also are handy for special occasions, ribbon cutting, encouraging good charitable works.

And the young royals, William and Harry, went above and beyond in their service to the country in the military.

Frankly after the horrific debacle over Brexit, the political turmoil of the PM resigning, and the future fall out of the stupid people voting for Brexit, I think the stability of having a monarch is a nice touch. Even if she can't really do anything.

The monarchy and peer system and Upperclass of Britain, are of the same club, enforcing the idea of a dominant superior class.No, the people don,t need it, but the Upperclass control the media. The enduring skills,ruthlessness and determination of the Upperclass of the UK ensure that they maintain there dominance there.

Yes.

Look at the disastrous US system, with an elected president. You don't want that.

With a monarch, you in the UK have a nonpartisan head of state. That's a good thing.

No the queen is a total waste of resources. You know how the French dealt with this don't you ... Such a shame we live in modern times.

We need to get rid of the queen and her whole retarded family.

Civil war ..... Revelation ... They are never around when you need them.

The queen has to go though and all those pathetic silver spoofs need melted down and distributed amongst the masses.

the joke is...the royal family are from an illegitimate blood line...the real KING of England actually lives a quiet life in Australia...he has the legitimate royal blood line...and that is a FACT....so legally, the royals shouldn't even be ruling...let alone living the high life on the tax payers money...they are just self-appointed greedy scum...illegitimate, to add insult to injury...

F*ck the self anointed so called "royalties"

The French woke up in 1789 and beheaded their king. The British are still asleep.

Yes.. without we would lose the identity that makes British people Unique