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Interesting to imagine an ex-king in disgrace qnd exile from a European country. Having been born under Elizabeth II and having her hang on so long, I can't ima

Interesting to imagine an ex-king in disgrace qnd exile from a European country. Having been born under Elizabeth II and having her hang on so long, I can't imagine a similar circumstance for the Commonwealth.

Someone 6y ago
Did you forget about https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_VIII https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_VIII? That’s not that long ago (he was an uncle of Elizabeth II, wasn’t he?)
- AlgorithmicTime 6y ago
  He's been dead for almost 50 years
- The_rationalist 6y ago
  Thanks for sharing, that was a good read
- docdeek 6y ago
  No, though he was well before my time. ;)
- pjc50 6y ago
  It was convenient that he could be forced to abdicate over the fact that Wallis Simpson was a divorcee, which prevented the need to ask far more awkward questions about how both of them were Fascist sympathisers. (It was a common view among the English upper class until it became unacceptable once the war started) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marburg_Files https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marburg_Files
  - Mediterraneo10 6y ago
    Edward’s fascist sympathies were a problem only after he abdicated and determined how he was treated as ex-king. Wallis Simpson was so abhorred by high-class British society that she served as a more than sufficient reason to make him abdicate, the Nazi thing didn’t really play into it in 1935–36.
nabla9 6y ago
Her family has provided more than enough. It's insane that modern society prefers to have living inherited hood ornaments. Constitutional monarchy can be a peaceful way to democracy, but there is no reason to make it permanent. If Iran becomes true democracy, maybe they keep Ayatollah as tourist attraction? North Korea could keep Kim-family as well. 200-yers form now Kim-family wold be insignificant royals sitting next to British royals.
- hpkuarg 6y ago
  I've always liked how many countries separate head of state from head of government, because I see the two as separate roles: one whose job is to be the most excellent person of that nationality, and the other to be the political leader, who may from time to time need to engage in dirty political shenanigans. It seems an argument can be made for having the former be inherited, so as to avoid the inevitable politicization of the position that happens in countries where a separate head of state is also elected. It's not fair to either the commoners who can ~never be elevated to that position nor to the royals who can ~never leave it, but perhaps better for the country as a whole.
  - stainforth 6y ago
    > to be the most excellent person of that nationality I don't think that's even a thing.
  - oh_sigh 6y ago
    Elizabeth II seems more about ruling her family with an iron fist. I guess that's peak Britishness?
AniseAbyss 6y ago
There was an infamous corruption case in the Netherlands called the Lockheed scandal that involved the husband of the Queen in the 1970s. Won't bore you with the details but it was all swept under the rug by the (socialist!) government to save the country. In fact it only came to light because the US Congress investigated that company at the time. I am sure there are things going on all the time that never reach the papers. Even in "civilised" countries.

Someone 6y ago

Did you forget about https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_VIII https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_VIII? That’s not that long ago (he was an uncle of Elizabeth II, wasn’t he?)

AlgorithmicTime 6y ago
He's been dead for almost 50 years
The_rationalist 6y ago
Thanks for sharing, that was a good read
docdeek 6y ago
No, though he was well before my time. ;)
pjc50 6y ago
It was convenient that he could be forced to abdicate over the fact that Wallis Simpson was a divorcee, which prevented the need to ask far more awkward questions about how both of them were Fascist sympathisers. (It was a common view among the English upper class until it became unacceptable once the war started) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marburg_Files https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marburg_Files
- Mediterraneo10 6y ago
  Edward’s fascist sympathies were a problem only after he abdicated and determined how he was treated as ex-king. Wallis Simpson was so abhorred by high-class British society that she served as a more than sufficient reason to make him abdicate, the Nazi thing didn’t really play into it in 1935–36.

nabla9 6y ago

Her family has provided more than enough. It's insane that modern society prefers to have living inherited hood ornaments. Constitutional monarchy can be a peaceful way to democracy, but there is no reason to make it permanent. If Iran becomes true democracy, maybe they keep Ayatollah as tourist attraction? North Korea could keep Kim-family as well. 200-yers form now Kim-family wold be insignificant royals sitting next to British royals.

hpkuarg 6y ago
I've always liked how many countries separate head of state from head of government, because I see the two as separate roles: one whose job is to be the most excellent person of that nationality, and the other to be the political leader, who may from time to time need to engage in dirty political shenanigans. It seems an argument can be made for having the former be inherited, so as to avoid the inevitable politicization of the position that happens in countries where a separate head of state is also elected. It's not fair to either the commoners who can ~never be elevated to that position nor to the royals who can ~never leave it, but perhaps better for the country as a whole.
- stainforth 6y ago
  > to be the most excellent person of that nationality I don't think that's even a thing.
- oh_sigh 6y ago
  Elizabeth II seems more about ruling her family with an iron fist. I guess that's peak Britishness?

AniseAbyss 6y ago

There was an infamous corruption case in the Netherlands called the Lockheed scandal that involved the husband of the Queen in the 1970s. Won't bore you with the details but it was all swept under the rug by the (socialist!) government to save the country. In fact it only came to light because the US Congress investigated that company at the time. I am sure there are things going on all the time that never reach the papers. Even in "civilised" countries.