Crown Prince to marry. Shock

OK. Sorry I didn’t pay attention well. Opened up the post half reading it and thought it said: “Crown prince to marry Spock”

I kind of agree that never a revolution has installed a democracy.
France had the bloodiest dictature after 1789 and for many years (Called La terreur). And what about Russia , Cuba , etc.

Democracy is a long and painful process. In a word the population has to deserve it.

Yes, but you answered your question yourself. The Cromwell regime was the last “bloody”-revolution on British soil. And Cromwell could only keep his position on for 12 years, after which the monarchy was restored. British history is totally different from continental history on the issue of democracy, because it’s more of an evolution rather than a revolution. As for the Royal family, you are right ofcourse.

Fact is, after 1688, when England and Holland were ruled by the same king/president (Willem of Orange), lots of democratic measures were taken. England and later the UK had a parliamentiary monarchy long before the rest of the continent. Actually a parliament was seen as something old, unrevolutionary, medieval, even useless by most of the other European powers. At that time, absolutism (ancien regime) was very popular: the authoritarian (France) or enlightened (Prussia, Austria) version.

Actually a very interresting topic. History proves that democracy can’t be “installed” after a revolution (lets say a “war”). It took England almost 800 years to become one (1215, Magna Charta till now), the US 220 years etc. And now everyone is expecting Iraq to become a democracy in just a couple of years, no, hell, even months.

Originally posted by Geforce
Aaah, la guillotine. :p The troubles concerning the French Revolution (dictatorship of Robbespiere and Napoleon), made countries like Belgium opt for a Royal family. In fact, most countries formed in the 19th century (Belgium, Germany, Italy) chose for monarchy, instead of the presidential regimes (US, France) set up in the 18th century. Maybe, one day, the Bourbons will be in charge again. Compare this with the stable British politics, where “democracy” was introduced 100 years earlier, with a bloodles revolution. I’m more and more beginning to appreciate the Anglo-Saxon system of politics.

Problem with French politics, a remainder of the 1789-Revolution, is that there’s a huge difference between the different philisophies (liberalism, conservatism and nationalism, later also socialism) and hence, a gov’t can never be so stable when in a coalition.

Agree with Keltic that a Royal Family, though not democratic in theory, makes things a lot more easy.

Geforce,

You seem to have forgotten the very bloody interlude of Cromwell from 1649. I don’t think Charles I would agree with you about the gentleness of the English subjects in this particular case.

:rolleyes:

Do not think that the Royal family is held as wonderful institution by everyone in the UK. The Queen, her late mother and to a certain extent Princess Diana are/were on the whole accepted, even by people who are no ardent defenders of the Crown. As for the rest, they split public opinion. I doubt there will be a republic in the UK for a couple of generations, if at all, but there is no national consensus about it. Quite a few voices are condemning the Royals (particularly the minor ones and their hangers-on) as an irrelevance, and a damned coslty one at that.

You comments about Napoleon seem to neglect his influence on various French institutions, which are still relevant to this day.

As for thinking the Bourbons or whoever will one day be back as rulers of France, dream on!

Our Royal Prince is a true playboy, always sorounded by nice babes, models and all of them cute. Thanks a lot. She was like the next door girl. Getting in our TV everyday, and being like our own relative wedding. Things are evolving and from the initial 505 against, now only 30% of Spanish population say NO. I am not pro or against….just let see if she is able to fullfill her obligation.
Former babe a Norweggian model and Gwyneath Paltrow

“Schwiiiiiing she’s a babe, she will be mine, oh yes… she will be mine” 😀

Don’t get me wrong.
It was just a bit of humor.

First of all, I so glad that you’re still around Geforce. I was missing your “politically incorrect” style.

I have the deapest respect for the King of Spain would took a big part in Spain’s transition to Democracy.

I also amire the British democratic system , one of the oldest in Europe and in the world.

Originally posted by Hand87_5
You have a lot of emotions you guys in the UK , Spain , Belgium , Denmark, NL etc with your royal family.
We don’t have this problem here after a good use of the guillotine 2 centuries ago 😀
However I have to admit that we do have even worse : politicians !!!

Aaah, la guillotine. :p The troubles concerning the French Revolution (dictatorship of Robbespiere and Napoleon), made countries like Belgium opt for a Royal family. In fact, most countries formed in the 19th century (Belgium, Germany, Italy) chose for monarchy, instead of the presidential regimes (US, France) set up in the 18th century. Maybe, one day, the Bourbons will be in charge again. Compare this with the stable British politics, where “democracy” was introduced 100 years earlier, with a bloodles revolution. I’m more and more beginning to appreciate the Anglo-Saxon system of politics.

Problem with French politics, a remainder of the 1789-Revolution, is that there’s a huge difference between the different philisophies (liberalism, conservatism and nationalism, later also socialism) and hence, a gov’t can never be so stable when in a coalition.

Agree with Keltic that a Royal Family, though not democratic in theory, makes things a lot more easy.

Well I could name a few countries which have even worse politicians then France has 😀 .

You have a lot of emotions you guys in the UK , Spain , Belgium , Denmark, NL etc with your royal family.
We don’t have this problem here after a good use of the guillotine 2 centuries ago 😀
However I have to admit that we do have even worse : politicians !!!

Yeppp, I have a kitsch MUG and a table cloth. That´s what most foreigner tourist bought as souveniers that summer.

Sorry. No offense. Just remembering a certain royal wedding in 1981 where the boat was really pushed out… How many of you have still got your ‘Special Souvenir Edition’ dailies and limited edition character tea-pots hidden away on the off chance that they might be worth something one day?

Flood.

It´s quite unlikely Flood. The Spanish Royal Family is terribly popular in the country, since they don´t have scandals, they are really normal, humble and easygoing. So we´ll have monarqy for a long time.

Break out the royal wedding mugs?
Just what do they do abroad?

Flood.

Trevor McDonald and Princess Anne….

correction…..because of her humble origen?