Stephen Fry on the British monarchy and aristocracy

...and how they're analogous to his crooked nose.

An excerpt from his wonderful autobiography Moab Is My Washpot

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Stephen
• Fry
• Moab
• Is
• My
• Washpot
• British
• monarchy
• aristocracy
• crooked
• nose

[LatumWay]

I agree that we might not be any 'freer' without a ceremonial Monarchy, we might be 'ceremonially freer', which is, of course, not a pressing concern, but still important, at least to me.

[BezoomnyBratchny]

@LatumWay

Ohh it's important to me too. Not being noticably freer because of it is no reason not to go ahead with it. Even just on principle it should be done and it angers me that we haven't already. It's just important to stay grounded and not expect everything else to fall into place if (and hopefully when) it happens. If we expect too much, we'll find that there are many things wrong with our parliamentary system to which the monarchy was comparatively benign.

[Patrick5009]

Very good. Real British broadcasting hero. For me the monarchy represents an alternative option to rally behind in the extreme circumstance of a terribly cruel and bigoted government getting into power. People have and always will fight and die for Queen and country. last time the monarchy was destroyed we ended up with a dictatorship. Cromwell. The monarchy is like a safety net against dictator style government. Although perceived as powerless, 1 speech and the Queen could start a revolution.

[robdoubler1]

safety net? oh they bring money to economy with tourism(not really people come here for a variety of reasons and they still would without a monarch) maybe good arguments but they are above the law face it with all the secrecy over their money and land and relationships.

[carl77777]

To be ruled by the first child that comes out of a Windsor womb is totally and pathetically stupid.

[OrodesIII]

Stephen Fry is on English television 7 days a week. The people there consider him one of their betters and they idolize him, never tiring of his self-promotion.

[kealyc1]

Get rid of the Monarchy ? Become an pseudo-egalitarian republic, like France, or a pseudo-federal Republic like Germany ? No thank you.

[Cashback13]

We don't need to "Dispose" of the Monarchy per say just take a large chunk of the money that funds their absurdly priviledged lifestyles and re-destribute it across the U.K into worthwhile social,economic and community projects that would go a large way to contribute to the well being of the population as a whole.

[TerraFirma69]

Ugh, I'm a big fan of Stephen but hated his reasoning when I read this part of the book. I mean what an awful argument! Nobody thinks its going to change anything drastically, but just because 'we might be disappointed by the change' something makes that means we shouldn't do it!? Think of all the money that's poured into the royal family that could be spent on people who are suffering and need it! Just think of that and try to defend them, its morally reprehensible. Sorry Stephen x

[padry1509]

Royal family, my arse.

[sionnyn]

HA HA - I shall always think of the Queen as Stephen Fry's bent nose from now on! How could anyone actually take her seriously after that?

[Bionic3333]

@255ad Perfectly said.

[255ad]

@LatumWay I agree