I don't understand this myth well a myth in my opinion anyways that the royal family bring in tourists, I have never understood that claim

 

1) If tourists take in royal palaces they do so as PART of a general tour of London

2) They would still watch trooping of the colour and changing of the guard and tour Buck House even if there was no royal family

3) The chances of any tourist actually seeing or meeting any member of the royal family on their vacation are as likely as me meeting Elvis

4) The royal family spend summer at Sandringham and that is not a tourist hotspot, if people came all this way to see the queen surely they would go to Sandringham and wait by the gates

 

While I am sure royal buildings and ceremonies are part of the attraction of a trip to London I don't think the royal family itself would make any difference to the figures and if Bernard Manning and his wife were living in Buck House and not the Queen the tourist figures would not go down

I disagree ^_^ the fact that they could be there is no doubt enough. The chance of seeing Elvis at Buckingham Palace (I hate the way Americans call it Buck House) is zero. there is always a small chance (however tiny) that they may get a glimpse of a royal. I am sure that is enough for some! Tourists flock here on their 'vacations' because (and I agree not soley) of the royal connection.

I disagree ^_^ the fact that they could be there is no doubt enough. The chance of seeing Elvis at Buckingham Palace (I hate the way Americans call it Buck House) is zero. there is always a small chance (however tiny) that they may get a glimpse of a royal. I am sure that is enough for some! Tourists flock here on their 'vacations' because (and I agree not soley) of the royal connection.

 

Madame Tussauds though gets twice the number of annual visitors than Buckingham Palace and the Tower Of London and Chamber Of Horrors eclipse it too

 

I present Exhibit B - Princess Diana - She was hero worshipped in areas like America and Japan, Di-mania was far far bigger than any affection for the Queen among Americans and so on so you would have thought that if royalty was a big factor in visiting the UK that they would go make a visit to Althorp House and the Diana exhibition but visitor numbers to Althorp House are pathetic

 

I stand by my assertion that tourists take in places like Buckingham Palace and so on as part of a general visit to London but would not come solely for that purpose :)

Madame Tussauds though gets twice the number of annual visitors than Buckingham Palace and the Tower Of London and Chamber Of Horrors eclipse it too

 

I present Exhibit B - Princess Diana - She was hero worshipped in areas like America and Japan, Di-mania was far far bigger than any affection for the Queen among Americans and so on so you would have thought that if royalty was a big factor in visiting the UK that they would go make a visit to Althorp House and the Diana exhibition but visitor numbers to Althorp House are pathetic

 

I stand by my assertion that tourists take in places like Buckingham Palace and so on as part of a general visit to London but would not come solely for that purpose :)

Well, is stand by my opinion that it is the main attraction for a visit to the UK ^_^

We will have to agree to disagree on this one ;)

Gosh if we need a monarch to stop Hitlers taking control I wonder how on earth the majority of the countries in the world ( who are not monarchies) manage to avoid that fate. :o

 

The world should be full of fascist dictatorships.

Gosh if we need a monarch to stop Hitlers taking control I wonder how on earth the majority of the countries in the world ( who are not monarchies) manage to avoid that fate. :o

 

The world should be full of fascist dictatorships.

Well there was Iraq, and even worse..... George W Bush :lol:

At least George ain't President for life. :lol:

Well, is stand by my opinion that it is the main attraction for a visit to the UK ^_^

 

But the facts don't bear that one out Jester. Paris gets more tourism than London - FACT! No Royals in France, so the argument just doesn't bear up. And as Ozzy says, Madame Tussauds, Tower of London, Chamber of Horrors, the Houses of Parliament.... There's loads going on in London that doesn't need the Royals to attract tourists and as I said earlier, getting rid of the Royals does not mean we get rid of the palaces, we keep those and do what the French did with them....

Here here.

 

I think it all comes down to status. To have a Royal Family makes the "ones in the know" who run this country feel like they have one over other countrys. Think playground politics. I have a tiger's eye marble and you don't so ner ner ner ner. Do you get me?

 

It goes back to our Empire days, really. We were Queen Bee at one point and keeping the Royals just allows the higher powers to reminise about that. Quite frankly, what else have they got going for them? At least Tony B is going soon, but then I don't like the Torys either.

 

As for the income they generate.. I think that with some research you may find that they cost this country a lot of money. On saying that, they do bring in money too. But, they aren't the sole tourist money spinner. I do agree that particularly the Americans and Japanese flock here to catch a glimpse of the Royals. The Americans love them.

 

To be honest I think people put too much emphaisis on the Royals as being a good thing. They are neither good nor bad.

 

They just need to stop spending so much money.

Paris gets more tourism than London - FACT!

But it is reputed as the most romantic city in the world, has the Eiffel Tower, AND EuroDisney!!!!!! :cheer: ;)

You could argue that the London is reputed as the most culturaly diverse city in Europe, having both The Proms at The Royal Albert Hall, AND the the Notting Hill Carnival.

I do agree that Paris is wonderful, I have been there as a tourist several times myself. London, i think is more diverse.

 

There, I have just ripped my own argument to shreads, after it looked like I was defending the Royal family! :lol:

You could argue that the London is reputed as the most culturaly diverse city in Europe, having both The Proms at The Royal Albert Hall, AND the the Notting Hill Carnival.

Try telling that to an 8 year old who wants to meet Mickey Mouse!!!! :lol:

Fair point. Watch the kid going down the steps on the Effiel Tower.. They are open. I nearly put my foot through them and it scared the beejeebus outta me.

But the facts don't bear that one out Jester. Paris gets more tourism than London - FACT! No Royals in France

 

probably still loads of Royals in france, only they cant do anything with the republic. like hello magazine with all these kings of greece, princesses of yugoslavia and random princes of germany still swanning around at eurotrashy parties