The British Monarchy's Popularity Problem

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A video about how the British Monarchy developed a popularity problem. And how King Charles might be about to make it worse...
Written, directed and presented by Tom Nicholas.
Edited by Georgia Burrows.
Chapters
00:00 King Charles' Sudden Popularity
03:38 Queen Victoria and the Rise of Democracy
08:02 The Birth of the Royal Family
12:01 How to Research Like a PhD Student
14:25 Victoria in Mourning
17:07 The Republican Surge
20:51 Typhoid Saves the Day
23:22 Will King Charles' Popularity Last?
Bibliography
You can find a bibliography for this video on my Patreon, here: / video-british-82511427
With the coronation of Charles III just around the corner, I thought I'd celebrate in the only way I know how: by creating a mini-series of videos telling the stories of various rebels, radicals and republicans throughout the centuries who have tried (with varying degrees of success) to consign the British crown to history.
In this second episode of what I'm calling "Treason Fest 2023", we're looking at how the British Monarchy became obsessed with maintaining its own popularity, how that obsession almost brought-down the institution under Queen Victoria and how King Charles might similarly place it at risk.
Watch this video ad-free on Nebula at nebula.tv/videos/tomnicholas-...
Support my work on Patreon at / tomnicholas
Twitter: / tom_nicholas
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Patreon: / tomnicholas
Website: www.tomnicholas.com
Select footage courtesy of Getty

[@Tom_Nicholas]

I hope you'll notice that we've really been increasing the production value of what we make over the last few videos. I'm really proud of the stuff we're putting out but doing so is fairly costly. If you'd like to support me and my team to make more videos like this, then you can do so in a couple of different ways. Firstly, you sign-up to my streaming service Nebula using my personal link and watch my new Nebula Class over there: go.nebula.tv/tomnicholas Secondly, you can get access to scripts to my videos, director's commentaries and weekly update by signing up to my Patreon, here: patreon.com/tomnicholas Thanks so much and I hope you find time to check out the rest of Treason Fest 2023!

[@Venomonomonom]

Thank you for your work! Keep talking about all these subjects. Idk what to suggest lol, I just hope you want to help fight fascism (and its supporters) more and more.

[@Freerangerification]

Sorry Tom, i enjoyed the video but full UK suffrage was not 1828 but 1928 (slip of the tongue i guess) KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK !! X

[@TheBalthassar]

It seems like the video abruptly ends mid Patreon read.

[@texasred5665]

Love your vids, but its tri colour, not trikolor. You can't always take your pronunciations for granite if you've only ever read them haha

[@nikolabucabuca]

GREEN WHITE AN BLUE...ARE YOU SURE ON THIS I CANT FIND THIS FLAG IN OFICIAL SOURCE OR ENCICLOPEDIA[[LARUSE BOOK NOT NET ENCICLOPEDIA]].....THEY ALL LIST BLUE WHITE RED TRICOLORE.....WHAT SOURCE YOU HAVE FOR THIS GREEN TRICOLORE FLAG NICKY

[@cinnanyan]

I think the funniest and most cursed outcome would be if Britain becomes a republic but Canada keeps the monarchy and the royal family has to move to Ottawa

[@CrystalLily1302]

please no, I do not want a monarch in my city thank you very much

[@idestquodest]

kaiserreich reference

[@Dekubud]

Oh God no! The worst is that I can see it happen. At least Ottawa is on the border with Québec so that increases the chances of Québécois blocking that move. Not gonna lie, I'd love to see a mob of angry Québécois kick out the monarchy lol

[@pyrosianheir]

​@@Dekubud they revert fully to the French part of their roots, build a guillotine without quite knowing why.

[@tisFrancesfault]

@@pyrosianheir Quebec should be striped of its political exceptionalism, as it stands it is an anti democratic - fascist sympathetic political block.

[@spankflaps1365]

It’s quite funny that people seemed shocked when Charles became King. We’d only had like 70 years notice.

[@azrealle9474]

Love the Holly profile pic.

[@hypatiakovalevskayasklodow9195]

@Jay January Being shocked that someone dies young and being shocked that someone dies at 80+ years old are not the same

[@toslowlypoke]

to be fair, i think they were mostly shocked that liz didn't reappear in the middle of stonehenge or something.

[@bella-bond]

I thought people were surprised about the fact that he lived long enough to become king 😂

[@immortaledge8830]

Prince Charles was at Epsteins island as well as other pdf file meetings.

[@bobbybooshay5388]

Elizabeth was basically holding the monarchy together with the strength of Atlas. It was very funny people started asking if they even needed the monarchy the nano second she died.

[@danubeisreallypeculiarrive7944]

But....But....Tourism would suffer if we got rid of them! French make more money from tourists that come to look at their palaces and castles? What did they do with their monarchy and nobles? Grab your weapons, citizens! Form your battalions! Let us march! Let us march! May impure blood Water our fields!

[@quatreraberbawinner2628]

Yeah it was really gross

[@danwarb1]

Her and the corrupt major parties, the BBC and the rest of our bootlicking establishment media.

[@MFTQ]

liz was loved by everyone, even 1/2 of the anti-monarchists. now thats shes gone, the monarchy is weak and the opportunity for abolition is here.

[@hayaokakizaki4463]

​@@quatreraberbawinner2628 Gundam Wing teenager acting like a bootlicker; it really makes you think

[@matiasyannuzzi9655]

"The Queen was more popular than spending time with your partner." ...just British things.

[@Innengelaender]

where did "spending time with the Queen" rank?

[@matiasyannuzzi9655]

@@Innengelaender I hope lower than "spending time with your partner while thinking about the Queen." Come to think about it, I'm no longer sure which one I hope is lower.

[@Cancellator5000]

@@Innengelaender The greatest honor of a Britbongers life.

[@Daniboi971]

I’m guessing because Michelle Obama is second in that list - the Americans had a big say in this 😂

[@CerridwenAwel]

How about spending time with her corgis?

[@kaikaikai6959]

If I’ve learned nothing else from this series, there is nothing more British than getting to the precipice of getting rid of the monarchy then going “maybe we should give this a bit of a think” and keeping the monarchy

[@The88Cheat]

Perhaps they should have done that with Brexit.

[@tisFrancesfault]

Ultimately, monarchy is a superior form of government to a republic and that it why it must be sustained.

[@kylewilliams8114]

​@@tisFrancesfault then why does the British monarch have a ceremonial role on everything except keeping themselves from being taxed? Monarchy is bullshit and birth lottery on steroids.

[@11th_defender51]

@Jay January to be fair, both China and Russia were authoritarian beforehand

[@goldh2o543]

​@@jayjanuary4754you chose like the two worst examples. Look at the rest of Europe at all the post monarchy nations that are doing just fine.

[@victorgonzalez4534]

"In 1861, Prince Albert made the questionable decision to die" really got me 😂 You got a fantastic honest laugh out of me. Played that little clip a couple times

[@EinFelsbrocken]

Im weighing the pro and cons at this very moment.. hmm 🤨🤔

[@12321dantheman]

history matters-core

[@AndersWatches]

That bit got me good too 😂

[@hydrolifetech7911]

​@@12321dantheman and the thud!

[@grantm6933]

Reminds me of the humour in History Matters.

[@Veldrynvs]

I am endlessly fascinated by the fact that people can passionately argue for meritocracy and still be okay with the monarchy. What the hell is going on there?

[@zooker7938]

Most people argue for the monarchy hinging on a few key ideas: They are part of British culture and history (which is fair), they don't actually get involved in politics (which is not true), and they attract tourism and are thus an asset to the country (which is questionable).

[@Sceusell]

Imagine how much tourism we could get if we transformed Buckingham Palace into a 5-star hotel

[@skyblazeeterno]

​@@zooker7938 I think the tourism aspect has been debunked a few times

[@lucagerulat307]

​@@Sceusell or a museum about the British monarchy.

[@TheAwillz]

1000 years of gaslighting and inbreeding

[@dietwald]

As a German who has little love for the English, the fact the Royal family is descendant from a third rate branch of a minor German aristocratic family will never cease to amuse me.

[@Henchman.24]

Yeah they fucking suck, please take them back

[@kidgaminggaming5731]

Because the royal 😭family are Germans they just not like to admit it

[@childrenofthesun471]

@@kidgaminggaming5731 ikr ...

[@amanofnoreputation2164]

@@kidgaminggaming5731 They'd love to "admit it." It's the country that wants them to be British (whatever that means in practice.) There's this phony idea that the Celts are the real indigenous English stock even though it's from the Angelo-Saxons that England derives it's name, as if it really matters one way or the other.

[@meljk6431]

@@kidgaminggaming5731 true

[@jword9961]

Prince Albert's decision in 1861 was pretty problematic, ngl.

[@daniel-panek]

It was so bad they named a piercing after it

[@Fordnan]

This notion of all British charity work hingeing on the work of the royals is one of the most insane attempts at justifying the monarchy's existence. I didn't realise the reason behind it would be mildly interesting. Thanks, Tom.

[@sheilanixon913]

I suggest that people watch You Tube about Crown Prince Frederik and his Australian wife Crown P:rincess Mary The Prince has said many times that his wife has helped him to turn his life round to become a very suitable person to be the next King of Denmark. He said that she completed him and is very good at it. They earn millions of euros for Danish businesses, and work with the United Nations on various projects on poverty and humanitarian issues. , green energy businesses,, wind farms special needs education issues. They are involved in developing Sport , Music ad Theatre and both have their own charitable foundations The Danish queen and her sister Benedikte however are more interested in their own Royal roles having gala dinners, sailing on the Royal Yacht, riding around in carriages etc, and being cheered. The danish government and people have realised that Frederik has quietly done a much better job than his mother as Head of State, but Margrethe does nol want to stand down. OUr British Royals should realise that tourists do not come to Britain to see the Royal sites, but to see the landscape , sea coast best cities and towns etc. They are highly educated now , and are fit for so much more than cutting ribbons. opening new roads, and visiting buildings and causes they may or may not be interested in ( Princess Beatrice's words) A hundred years ago the Royals were fit for nothing mole than hunting, shooting, breeding race horses, going to the Races, Henley etc. Now they should be involved in so much more.

[@spartanworrior4519]

It’s almost like we could use the money they spend on charity and set up more efficient programs with it

[@ellencoleman4604]

​@@spartanworrior4519 Do you really think that would actually happen though? I think what people ignore is that this money is spent on charities precisely because the monarchy has to justify its existence. If you get rid of the monarchy, the money will be spent on whatever the government wants to spend it on.

[@malcolmc.7288]

​@@spartanworrior4519what a wonderful idea but historically common sense is unfortunately rare

[@spinecho609]

almost like these charities shouldn't need to exist, and only do because of the aristocracy robbing us in the first place...

[@guillaumekaas6505]

As a vile French man I find that whole series pretty captivating.

[@jurgnobs1308]

i find it decaptivating

[@joeyhext1957]

@@jurgnobs1308 beat me to it but I was going to butcher it with decapitativating

[@russelljackson2818]

@Guillaume Kaas as a filthy American I support all treason towards the British monarchy including KZbin videos

[@KeithBoehler]

Could have just said a Frenchman.

[@probablythedm1669]

@@KeithBoehler the vile French man knows what he did...

[@toastedbread9752]

What I have a hard time to understand is why the Brits find it acceptable that the royal family’s expenses are publicly funded when most of the members have millions, if not billions, in private assets to their name.

[@TerryClarkAccordioncrazy]

Many of us don't find it acceptable, and we never had a chance to vote on it.

[@Zabzim]

The same could be said for the entire NFL, Microsoft, Google, Amazon and Apple. Shit happens because everyone day people don’t put much thought into the wider picture.

[@TheStarBlack]

Because our mainstream media churn out pro-royal propaganda convincing the public that the royal family generate more national income from tourism than they cost. Also the royals took/were given huge amounts of land which generate a lot of their money. The propaganda says this land legitimately belongs to the royals, therefore they deserve their huge income. The British public are incredibly easy to indoctrinate.

[@mpazinambao2938]

Grifters be grifting

[@laurencefraser]

Turns out that the reality is that the royal family owns a Lot of land and business in a private capacity independent of being the monarch... and give basically the entire revenue from most of it to the government in exchange for the government managing the upkeep. this income vastly exceeds Everything royal related that the British government actually funds, and Also the amount that the government would collect in regular taxes from those properties and businesses. Basically, it is acceptable that the royal family is government funded because a substantial portion of the government is royal family funded.

[@stewy497]

The monarchy is a precarious house of cards that lasted by virtue of Lizzie never moving a muscle. Charles won't last two minutes. God save the king, because nothing else will.

[@sarahjaneross2918]

Haha 😂

[@Jdjdjdujakzgsha]

Y’know he’s been king for months now…a lot longer then you 2 min estimation.

[@autumn-vl5ez]

​@@Jdjdjdujakzgsha we'll see what happens in a couple years of him being at the helm.

[@Jdjdjdujakzgsha]

@@autumn-vl5ez buissness as usual imagine.

[@annabela.1673]

Unless he upsets the upper class or do something that outrages the whole country, I think he will be fine as a king even if he does nothing.

[@oxherder9061]

"What is a coronation if not a political convention for inbred Germans?" May be Tom's best line ever.

[@hughcaldwell1034]

I had to pause and cackle.

[@Fusilier7]

But at least we're not Habsburgs - the Windsors, probably.

[@tisFrancesfault]

Not really. its a racist statement.

[@robinrehlinghaus1944]

It's arrogant and lacks all dignity and grace

[@11th_defender51]

​@@tisFrancesfault it's true though. The English monarchy is German, and very inbred.

[@lunaangeleclipse9745]

The fact that Victoria and Albert were so close in age is honestly a bit of a miracle

[@SujanraAcoma]

Not really when you consider she was the one with the power to choose.

[@lunaangeleclipse9745]

​@@SujanraAcoma Being a royal, the number of families Victoria could choose grooms from was already very small. And of those families, how many had unmarried males? And among those males, how many of them were without 'deal breakers' (terminal illness, unreasonably scandalous lives etc)? And among that small pool of suitable, unmarried men, what are the chances she'd find one so close in age?

[@johnhenry4844]

@@lunaangeleclipse9745 That’s a bit of a myth dude, if you look at most monarchs and there spouses they are mostly similar in age. Especially British ones

[@squid5882]

He was her 1st cousin​@@lunaangeleclipse9745

[@_zenith_139]

Cousin was just so dashing.

[@Idkpleasejustletmechangeit]

I remember back when the queen died, a game I play(Splatoon 3) was filled with people saying stuff like "rip lizzy she would've loved this game" or litteraly just "fuck the monarchy". It was very funny to see that, because in game there were just allot of squid/octopus people saying that shit.

[@merge9585]

I wonder how many people found out about queen Elizabeth through those plaza posts 💀

[@Idkpleasejustletmechangeit]

@@merge9585 definitely a few. I came very close to that lmfao

[@LadyO449]

Yeah, and when the coronation happened, the plaza had some people saying "Charles is not my king" and stuff like that.

[@Idkpleasejustletmechangeit]

@@LadyO449 in the Loch Ness monster vs. Aliens vs. Bigfoot splatfest, allot of the team Nessie posts were just calling for scottish independence. I saw one from team aliens that was "Scotland is not real! Don't believe the british propaganda!" with a map of scotland being crossed out.

[@Talentedtadpole]

My Victorian studies tutor was correct when she said the Victorians were obsessed with sex

[@hypatiakovalevskayasklodow9195]

It was the first time in history most people lived far away from nature and therefore from sex, basically most of sex issues we got from them. Roman Catholic church was quite sex-positive compared to them 😅 They gave out pamphlets advising on when best to have sex to get pregnant etc

[@ChristianMcAngus]

I think humans have always been obsessed with sex.

[@krankarvolund7771]

@@hypatiakovalevskayasklodow9195 "They gave out pamphlets advising on when best to have sex to get pregnant etc" That's because sex only serves one purpose in catholicism, reproduction. But no, catholics were never sex-positive, they're still having problems with contraception, and their priests can't marry contrary to most other christian churches. They just want women to have tons of babies ^^'

[@Talentedtadpole]

@@hypatiakovalevskayasklodow9195 no, that's the myth. Sexology was begun by the Victorians, feminism, too and lots of sexual activities

[@AndersWatches]

@@hypatiakovalevskayasklodow9195 the victorians were really randy, the idea that they were prudes is a falsehood

[@mathnerd97]

As an American, when you said "I'm a Republican", it took me a few tries to go "the British kind, not the crazy kind"

[@veronicab15]

Right...the left in America is definitely not the craziest thing the world has seen..

[@kotaniyumiko]

@@veronicab15 Versus people who storm capitol buildings, have inappropriate relations with minors and are white Taliban incarnate? 😂 No definitely NOT the craziest thing

[@globalgeode4363]

@@veronicab15 based on the world political spectrum the left in america is considered closer to centerist globally, most european and african nations have far better examples of father left ideals. this isn't of course to say there isn't extremism everywhere.

[@jessjess23brooks89]

​@@veronicab15 Let me let you in on a little secret. The rest of the first world thinks American Republicans are crazy with extreme conservativism that helps literally no one... Unless you're rich.

[@scarletempress2652]

@@globalgeode4363Well no, that’s true for say Biden. But not for like AOC or Bernie Sanders, who would definitely be considered left-wing in Europe.

[@aprofondir]

In Serbia, we have a royal family but we aren't a monarchy anymore (despite having a crown on our flag for some reason), and they do this charity/public appearance charade too. They barely speak the language. There is a small group of monarchists wanting them to rule, and their main argument used to be "look how well the British are doing"....uh oh.

[@elfodelputoinfierno]

Brazilian here and. Same. Every time monarchists use that argument I want to defenestrate something

[@MrRobChuck]

Britain is only bad due to who the people elected into government

[@Alias_Anybody]

That's mildly interesting. Which Royal House is it?

[@nervachadikus]

​​@@Alias_Anybody Karađorđević family. Tbh I don't know if most people here even know they still exist. They are allowed by the government to use one of their former palaces or whatever to live in and, from what I'm aware of, are trying to get all "their" property back (palaces, mansions, etc, etc.). And yeah, they don't give two shits about actually assimilating into Serbian culture. Which is probably the an okay move cuz they'll probably be seen as just another batch of thieves stealing from the people (just like all the politicians).

[@baraxor]

Rather hard to care since the present Serbian royal house got there by brutally slaughtering their rival king, his queen, and every supporter they could get their hands on.

[@calvinpettis8969]

The fact that the redcoats went from owning 1/4 of the world to living on an island the size of Michigan in about 100 years might have something to do with it too.

[@LimeyLassen]

They still have Dr Who at least.

[@NotoriousLightning]

Quoth Hawkshaw Hawkins: The girls are dancing in Boston tonight. The gosh darn redcoats are holding them tight. When we get there we'll show them how, but that ain't a-doin' us no good now!

[@-JT-543]

the ‘redcoats’ are still there, just rebranded. Those who went to colonise Canada, US, SA etc stayed there.

[@ValadrienLeonhart]

Before they owned 1/4 of the world they were just a small country. Right now they are just back to where they started. Though it is unlikely they will embark on another expansion, again, but who knows.

[@blob22201]

@@ValadrienLeonhart You've jynxed it now.

[@saintbrush4398]

I love this series. It's not too often I hear about the monarchy from a Leftist Brit's perspective

[@dseray9494]

Listen to the Irish leftists we won't shut up about it

[@saintbrush4398]

​@@dseray9494 😂 How could I forget

[@cbhlde]

You have leftist Britains left? Chuckles from Germany! ;)

[@thomasdevine867]

​@@dseray9494 Although, as an American of mainly Irish heritage, I find Irish critiques of the British monarchy delightful. Still, the planet as a whole prefers to hear the Brits dis their own monarchs. 2:53

[@TempRawr]

as an america this stuff is just gold, I hope it benefits other colonies to be critical of their useless monarchy. Also dear god progranda media is too powerful

[@AnFirscealFein]

Missed opportunity to call the series "The Season of Treason"

[@Tom_Bee_]

Series of Sedition

[@youraverageanxiouscommente2756]

Dethrone the crones

[@scout8145]

As an American, “accumulating monarchy mugs” is both the most relatable and least relatable thing ever. I don’t own any monarchy merch, but I completely understand that feeling of “why do I own this??”

[@James-ep2bx]

Not a brit so solely an fascinated outsiders take, but the English crown, hell many surviving such titles, have become akin to a secular papacy. Positions of immense soft power and little hard power surving more a cultural role then a political one

[@vylbird8014]

Not that secular. The coronation is still a heavily Christian ceremony, the monarch is sworn to uphold a Protestant religion, and the theoretical justification for even having a monarchy is still fundamentally religious.

[@krankarvolund7771]

@@vylbird8014 The british monarch is basically the english Pope, despite being protestant, the anglican cult is closer to a catholic cult with a different head of church ^^

[@James-ep2bx]

@@vylbird8014 while there's definitely some truth to that, this is one of those subjects where the nuances can both be a pain, and can get you tripped up. That said while I definitely was commenting on the British monarchy, and they definitely have their roots in Christianity, I however also included other titles in passing which can make it trickier. Plus a monarch's power often is separate from those wielded by religious institutions, though overlap is common

[@jannetteberends8730]

I think all royals are in Europe.

[@James-ep2bx]

@@jannetteberends8730 not quite, there's a few in SE Asia as well

[@miltonthegreat6520]

As a Canadian, I used to say the monarchy was symbolic in showing a common people in a common wealth and outside of politics. But now, I can't understand why any people needing a king or queen.

[@saynotop2w]

The only feasible argument I heard for royalties’ existence is that less developed countries all have them and those nations tend to not listen to anyone besides other royals, so even a powerless royals could be used to sway them

[@pacotaco1246]

We have never needed monarchy. Out with the old

[@clown134]

I think people on the right who are two brain dead to think for themselves have been propagandized to think being domesticated humans is okay or something and they need rulers

[@LouiseAndersen1991]

No one actually NEEDS a monarchy, its just there, and in most countries, the majority of people wants it there

[@jannetteberends8730]

Come to The Netherlands on 27 April, and find out. 😂 Even people from other countries become royalty fans at once, dancing around in the kings colors.

[@brenonweed923]

The ai generated monarchs are horrifying

[@darkdragon5520]

As are the IRL monarchs

[@joshhorley2116]

id love to watch them drink Bud light tho

[@emperorofpluto]

*Not AI generated- it's a real painting.* That’s one of the *Habsburgs* - Charles II I think: you can tell he’s a Habsburg by the protruding jaw (prognathism aka “Habsburg Jaw”) which was the result of (literally) centuries of inbreeding.

[@TryinaD]

@@emperorofpluto nah, those are intended to be Victoria and Charles

[@bumblefoo5169]

@@emperorofpluto Definitely AI generated, they have that lighting sheen to them that they often put in portraits

[@misakitakazaki8951]

I live in Brazil. We have some British monarchy fans. I always roll my eyes when they start to talk about minutia of the British Royal Family that no nobody else is interested. I have nothing against the Royal Family. In fact, I wish they had more privacy.

[@Melggart]

Don't forget about those people that really want the Bragança back to the Brazilian Empire throne....

[@tereza1959]

Os monarquistas brasileiros são insuportáveis, eles tem uma visão tão fantasiosa e distorcida do passado do Brasil que nem da pra discutir com eles

[@davidty2006]

That privacy thing is for the most part the media's fault. because they just won't SHUT THE FUCK UP FOR GOD SAKE!

[@weird-guy]

The British media and the royal family have handshake agreements ( although they were wired taped anyway😂).

[@annabela.1673]

@@Melggart some prosecutor should just open a case to take all their "royal" lands back to us, they are less than useless and we have been a republic for centuries, there's no reason to such monarchs of nothing and their fanboys pretend they will come back.

[@elizabethwoolnough4358]

Charles was also close friends with Peter Ball, who systematically abused vulnerable young men. Charles actively supported and sympathised with Ball, even after his crimes came to light and he was prosecuted. He's no different from Andrew.

[@voland6846]

And Jimmy Saville. And Louis Mountbatten. And Laurens van der Post. Seems like Ol' Charlie Sausage Fingers has a _particular_ taste in friends....

[@cesarzpontu8886]

How was supposed to not know Luois Mountbatten?

[@voland6846]

@@cesarzpontu8886 it's not that he just knew him, it's that he was one of the most important people in his life

[@cesarzpontu8886]

@@voland6846 he was his uncle.

[@voland6846]

@@cesarzpontu8886 yes?

[@ryanm2648]

When you said "Everyone has a piece of royal merch" I thought to myself "What? That's a thing? Not a chance I'd ever have monarchist merchandise in my home, ever". ..And then I remembered, I do have some coins for certain royal celebrations. The queens 50th year of reign coin. So you're right, technically I do have royal merchandise.

[@kaitlyn__L]

Oh no! I thought the same, but yep, I have a golden jubilee £5 coin somewhere. Damn. (Unless I left it in one of my moves…)

[@SamJNE122]

Arguably, _cash itself_ could be said to be royal merch (so long as it is from the UK, Canada, Australia, etc.)

[@chasenil1426]

this mini series on the british monarchy has been super helpful for understanding the underlying attitudes towards the monarchy. i moved to the UK a couple years ago and got to witness events like the platinum jubilee, the passing of queen elizabeth and now, king charles' coronation. i always got culture shock from those events, i never understood why the royal family was so elusive or why the general public, companies and media talked about them the way they do, and not many british people questioned it enough to explain. now, im starting to understand!

[@terraplane1116]

Bear in mind that while monarchists like to pretend the monarchy doesn't have any real power it technically owns the entire country (freeholders of property 'hold' that property by permission of the Crown); the armed forces, police and MPs (even republicans) swear an oath of loyalty to the monarch (not Parliament or the people); it has vast private estates which are private companies but are treated as if they aren't for tax purposes; and, from my own perspective, the monarchy 'legitimises' a towering pyramid of social, political and economic injustice, with the King or Queen at the top handing out honours and titles to political grifters and profiteers. In other countries, a businessman who buys favourable legislation by contributing to party funds is a potential criminal; in the UK he's a member of the House of Lords.

[@francescorighini9303]

​@@terraplane1116 that's called a state. I own land because the Republic lets me, if I wish to get a job by the Republic I have to swear allegiance to it, it owns the armed forces, and it wastes tons of money just to please not a few wealthy businessmen, but millions of parasitic voters whose suffrages are needed by politicians to stay in power.

[@Archris17]

@@terraplane1116 "In other countries, a businessman who buys favourable legislation by contributing to party funds is a potential criminal" Really? Because I believe in the United States they call that 'lobbying' and its basically destroyed the legitimacy of their republic. Stop pretending like free enterprise doesn't exist in the UK, it's embarrassing.

[@carwyngriffiths]

It’s not much of a British thing at all, there are many constitutional monarchies still in Europe including, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, Norway

[@patrickmccutcheon9361]

@@carwyngriffiths Belgium and the Netherlands too but people in those countries tend not to pay as much attention as do the Brits.

[@onaraisedbeach]

1:37 I'm used to around 32% of the country trying to drag us back into the 17th century, but that jump to 63% for absolutely no reason except press fluff makes me want a re-do on the whole human race thing.

[@ZER0--]

Statistics and damn lies come to mind.

[@spiffygonzales5160]

Blows my mind how you liberals think. It really does.

[@Alex-cw3rz]

I mean to be fair the question was "do a good job" and more press on what he does would influence that, so for example, in terms of his advocacy for the environment I think he's done a good job so far. Not amazing but good and obviously not bad.

[@dftp]

​@@spiffygonzales5160 Doesn't surprise me looking at your profile pic. Your minds probably blown by the concept of electricity as well.

[@spiffygonzales5160]

@@dftp "Has a Prussia ball pic so must be into outdated ways of thinking" Always the same with y'all. Can't argue so you just name-call. The profile pic is because I love country balls and Prussia is my favorite faction in Empire: Total War. Prussia has cool history, and I love musket era history for the flashy uniforms and unique way they fought war. But the pic is legit just because I liked the factions in a video game.

[@michaelstamper5604]

Crowns and carriages and pretty uniforms excite the tourists, but those of us struggling to work out which shop doorway we're likely to be living in three months from now would rather see the obscene amount of money the royals and their hangers-on consume being invested in paying proper wages, limiting the obscene greed of utility companies, putting the NHS back together and generally returning the UK to being a country fit for human habitation.

[@sassa82]

The monarchy cost very little overall. Even with a republic a presidential office has cost. And the monarchy bringa in mote money from tourist and representation than a unknown president. Do you k ow the name of the president of Italy?

[@michaelstamper5604]

@Sassa Sergio Mattarelli, I believe. Not sure if I spelled it right, though.

[@Theanimeisforme]

@@michaelstamper5604 Wait what is the Mussolini lady then?

[@michaelstamper5604]

@@Theanimeisforme I think she's the Prime Minister. Don't quote me, though lol

[@outlawquelshingdixienothin8893]

What about mass immigration, foreign aid, high tax and actually real problems affecting you

[@lyricbot8513]

Your mug collection is mad! We don't have any pro-royalty mugs in our house, which is weird because 2 of my housemates were genuinely upset at the queen's death and had a deep connection to her. Perhaps it's another North/South divide thing.

[@thefirm4606]

You from the south?

[@lyricbot8513]

@@thefirm4606 up north! I was assuming Tom was from London but I'm probably wrong there

[@pwmiles56]

@@lyricbot8513 I believe he lives around Exeter, Devon anyway. There's a light West Country accent.

[@hypatiakovalevskayasklodow9195]

I’m sorry , what’s a “deep connection” there

[@AndersWatches]

@@hypatiakovalevskayasklodow9195 parasocial relationship. The Queen was very good at projecting a nice granny image. I was sad when she died, though I’m not a monarchist. It was a big deal no matter how you feel about her or the institution.

[@bacul165]

"Duet et mon Detroit“ is an underrated royal motto

[@josephturner7569]

Well it is near Windsor.

[@davishropshire5361]

**ba-dum-TSS**

[@bigj1905]

I think another important aspect is King George the VI in WW2. Like Churchill, he, and the monarchy as a whole, became a center point in Britain’s resistance to Germany. Many Brits found courage in the monarchy, which presented a image of stability and a reassuring presence in time of great crisis. I think that’s a big reason why they have managed to stick around: they are always a rallying point in a time of great conflict and tragedy.

[@jamiegray6931]

They certainly were during covid as well, the public broadcasts they did, their participation in the 75th Anniversary of VE day and the coverage of Prince Phillips death brought a lot of people together during the crisis.

[@missybarbour6885]

I love watching these videos because I get to learn about British history AND British current events! Two for one deal, great format! -An American who only hears what you guys are up to whenever we fight a war together

[@Iamlurking504]

Nice. - a Brit who thinks America isn't the spawn of Satan (unlike my peers, sorry)

[@monkeyboy600]

You know you can watch the news right?

[@tisFrancesfault]

- *Republicanism was an error and the Americans are in want of a king.*

[@missybarbour6885]

@@monkeyboy600 I do, but the news usually covers individual events. It's nice to get on the ground reporting from people who are there to just report the... general vibe? Like, "Charles' approval rating has doubled since the coronation press tour started" is something I would hear on the BBC, sure. But "I have four monarchy themed mugs in my house despite never seeking them out?" is something that doesn't make the news. It's just an insight into British culture that an approval poll can't really give you. And it's gonna be something I remember every time I casually wonder about the monarchy's place in modern England between the flag waving parade crowds and the outspoken anti-monarchists.

[@jannetteberends8730]

@@monkeyboy600 American news hardly cover anything outside the USA.

[@finnlawrence-knight221]

i refuse to take this Swindon slander. Brian and Jan are good people.

[@JachymorDota]

I enjoy that the show Bridgerton took that idea to 11 and made an alternativ-timeline where "Royalty" and "Royal-esque brides, drama and gossip" are Britains main export.

[@Lambda_Ovine]

Tom: "I've been a staunch republican wince I was a teenager..." me: "Wait, WHA... oh wait! yeah, the world is not just America..."

[@yetanothercsstudent]

Really courageous of you to belt out hot takes such as Nancy Pelosi doesn’t drink human blood.

[@alejandraayala8815]

I read hot cakes i'm so sorry😭

[@halfdecentstrange]

He meant Brit republicans, not 'Murican Republicans

[@jamiel6005]

It’s really infuriating that so many people’s minds were changed by some silly costumes and obvious propaganda

[@myamdane6895]

I think people just realise how soulless, vapid and corrupt republics are

[@squid5882]

Fr😒🤦

[@dadikkedude]

So interesting that alot of the celebrity status of the royal family can be seen in the Dutch royal family aswell. Their role is not clear anymore and are involved in many land and money disputes.

[@EliseFreshwaterBlizzard]

This is just so cool, the editing, how engaged Tom is, the music- well done!!

[@Respectable_Username]

Have loved these shorter, more frequent videos! As much as the hour+ video essay genre is a classic, getting these shorter essays but more regularly is also very welcome!

[@groovinhooves]

I would be willing to bet that if the UK as a whole is not a republic sometime before the end of the century, an independent Scotland will very likely be, and perhaps some other portions of the Union.

[@selamatdolcevita5215]

Québec will be free !

[@gamewrit0058]

Another banger, Tom! FYI, the cc have a few typos, and it appears to be the captions for the nebula version at the end. IDK how difficult that is to change, but they were otherwise synced pretty well, while missing from your Nebula shoutout for your class, which sounds amazing. See you next time!

[@gabbyhamer9142]

I am so happy to have be recommended this video and thus discovered your channel. Immediately my favourite youtuber, thank you for providing this all essentially for free.

[@littlestone1541]

Tom, those mugs are accumulating in your life BECAUSE you're a staunch republican. They do it to me too.

[@jannetteberends8730]

It’s a Terry Pratchett thing

[@someone16234]

Based pfp

[@Zabzim]

@@jannetteberends8730 it’s more likely the British sense of humour. Sir Terry simply put into words the unwritten laws of the country. Like if you make your voice known that you vehemently hate something that’s what you’re going to get because that is the essence of Britishness. It’s like those Englishman, Irishman and Scottish-man jokes, they exist to torment two groups while uplifting the third and are consequently extremely popular in Britain.

[@KestrelTown]

I didn’t cry when Elizabeth died. I bawled my eyes out when Sebastian Vettel announced his retirement.

[@hallamhal]

Odd comparison to bring up but tbh - so did I

[@vercingetorix5708]

Make vettel the king, he is German so he’d fit right in.

[@sarminder4357]

I cry when Ferrari screws over Leclerc

[@potatogirlcultist19]

@@sarminder4357 you're welcome

[@Alias_Anybody]

We should just make a list of celebrities Germany (and Austria, and Switzerland) want to get rid of for you to make them king. Considering that the current guys come from a minor branch of a minor house that will barely be a downgrade.

[@drunkpervertedmonk]

Bloody good job there, Tom! 👏 I can't wait for the next video in this series! :D

[@deathismyown]

wonderfully researched and presented!

[@magnox72]

£100 million to put a hat on a man's head, what good use of public funds in a time when people are facing rising costs

[@ozymandiasultor9480]

Absolutely no use, that is a waste of money... And those are just parasites.

[@qwertyTRiG]

“Always remember that the crowd that applauds your coronation is the same crowd that will applaud your beheading. People like a show.”

[@TheCaptainSlappy]

@@ozymandiasultor9480 You can always try one of the many 3rd world countries out for a few decades whose healthcare consists of crowning you with a free bullet.

[@nar2cc]

Not from Britain myself but I would doubt if those funds were redirected to parliamentary hands, nothing would be done with it. Besides it's not just the taxpayers and British Government who are paying for it, it is also the snobs at Buckingham, however it is suggestable how much contribution they are putting forward.. anyone has statistics?

[@concon09090]

@@nar2cc The snobs at Buckingham are paid by taxpayer money anyhow, and your argument that Parliament would waste the money too does not justify the existence of the monarchy, it just means that the institution needs to go AND ALSO the government needs serious reworking

[@sueyourself5413]

It's funny because that number is around 45% in Scotland. 95% in Britain. How exactly did they come up with that figure? An online quiz for the over 60's?

[@LydiaS-nhdh]

More than likely. Or possibly an even smaller demographic.

[@gfwagnitz]

Discovered your channel from your Nebula Class, it is wonderful!

[@rolandrothwell4840]

Very well researched and good finish - visually

[@timothytumusiime2903]

Gotta give kudos to Victoria and Albert's sex drive 😂 Everyone sometimes just isn't in the mood to do it. Them....."Stop having sex???? But doctor, what in the bloody hell are we supposed to do in the evenings eh??"

[@Arlondev]

The old, wealthy sex offenders are out of touch with the general public? This is a conundrum for sure.

[@meanjeanmcqueen6171]

Great video!! Loved the editing as well!

[@andrewjpalla]

I’ve really enjoyed this series! I check back every week to see the next episode. Great stuff!

[@namphannguyenhuu2105]

this man have been giving charles more attention than camilla ever had for the past 20 years

[@NotoriousLightning]

You are quite the rambunctious rascal for saying such.

[@Firegen1]

Was at an event last night and Charlie boy was getting rinsed. *edit* Those bloody royal merch mugs. I love my folks but when they pass on. Those things are going to a dealer. If not that or a break-a-plate game.

[@samjames7869]

This was a great video, thanks. Is it very sad that as someone who was born and raised there I got very excited at the brief mention of Swindon!

[@TheCCBoi]

Great video - can’t wait for the next episode.

[@rserserserse]

This video series is really good, love it

[@polinanikulina]

Get it, girl! Yas queen. There's something uniquely post-modern about using phrases from urban slang for a colonizing monarch.

[@theinquisitor18]

Oh, yay! One of new favorite channels uploaded. 😊

[@keenanpryor4965]

I've only recently discovered your channel. It's wonderfully entertaining.

[@ericaceous1652]

Don't worry, I understood and enjoyed the typhoid joke the first time Great vid

[@plutolichen]

*ahem.* I hereby dedicate this poem to the deceased Queen Elizabeth II... LIZZIE'S IN A BOX, IN A BOX, LIZZIE'S IN A BOX!

[@user-bu1sb9mt4u]

Another fantastic video!!!! Thank you

[@ChrisMorton]

Great video Tom!

[@tonymcneil978]

"Always in our hearts Lady Di"....lol great line.

[@_ikako_]

Note to Americans: when tom says he's a proud republican, he doesn't mean he's a conservative, he just means it in the sense that he's against the monarchy

[@Tom_Bee_]

I hope I live to see the day when there are no nations, republics or otherwise.

[@imperialinquisition6006]

@@Tom_Bee_ You won’t.

[@ethanlhu7491]

@@Tom_Bee_why? To be a nation is to be a people, not a state, you wanna erase culture?

[@Tom_Bee_]

@@imperialinquisition6006 obviously. But I always wanted to 😂

[@Tom_Bee_]

@@ethanlhu7491 I meant nation state, but you raise a valid point.

[@atomdent]

Great as always Tom. You made me smarter,again, thanks for that, as always!

[@jorislecocq8359]

really cool one, love this series, gg !

[@SaianaKrishnaMehrotra-fr4qt]

in my opinion its time for Monarchy to be over and allow people to govern independently. Canada, Australia, newzealand should get complete independence, and allow People to have complete power just like China, vietnam, Japan

[@coasterblocks3420]

The biggest sticking point for Australians is what to replace the Governor-General with and how to select them. A common refrain you hear is “we don’t want to become America” said with equal measure of horror, disgust and derision.

[@GabeNsApostle]

People having complete power in China? 😂

[@dylanrodrigues]

Japan is also a monarchy…

[@derbdep]

the immensely sarcastic tone in every single thing you say is reason enough to watch 😂

[@bouzdigm1688]

The best KZbin channel. Thanks for your efforts keep going ❤

[@llynhunter]

Tom I love you more and more with each video, but the typhoid rewind WAS THE BEST!!!

[@Bass.sick.b1tch]

I know us yanks are endlessly annoying, but having Michelle Obama more popular than her husband is pretty interesting as well ❤

[@zooker7938]

Her husband is a war criminal.

[@CHRISANDREOU4199]

Well it's probably because she was actually black, Unlike her husband

[@ThatSlowTypingGuy]

I gotta admit I was dreading the Christmas speech, yet he actually did very well with it. Was quite surprised.

[@coasterblocks3420]

Performing monkey.

[@spinecho609]

they have writers on staff, all he has to do is say the words

[@IamGrimalkin]

​@@spinecho609 With the Elizabeth at least she wrote all her own Christmas speeches (although Philip did help her, and it was vetted by the Prime Minister). I dunno if that's the case with Charles though.

[@gamewrit0058]

3:35 LOL, Love how the title card makes it sound like Tom created their popularity problem. 👍

[@spoton7683]

SUPERB - as EVER! Well DONE, that Man (all the way from Kiwiland...) - ✊😉👍

[@Luna-wu4rf]

So I skipped 20 seconds back when he told me to skip 15, and then he rewinded it back himself! I watched that bit 3 times!

[@garthmarenghi9040]

"Honey, let's have a nice, Victorian romantic date night." "So we're fucking like the last 2 rabbits on Earth?" "You know it."

[@jurgnobs1308]

i love that you put on a tux but apparently didnt bother to comb the right back side of your head 😁 i look like that most days too, never change, tom

[@NOAHPCPRO]

What a useless waste of government spending to have an unelected family of emense wealth and security without having to work for it. Down with the monarchy!

[@vincenttimmer1965]

The picture used as king George III is actually king William III Prince of Orange. Hé was born in the Netherlands.

[@johnking6624]

Its no accident that Britain's gutter press with its unconditional support for the Tories also unconditionally supports the royals.

[@VentureHolly]

I’ll be gutted when this series ends lol 🙌🏾

[@krankarvolund7771]

I'm pretty sure that's the end XD

[@solomonsaintclair22]

Where was the intro audio taken from? The original lyrics are “Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anointed Solomon king” but it sounds more like gibberish?? Love this series, by the way, just hyperfixated on the intro!

[@hamburgerhamburgerv2]

British people when old lady: 😁 British people when old lady’s son: 🤬

[@ic5889]

The tempest prognosticator is the definition of 'if it looks stupid but it works, it's not stupid'. If only the barometer was invented a few decades later the history of weather prediction could have been much more interesting.

[@dalinadiaconeasa1450]

Love how you wrote ""es tut mir Leid" in the corner of George l as you were saing that he didn't bother to learn English. If I may, I'd just like to add a very tiny correction to that phrase: all nouns in German, including the word "Leid" which means suffering ('it does me suffering' would be the word by word translation), begin with capital letters. So the correct spelling of the word 'Leid' is beginning with a capital letter. :)

[@mrnice4434]

Approval for Charles going from 35 to 60 shows you who effective propaganda is

[@nicklpantis]

Propaganda?

[@elpito9326]

​@@nicklpantisyeah there is a ton of propaganda in favour of Charles

[@imperialinquisition6006]

@@elpito9326 Who cares? Propaganda is irrelevant, because he doesn’t really matter that much. You either don’t care, are for the monarchy, or against it. Nothing will change at all, unless public opinion shifts one way in the future.

[@DavidGonzalez-tv2lf]

Meanwhile in Argentina, a t.v host celebrated the dead of the queen with champagne in live television

[@dirrdevil]

🎵Lizzie's in a box. Lizzie's in a box. 🎶

[@Tayloraurrekoetxea]

Great video, as always. Also, on a related note, this guy looks a lot like Spanish comedian Miki Nadal

[@aviendha1154]

The only royal I can tolerate is Harry, mainly because he’s buggered off and left. And I don’t think he’s a particularly likeable person.

[@camelopardalis84]

He voluntarily joined the military to murder Afghans.

[@vylbird8014]

He's made himself unwelcome with the family after his book. A few embarrassing bits in there. Revealing that the royal family are competing for funds and doing charity work for PR doesn't reflect well.

[@yoloswaggins7121]

Buggered off and left with his royal salary. He still hasn't spoken out against the institution itself

[@jannetteberends8730]

@@yoloswaggins7121 he still get paid?

[@yoloswaggins7121]

@@jannetteberends8730 Yep. I think he pays for some of his own travel arrangements now, but he still has a royal salary