Spanish king abdicates

[Valmy]

I'm a Republican myself, but given our monarchy is mostly ceremonial I don't give that much of a damn.

Juan Carlos did a great service to his country so in return his family gets to pretend to be King until they do something stupid enough to justify removing them.

[celedhring]

I'm a Republican myself, but given our monarchy is mostly ceremonial I don't give that much of a damn.

Juan Carlos did a great service to his country so in return his family gets to pretend to be King until they do something stupid enough to justify removing them.

That's an accurate description of the situation.

[mongers]

Two European monarchs in just over a year. Prince Charles must be rubbing his hands together.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/queen-elizabeth-II/10584478/Betting-suspended-on-Queen-stepping-down.html

Won't happen, the Queen is too much of a traditionalist.


Also I think, even if she were leaning towards abdication, she'd be determined to remain Queen if Scotland transitions to independence, so she could firmly restate and establish the fact she was Queen of Scots and there'd remain a united monarchy for the two countries.

[Valmy]

Who else would be King of Scotland?  The Bavarian Pretender?  Unless the Scots are particularly Republican, I don't know.

[derspiess]

Unless the Scots are particularly Republican, I don't know.

I'm guessing they are.

[Liep]

Harald of Norway is 77...

though I'm sure Martinus and his ilk will squee at the present Crown Prince

Is squee good or bad? As in sploosh or the opposite, which I guess is just nothing.

[Valmy]

Unless the Scots are particularly Republican, I don't know.

I'm guessing they are.

I doubt it.  The fact the Royals would remain figure heads of Scotland seems to be a given assumption.

[mongers]

Who else would be King of Scotland?  The Bavarian Pretender?  Unless the Scots are particularly Republican, I don't know.

I think this is the key point:

there'd remain a united monarchy for the two countries.

possibly in stark contrast to Cameron's failure to keep the kingdom united.

[Viking]

Unless the Scots are particularly Republican, I don't know.

I'm guessing they are.

I doubt it.  The fact the Royals would remain figure heads of Scotland seems to be a given assumption.

It works fine in canada, australia and new zealand

in fact the royals have been preparing for this for a long time
they haven't reall considered themselves to be any more english than anything else.

The Princess Royal Has been living at Holyrood palace for decades now.

[celedhring]

Who else would be King of Scotland?  The Bavarian Pretender?  Unless the Scots are particularly Republican, I don't know.

We have a Stuart over here. They can have her.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cayetana_Fitz-James_Stuart,_18th_Duchess_of_Alba

[Iormlund]

It was bound to happen, the Spanish monarchy is at an all time low level of popularity with all the scandals surrounding it - and the general crisis in the country - plus he's in very bad health. So better pass it to somebody younger and more energetic that can rebuild the institution.

The Republican parties are already calling for a referendum before the Prince is sworn in, and there's a few demos in our cities. I'm a Republican myself, but given our monarchy is mostly ceremonial I don't give that much of a damn.

They've been very crafty, announcing it just before the World Cup.

[Josquius]

of Majorca,

Why does Majorca get its own king title?

[Valmy]

Will his son do a good job?  Is he a mediocre mind with little ambition besides empty state ceremony?  Is he boring enough not to embarrass the government?  Is he good looking enough in a bland way to lend glamor to the office?

[Valmy]

of Majorca,

Why does Majorca get its own king title?

Because: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Majorca

[derspiess]

I'm curious to know when we started calling it "Majorca".