What Happens To The Royal Family If The Monarchy Is Abolished?

Statistically speaking, monarchy as a form of government is no longer in style. The twentieth century alone saw several monarchies folding up and being replaced by a different form of government. While most Britons still love and support their royals like Queen Elizabeth, Prince William, Prince Harry, Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle, some fans have been speculating on what might happen to the royal family should the British monarchy be abolished.

This hypothetical scenario is interesting because not everyone agrees on what abolishing the monarchy might actually mean for the royal family. But what’s likely to happen, according to Vice, is that those who campaigned for the abolishment will demand that royals must hand over their wealth.

“Anti-monarchy campaigns tend to revolve around the injustice of the massive amounts of wealth and privilege commanded by a select few people lucky enough to be born into the right family,” the publication wrote. “So, the thinking goes, in a post-monarchy UK, while the royals would still have a private wealth in the multi-millions — thanks in part to their extensive property portfolio — all profits generated by the Crown Estate would be handed over to the people.”

This is no small matter, at least from the royal family’s point of view. The Crown Estate is a massive portfolio of land and property, which includes the Buckingham Palace, and is estimated to be worth around £12 billion.

However, the royal family will still be able to enjoy a life of luxury. “There are already pretty clear distinctions between what is the personal property of the Queen (e.g. Sandringham, Balmoral) and what is the property of the Crown (e.g. Buckingham Palace, The Palace of Holyroodhouse, the royal Art Collection, etc),” Sim Hedges wrote on Quora. “So the Royal Family would probably just retired [sic] to their own estates.”

Vice also predicts that members of the royal family will eventually lose popularity. However, their presence would still be in demand in high-society events. “They would certainly still be on the guest list of any trendy party in London, New York or Paris,” the publication wrote.

Meanwhile, one Quora member noted that the consequences for the royal family will ultimately depend on the manner of the monarchy’s abolishment. Andrew Parker wrote that there are four ways that the British monarchy might cease to exist, and that is by (1) conquest by a foreign power, (2) overthrowing by popular revolution, (3) removal by an Act of Parliament and, lastly, (4) resignation.

“If it came about through 3 or 4 they would retire in supreme luxury and continue to live a life that most people could only dream of,” Parker explained. “If it came about through 1 or 2 then the prospects wouldn’t be so good, I suspect.”