In which I plant the seed of republicanism in my daughter

[cjwatson]

Children's literature and television is distressingly full of kings and queens and princesses and princes, and Judith (6) has picked up rather too much of that for my liking. So, when she asked me something about that on the way home from astronomy tonight, I decided to seize the teachable moment and explain to her how most countries don't have kings and queens any more, and that this is because when you have just one person in charge then what happens if that person isn't very nice?

J: But the Queen is nice. She fixes cars.
Me: Right, but not all kings and queens of this country have been nice.
J (incredulous voice): Reeeeeally?
Me: Really.
J: Some of them didn't fix cars?

Comments

[highlyeccentric]

I prescribe a dose of Horrible Histories - The Terrible Tudors would be a good start.

[jack]

LOL. Yes, I think that's an excellent potted explanation. And I agree, that's basically the point, even if the queen is a nice person, sooner or later an absolute ruler tends not to be. (I haven't decided whether a constitution monarch is a bad thing -- I've started thinking even that is too much, but for a long time I was more scared of the alternatives...)

[gerald_duck]

To be honest, if I had a kid I'd prioritise teaching them not all people who fix cars are nice people over teaching them not all monarchs fix cars. :-p