What Good Are Royals In The 21st Century?

It may sound strange, but I don't like the idea of the royal family.

To me, they are a group of people who have a higher social and economic status than everyone else.

I don't like the idea of these social statuses and the way people use them to define themselves and others. I acknowledge that the royals - particularly their births, deaths, marriages and so on - have brought a lot of happiness, inspiration and emotion to the public, but I just cannot understand why they still exist.

I don't mean to be offensive and I understand their place in the government, but it all sounds a bit outdated; 'queens', ‘dukes’, 'duchesses', ‘princes’, ‘princesses’. I mean, come on, this is the 21st Century. I feel like our society is moving away from the need for a royal family. Most people probably couldn't even name some of them.

And yet, everywhere they go, they are treated like, well, royals.

A simple Google search reveals they cost British taxpayers £35.7 million (AUD $50 million) in 2014. Does that not seem a tad unreasonable considering there are so many homeless, pensioners and unemployed people struggling to make ends meet, warm their houses and put food on the table for their families in the UK? This money could be better spent helping struggling families, medical research or getting teens off the streets.

What do the royals actually do besides show up and wave or let people queue up outside their palace in the pouring rain and icy wind? Sure, they attend charity events, travel all over the world and dress up in designer clothes for exclusive events, but that seems like an undue benefit to me.

The scandals and drama that the royals contribute to our society are something we would all be better off without. Kate Middleton becoming the Duchess of Cambridge created a hunger for details by the media about herself and her sister, Pippa. I know I wouldn’t want to be forever living in that burning spotlight. At Kate’s own wedding critics were saying Pippa looked more attractive than the bride, Kate. At. Her. Own. Wedding.

All the royal family brings is criticism, unrealistic ideals of perceived happiness and a lot of money siphoned from the British economy. I honestly cannot fathom why they still play such a major role in the world of today when what they actually contribute is of little significance at all.

Congratulations to Rachel for winning this writing challenge, answering: We'll Never Be Royals. Rachel wins a $50 Westfield gift card. For your chance to win, check out our latest writing challenges in our Comps section. Also, be sure to follow this guide on how to win the writing challenge!