Scotland's former first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has articulated her rationale for abolishing the monarchy, focusing on the potential impact on future royal family members. In a new Channel 4 documentary, "The Royals: Time To Go?," Sturgeon suggested that ending the monarchy could free individuals like Prince George from predetermined lives.
"I would say one of the arguments for getting rid of the monarchy is for the sake of members of the royal family, like Prince George, for example," Sturgeon stated in the program. She questioned the fairness of a life chosen without consent, asking, "That kid doesn’t know any different. He has a certain life ahead of him that he has no choice over. Is that really fair?"
Sturgeon expressed "huge sympathy" for the royals, adding that freeing future generations from the burden of their hereditary roles is a compelling reason for abolition. Her comments align with sentiments previously expressed by Prince Harry, who described feeling "trapped within the system" and alluded to the potential challenges for his own children.
Graham Smith, leader of the anti-monarchy group Republic, echoed concerns about the well-being of young royals. "The royals clearly haven’t learnt any lessons from Harry and continue to use their kids as PR props," Smith commented. "It cannot be healthy for children to be paraded about in gold carriages, but the royals just can’t help themselves." He further suggested that while there are numerous democratic arguments for abolishing the monarchy, its impact on children's development is also a significant concern, potentially leading to "dysfunctional adults."