such a dilemma

I think the people who now make up what is known as the Royal Family should be made into a business. They could form a limited corporation with the expressed right and sole license to sell anything that might be associated with them--- pictures of Buckingham Palace, tea cups with the Royal Seal, signed photographs of them with visiting heads of State from around the world. They would live off of the proceeds with the added bonus that such income would be tax free.

They would have to pay for their own security and domestic staff, rent or lease their vehicles and otherwise fend for themselves.

They would still remain the face of the United Kingdom and be able to issue proclamations which would receive about as much attention as the present day ones do.

Joe(quick now, what was the last one about?)Nation

Turn the royals into Soylent Green and feed the hungry. Sell all their assets from their-ill-gotten gains from their art as well as the the royal jewelry. Turn the royal palace and their castles into amusement parks so that the poor in UK can have a better life.

Not a bad idea, but I suspect the Royals and royalists would argue that this would cheapen the institution and degrade whatever cultural benefit it provides.

An alternative might be for the government to own the marketing rights to the monarchy. I'm sure the monarchy brings in more money in tourist dollars, than it receives from the British government.

Then again they could leave the money in the pockets of all of the Brits who make a living from tourisim.

I don't think they could cheapen the institution any more than some of the younger royals have already done.

here's an idea...

they need some new royal theatre to bump up the gate fees.

give them (the queen and such) back a touch of power. once or twice a year, they can pronounce "off with they're heads" on somebody important in British politics or society.

of course they couldn't really execute anyone. (no guns and all that) but they could exile them to one of the territories. (do they still have Grenada?)

think of the marketing possibilities alone...