Bottom line
Having an active Royal Family who still live in big castles as in ye times of yore is attractive to tourists and brings money into the UK. I can't prove this but tourism organisations probably could give you some pretty interesting figures.

I was a passionate anti-royalist in my youth but I've come to view them as an 'attraction' rather than a symbol of unfairness, and to see the tax money we spend on them as investment in their upkeep / maintenance. Also they do realise that if they ever tried to wield their theoretical absolute constitutional power, they would be dethroned in double-quick time.
(slowly play it cool, Trig, Sat 5 Oct 2013, 9:34, 1 reply)

Its the buildings the tourists come for - as evinced by Versailles.
There's absolutely no need for us to have a royal family.
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Sat 5 Oct 2013, 13:23, closed)

The Royal Family serves
as a living refutation of Social Darwinism.
(the other guy not the one that gave you coochie warts, Sat 5 Oct 2013, 14:54, closed)

Also, legoland windsor is more popular than the nearby castle. I propose we appoint a new, plastic head of state
(cs1ca, Sun 6 Oct 2013, 15:05, closed)