by Can Tran

Created on: June 12, 2007

The only reason there's still a British Royal Family is due to it's part of England's culture and history. Within the years I've been alive watching events on the news such as the Gulf War of 1991, Operation Desert Storm, and everything else I had yet to see the current Royal Family taking a role in the world. So far they've let the Prime Minister handle all of England's affairs from what I've seen in the news.

For a moment, I felt that the Royal Family were figureheads and didn't have any power. However, I talked to a long distance friend who lives in London. We talked about the British Royal Family and I had expressed my opinions on the matter. She told me that the Royal Family does indeed have power and influence but they hardly use it or never use it. I've wondered the reasons the Royal Family hasn't used their power and make an impact in the world today. Surely, with they're power and influence, they could make a positive change in the world.

But, they've allowed themselves to be mere figureheads. I haven't seen them take an active role in what's been going on in the world. My late stepgrandfather moved here to the United States from England when he was forty years old. He was born in Easington, England. He went to a military college and worked as a plane mechanic in the Royal Air Force. During his time in the RAF, he fought in World War II.

He was shipped off to various locations such as North Africa, Italy, France, Germany, and so forth. Most of his time in WWI was spent in Europe and North America fighting off Hitler's and Mussolini's forces. After the Germans and Italians surrended, he was sent to India and Burma to help United States forces fight the Japanese. The Royal Family back then was very different under King George the Sixth the late-father of Queen Elizabeth the Second. My stepgrandfather was awarded medals from King George VI. Back then, the Royal Family was the polarizing force of England.

The motto was to "Love your king and country." Which could mean go with whatever decision your king or queen makes. Before the start of World War II, Prince Edward was supposed to be in line for the crown. However, he spent it chasing this American actress around. Edward was Pro-Nazi and there's a picture of him doing the Nazi salute with Hitler at one of Hitler's homes. I have yet to see it. My US History professor one of the foremost respected historians in the state of Florida confirmed it. If Edward was crowned King, chances are the tides of war would've

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