The Massiveness of the Magisterial Monarchy

As you walk in to the Houses of Parliament, you are faced with the magnificent medieval hall of Westminster. The over-arching ceiling encompasses the viewer as they enter the historical hall that royalty once graced with their presence. The first thing visitors encounter is the vast, echoing space of the medieval hall, which is carved with twenty-six soaring angels. Above the entrance, bestows a new stained-glass window commemorating women’s suffrage; one of the few markers of a female presence in the palace.

River Thames

Despite the grandeur stature of the building, there are signs of fragmentation throughout the bureaucratic institution. The constant grasp on the past is due to the difficult sense of identity throughout the United Kingdom. The ugly truth of the crumbling building has become prevalent over the past years. The exterior roofs and wiring is failing and susceptible to a disastrous destruction of Parliament, itself. There is the constant infiltration of water leakage due to the River Thames. Such a risk grows of either a catastrophic event or a succession of incremental failures in essential systems, which would lead to Parliament no longer being able to sit in the palace. The restoration of the Palace would cost 3.5 billion pounds and force the government to move away from the historical landmark and medieval practices of government. Leaving the Palace would jeopardize the monarchy and the ancestral familiarity of Parliament would begin to vanish. The ever-present reminiscence of idolizing antiquated times is shown through the intricate fresco paintings and architecture. The building is a Gothic style, which was rather popular in the 15^th century. Much like the building’s age, the monarchy is from an older time and outdated. The royal family has no actual power yet represents the unification of the British people. Without the monarchy, the identity of Britain might cease to exist. 

House of Commons via Rhinegold Publishing

The monarchical institution is a sign of the British people’s fascination in the fantasy of unified nationalism. The members of Parliament advocate for the common folk through having an opposition party to keep the impact of legislation to be for the people. However, it is hard to believe in the majority party because the Prime Minister is from their party and is indirectly appointed to their position. This can raise the question of whether the Prime Minister is a dictator because of their power in the political system. There is no separation of the executive power from the legislative power. The House of Commons elects their Prime Minister and they hold the title for five years. There is a certain fascination with opulence and the importance of elitism throughout some members of the House of Parliament.

Big Ben undergoing construction

The space within the building is meager and cannot accommodate its workers. The House of Commons is currently overpopulated by the 650 members who in-congruently fit into the 427 allocated seats. Many people are in denial about the state of the Houses of Parliament because the peril is largely invisible to the public and to most of its 8,000 or so workers. The oblivious disregard for the Palace’s deteriorating state is over shown by its magnificent and attractive artifacts within. Despite the ignorance of necessary renovations, the time for change is now. Construction has commenced on Big Ben and will continue within the next decade. The relocation of the government would be beneficial for the British monarchy and force a change in the ideological mindset of those in power.