text: what is up with the royal family in england? first im an american and there are a few things i wish to ask the british about your royal family. first why is it that i see the prince wear all these military metals all over his jacket. it seems to me that he has never seen combat but he walks around like he was rambo. second what does the queen do? does she have any power? it seems to me that they are living off the british people and wasting your money? i may be wrong but i see it that way. it just seems like they are celebraties that get chases around by the news. third is there any groups in england that wants the royal family disolved? the royal family bring in far more in tourism revenue than is spent on them.  i am not sure which prince you mean, prince phillip was in the navy and served in active service in world war ii. both prince william and prince harry are soldiers, prince charles served in the royal navy for five years and is the colonel-in-chief for various military regiments.  prince edward served in the royal marines. prince andrew was active in the falklands war of 1982.  it could be said that some of them did not see 'combat' but ..... neither did anyone else at that time since britain was not involved in any wars when they were in active service.  what does the queen do? she is an impartial figurehead for britain and the commonwealth. unlike a president who would be partisan, the queen stands up for all sides in the name of democracy, and she represents britain across the world. she also does charity work and honours those who have fought wars.  there are anti-royalists in the united kingdom, known as 'republicans' and there always have been. however, surveys have tended to show that most people do not support the abolition of the monarchy.