Dining across the divide: If I were queen, I'd abolish the monarchy'

"Tamsin was so lovely. We were both quite nervous, but within about five minutes I thought, We're going to get on really well... She was friendly and smiley. We were both probably a bit awkward. But she had clearly been thinking about what kind of things she wanted to say."

"Tamsin was of the opinion we could keep the tradition but not have such privileged people in place... She talked about how meaningful it is to have connection with the past, embodied by living people who occupy those roles and continue the traditions with dress and ceremony."

"If I were queen, I'd abolish the monarchy. But doing it in an undemocratic way wouldn't make sense, so what I really want is a referendum."

Matilda, a 36-year-old history degree student who plays accordion, and Tamsin, a 36-year-old university researcher studying food sustainability, meet for a blind date dinner. Both are nervous initially but quickly establish rapport. They order different meals reflecting their values—Matilda chooses steak while Tamsin selects a vegan option. Their main disagreement centers on the British monarchy. Matilda strongly supports the royal family as an institution, valuing patriotism and tradition. Tamsin respects tradition's aesthetic and historical meaning but questions whether such privileged individuals should hold these roles, preferring a democratic referendum on the monarchy's future. Despite their opposing views, they appreciate each other's thoughtfulness and commitment to their beliefs.

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