…to suggest that it’s time the Royal family stands on its own feet and stops taking money from the public purse?

But we shouldn't have to pay for any of them. They're rich enough. Why should the poor fund the rich?

Yes, I'd like to know. I also disagree that Kate is a positive role model for young women.

How original OP, that's only been done 1,000 timers in the past few days

YABU for not posting this interminable stuff on the RF board

most of them are born into it!

No one forces them to marry into the family.

Whatever they have done in promoting our country through attracting tourism has been overshadowed by Andrew's behaviour.
Agree with PP who said that younger people really aren't interested (or people in their 50s like me!)

I would much rather pay for King Charles and the royal family than Kier Starmer and any other prime minister and definitely more than a president.

So how would it work?
Would they keep the profit earned through them - palace tours etc, but pay appropriate tax? So be self sufficient essentially and presumably charge for public appearances/interviews etc?

I wonder if the UK would be financially better off or not?

YABVVVU.

Me too.

Selfless acts? They are doing it because they’ve been booked in. They won’t remember anybody by the time they get home.

If I was in a hospital bed dying and one of those lot started advancing on me, I’d be telling them to fuck off and leave me in peace.

They do selfless acts like charity work apparently...must be bloody exhausting. I hope they have help...oh, wait a minute..

I don’t dream of it. I don’t know many people who would want their life. They live in a gilded cage.

I actually think Wills and Kate are very positive role models

How? I mean if Kate had a career and did the Royal things she does as well then I'd say she was a positive role model. From what I can tell she attends a couple of things a week (or maybe not, I don't keep track) and that's it really.

William just seems quite blah and apart from the air ambulance, hasn't really ever worked a proper day in his life.

At best, they're the best of a very bad bunch.

Tourist money argument is bullshit. How many tourists come specifically to see Buckingham Palace with zero interest in the rest of London? And how many do you think would lose interest if the palace remained (with an option to visit inside as you can Versailles) but we had no monarchy? About 30 million more people visit Paris each year than London.

Basically it’s the only argument monarchists make and it’s a crock of shit. We should become a republic. Andrew should be the final nail.

They are not selfless acts. They get to live a life most of us could only dream of.

I actually think Wills and Kate are very positive role models

In what way?

They do relatively little work and have multiple expensive holidays, properties and wardrobes, childcare and staff on tap, they are not particularly talented at anything nor have they achieved anything particularly important or useful.

They seem perfectly pleasant, I am not saying they are awful - but I could say the same about many many people who don’t get lavishly funded by the taxpayer.

I sincerely hope the AMW arrest will be the beginning of the end. The up-coming generation mostly couldn't give a toss about any of them and to be honest, even reading Gransnet, neither could a lot of the over 60's (which I am). @UnhappyHobbit Why on earth do you think K & W are positive role models? For whom? They barely work and neither exactly sets the world alight with charisma whilst William is busy trousering as much money as he can. It's totally immoral.

I actually think Wills and Kate are very positive role models

Nothing personal against Kate as it’s what the role demands of her but she doesn’t really do anything. She is a similar age to me & I don’t know anyone who is inspired or influenced by her. My DH would say similar for William.

I wish it would be decided by referendum. Shall we retain the monarchy or become a republic? Let the subjects decide.

There’s no need for them imo, especially in this day and age.

Posh welfare recipients the lot of them

I imagine that they’ve bought so much love and support on their visits. They visit hospitals, dying children and the needy. Normal celebrities aren’t known for doing that, these are selfless acts and they need recognising using as such

I can’t tell if this satire?

They could support charities by giving rather than redistributing stuff they are given / you know their name would still benefit the charity

I mean why give them in particular money because they support charities ? I support charities

@minipie Great post. It’s completely regressive & we need to move with the times.

The R F contributes to public life through charity work, economic impact and international affairs

Members of the RF support hundreds of charities, helping raise awareness and funding. Charles founded The Prince's Trust, which has supported over a million young people into work and education.

Royal residences such as buckingham palace and windsor castle attract millions of visitors, contributing significantly to tourism and the wider economy. Internationally, the RF also plays a diplomatic role, representing the UK abroad. Let’s remember King Charles and his amazing intervention with the Trump and Starmer breakdown.

I imagine that they’ve bought so much love and support on their visits. They visit hospitals, dying children and the needy. Normal celebrities aren’t known for doing that, these are selfless acts and they need recognising using as such.

You are right - they DO own lots of land and property.

All the profits from that go to... The government.

The RF gets back about 12%.

This is called the sovereign grant act, but it was known as the civil list for many years.

So the RF could go and live off their massive land holdings, yes, but overall the taxpayer is going to lose out.