AIBU to think the queen should get off her arse and sell Balmoral?

[BlueBirdsNest]

Just a thought

But if we are struggling as a Country, financially, as a Country

Why don't the Royal family contribute and sell their holiday homes and put they money back in the economy?

A aargh! The one the op made is what I meant to say.

they should sell all their surplus properties and move into Bucks Palace. There's more than enough room for the whole extended family there surely?

oh and Chequers, Dave should sell that too.

Bloody Hell this is confusing read!
As far as you OP, yes you are bu

It won't make much difference no, but then nor will my 20% cut in contracted hours make much difference, but I'm still having to take the hit.

Balmoral doesn't cost the country anything - and never has. Queen Victoria bought it (not the taxpayer, not that much was paid in tax back then anyhow), and the public purse doesn't pay for its upkeep.

It's like telling all MNetters to sell their house/car/jewellery/whatever and give the proceeds to the Government. OP: are you ready to lead by example?

I love that German woman in the sparkly crown. She can have all my money and gladly. She makes me proud to keep her and her arse sponging brood off the streets.

So when Victoria bought Balmoral, what money did she buy it with?

Did she earn it herself? Or was this money ultimately the proceeds of theft?

you would not believe how much money the queen puts into the treasury!!

Theft ?!?!?

Tries to imagine Queen Victoria as a cat burglar.
Fails.

She bought it from her (non-Crown) assets. I'm not enough of an expert to unpick several centuries worth of private assets owned by the various incarnations of the Royal family. Perhaps you could elucidate.

The entire revenue of the Crown Estates is now turned over to the Government, must be maintained for the nation, and cannot be disposed of. That's important (and quite a big source of revenue).

The Royals generate so much money through tourism and the employment surrounding it.

so do you think if we had no Royal family tourists would stop coming here?

Well I think she should get off her arse and go clean the public toilets. That'll give her something to do.

In the case of Balmoral (the original subject of the thread), yes, it would be an enormous hit.

Glitterknikaz: her skill is actually stripping down 4 tonne trucks, not loos.

I think it would have a major impact on the tourism front yes.

YABU.

plenty of tourists would still go to london but i can not imagine that many would go to ballater and deeside with no balmoral, obviously some would still go for the hunting shooting fishing hill walking etc

Ah brilliant stick her in an AA van then.

If we can't afford roofs for schools, I fail to see how we can afford that woman and all her various by-blows.

Don't care what she does. I wonder who will pay for its upkeep if Scotland becomes independent.

Do people not realise that the royal family are also very rich in their own right? Look at the Duke of Westminster, owns huge estates inherited from ancestors, one of the richest people in the world but gets to enjoy it in peace. Poor old Queeny has people constantly wanting to grab hers just because some of it is now held in trust for the nation. Bet she envies the Duke sometimes.

it's not really 'held in trust for the nation' though, is it? When does 'the nation' get its turn with Balmoral? It's held in trust for her own descendants!

We can afford roofs for schools - it's mis management of funds that is the real reason they are in disrepair, not because 65p or whatever very small amount of everyones tax goes to the Royal Family.

Balmoral: unchanged - it's her private property.

Castle of Mey - unchanged (also private property).

Holyrood: if Scotland keeps HMQ as head of state, then upkeep (and all other costs of the Monarchy) will have to be considered in part of the separation. I suspect the best settlement would be to follow the model of other independent states with HMQ as Head of State - they do not contribute to civil list, but would take on responsibility for the buildings within their borders.