To find the Queen's new coach utterly ridiculous

[MonterayJack]

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/jun/04/queen-travel-state-opening-parliament-new-coach

Not to mention archaic, disturbing (has fragments of the Mary Rose and Sir Issac Newton's apple tree built into it?!) and a giant waste of money. I looked at it and just thought "Why?"

Anyone else feel slightly annoyed and disturbed at the thought of an adult thinking it's a good idea to ride around in such a contraption?

I'm tickled by the fact that it has electric windows, paint that changes colour in different lights and gold plated aluminium wheels. Has she got boy racer aspirations?

The man who built it paid for it. It was a present. It cost him 3.2 million and several years to make. It would have been bloody rude not to use it.

I fully expect to see liz on the next 'what's the most over the top present you've ever got' thread

We pay hundreds of millions of pounds to fund her familys lifestyle. If they want to continue to live high on the hog then they should sell some of their stuff, just like we do. Oh, I forgot. Capitalism is only for us little people, not the elite, they get socialism.

Surely this is fantastic recycling, no?

BuilderMammy I can't see any 'go faster' stripes, but maybe they only show up in the dark. *Wellwellwell" I can just imagine that thread. "The bloody thing looks like something that a power crazed despot would go round in. Embarrassing doesn't cover having to go out in the wretched confection."

Basically stuff she owns as Elizabeth Windsor including her share portfolio, her private properties (Sandringham, Balmoral) which she inhereted from her father.

Arf at 'wretched confection'.

'One asked for a gti. One is so disappointed. Have you ever tried to do doughnuts in a coach? '

YABVU - I think it's great.

God Save the Queen!

DoctorTwo The Monarchy cost £40 million a year however the Monarch surrenders the profit of the Crown Estates which was about £220 million.

So it cost the tax payer £-180 million.

Not even bringing the approximate £730 million brought in by tourists.

The man who built it paid for it to be built, then the crown estate bought it from him.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_Coach_Britannia the link here says that the royal collection trust bought it.

Liz probably didn't ask for it, more someone in the palace decided that saying the Aussie had gone to all the hassle they might as well take it off his hands ??

Did anyone see that bit in Fargo the other week where the rabbi talks about the rich man who gives away all his money and still finds that loads of people are still suffering? Well we could stop making stuff like this and give all the money from the civil list to charity and people would still be living in poverty and using good banks. But in 100, 200 years time trades like coach building, art restoration etc. would have all but disappeared because we didn't keep using them. Those are important aspects of our cultural heritage. We need to keep doing the odd crazy stunt like this to make a mark- you can't just maintain what we have, otherwise the 'story' stops suddenly halfway through.

The Monarchy cost £40 million a year however the Monarch surrenders the profit of the Crown Estates which was about £220 million.

So it cost the tax payer £-180 million.

The Crown Estates thing is a complete red herring. The Crown Estates are not her personal property, they are linked to her position as the head of state. If we were to rid ourselves of the monarchy, she wouldn't keep the money. They cost a hell of a lot more than that £40m when you factor in security costs.

Not even bringing the approximate £730 million brought in by tourists.

They come to see the buildings and visitor attractions, not the people. As I mentioned upthread, the Palace of Versailles remains a popular tourist attraction, even long after the French got shut of the monarchy. If the Queen no longer lived at Buckingham Palace it could stay open around the year rather than just for a few months.

YANBU. The whole monarchy is utterly ridiculous.

Love the monarchy and wish they could build her a barge in the same fashion too.

Think the idea of a monarchy in the 21st century is ridiculous but that aside I think it's quite a nice idea to incorporate all the historical elements. Don't like the use of the Mary Rose though, can't think there's too much to celebrate there - nearly 400 men died when it went down.

YANBU

ridiculous waste of money on a ridiculous set up of our royal family

I love it.
And she should get her yacht back, how dare they take it away in the first bloody place?

she can buy a gold plated yacht if she so wished

Oh... I thought it was going to be totally wacky, like these

That's just a bogstandard royal-looking coach - I wouldn't have even realised it was new.

I'm ambivalent about the monarchy but I agree with Canus, if you're going to have it, it should involve poncy coaches. And the poor woman has to jazz up the opening of parliament somehow. The speech was boring snoring.

It's an obscene display of wealth when many people along with essential services are struggling financially, there is absolutely no need for it IMO.

Possibly a stupid question sorry! How is it "privately funded" Surely the British public pay the queens "wages"

Oh yes, Beeblanket, I like your coach design with the Mr Whippy top. Instead of an army band marching in front of her, the coach could play its own jangly tune