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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that after all the money spent on their military training that Harry and William should have proper jobs?

202 replies

Sixweekstowait · 04/08/2014 15:00

Just that really - all they ever seem to do is go to sporting events

OP posts:
RichTeaAreCrap · 04/08/2014 15:48

"Of course that's a proper job. So that's 4 months of their lives accounted for......"

Beggars belief - yes of course that's only 4 months. They just turn up on day 1 switch the helicopter on and fly to a war zone. Then home after 4 months. Job done. Hmm

Maybe do some research into what is actually involved in terms of timescales and skills before making senseless comments like that.

beccajoh · 04/08/2014 15:48

I don't know the figures but I'm sure the tourist revenue they attract more than makes up for any money invested. Might not benefit YOU, OP, directly but it keeps many people in employment.

FreudiansSlipper · 04/08/2014 15:49

They seem to have an awful lot of time off for holidaying

So William is now returning to some sort of job after the heavy criticism when he decided to take a year off Hmm oh and they moving again how nice to be able to move about just as you please while doing very little and being paid from all our pockets

FrankSaysNo · 04/08/2014 15:50

I fail to see the point of having a job when your granny OWNS all the helicopters n stuff Grin

Hakluyt · 04/08/2014 15:50

"Maybe do some research into what is actually involved in terms of timescales and skills before making senseless comments like that."

Ooeerrmissus! Keep your hair on!

PandaFeet · 04/08/2014 15:51

I recall Harry wanting to go to the front line and he was repeatedly told he couldn't for fear of his profile turning his unit into a greater target.

Or have I imagined that?

Doesn't really matter what any of them do or don't do, there's always someone ready to have a go.

ElizabethArdenGreenTeax · 04/08/2014 15:52

they're born in to a job. they have 'jobs', duties certainly.

Hakluyt · 04/08/2014 15:53

I do wonder about this tourist revenue thing. Other countries seem to manage to get lots of tourists to come and look at their pretty buildings without having a Royal Family in them. Look at France. Versailles absolutely crawling with tourists..........

As a matter of interest, what's Andrew doing to earn a crust at the moment?

RichTeaAreCrap · 04/08/2014 15:53

FreudiansSlipper, yes it costs about 57pence per year per person.

And yes forces people do have a lot of time off, more than most people, but then I'd say they deserve it. I mean dodging bullets in Afghan is hardly the same as a job where they drive home for their tea every night!

LegoSuperstar · 04/08/2014 15:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

sparechange · 04/08/2014 16:00

Panda, Harry was on the front line until the press leaked the information
He was then withdrawn, because he would obviously be a huge target for attack, and would be therefore putting other troops in danger.
Until that point, he did the same duties as everyone else did. I know someone who served alongside him and there wasn't any star treatment.

Hakluyt · 04/08/2014 16:03

"FreudiansSlipper, yes it costs about 57pence per year per person. "
I think that 57p figure is before you add in the cost of security......

puntasticusername · 04/08/2014 16:05

sparechange is it true that his nickname in camp was The Ginger Bullet Magnet? Smile

Mrsjayy · 04/08/2014 16:09

They have jobs what sort of jobs do you want them to do of course being royal is a privelaged life but they do what their training paid for. I would imagine harrys army job isnt really spoken about because of that silly trivial thing called security Hmm

sparechange · 04/08/2014 16:17

Grin Pun, I hadn't heard that but I will check and report back
The same person also went on exercise with him in Canada and had some stories about their time there as well...

FrankSaysNo · 04/08/2014 16:17

We tried being a republic once, we cut off a Divine Kings head. People didn't much like the alternative to not having a monarchy. God forbid we should go that way again and be like the States.

Plenty of countries in the Commonwealth who want to be there. The Australians rattle every so often and go all republican and voila! When they have a vote it is overwhelming to keep the status quo.

If you want some proper figures - the all in figures - the civil list is £7.1 million - thats been frozen for 21 years. - however all in including security for key Royals etc - ""The Royal Family spent £36.1m of taxpayers' money last year - a figure portrayed by royal aides as 56p for every person in the country. The Sovereign Grant, which is set at 15% of profits made by the Crown Estate, rose from £31m in 2012/13.""

So effectively that is offset by tax paid.

Revenue in to the Treasury is approximately 500 million

Of course if we do away with the Monarchy, what would you remove? Half of Europe with no actual monarchy is still as rich as Creosus and call themselves Prince of X or Grand Duke Y - they will still own their own money and painting and palaces and will keep on being rich because they can then work for personal gain.

So whether you like or agree with Royalty - they are a crowd puller - much like some people want to oggle any of the Kennedys.

Sirzy · 04/08/2014 16:24

Imagine drifting in and out of conciousness after an accident to see Prince William stood over you as part of the rescue team - uou would think you were hallucinating!

It seems both are trying to "earn their keep" but as with most things can't do right for doing wrong in the eyes of some

Hakluyt · 04/08/2014 16:25

Does France get significantly fewer tourists pro rate than the UK?

Bonsoir · 04/08/2014 16:29

Being a search and rescue helicopter pilot is surely the modern day equivalent of being a medieval knight in shining armour rescuing damsels in distress? A more fitting job for a royal prince would be hard to find.

MrsTerryPratchett · 04/08/2014 16:31

I don't like the Royal family at all. Would do away with the whole boiling of them. However, Harry and William appear to have earned their keep so far. Doing jobs that are useful and hard.

Polyethyl · 04/08/2014 16:32

Harry went to Afghanistan twice, and is now working at the MOD. William did a full tour with search and rescue and now that contract has ended he has found a new job with the air ambulance. Both have therefore fully completed the duties appropriate to their training, and the cost of that training.

What more do you require of them OP? How long do you think they should serve in order to win your approval?

Redglitter · 04/08/2014 16:33

So on one hand they should have a proper job but then someone else says they don't need a job and are taking it from someone who does

they're in a no win situation

I read William wasn't being paid for the Air Amb job not sure if that's true

Hakluyt · 04/08/2014 16:40

Any royalists know what Prince Andrew's doing to earn a crust these days?

Mrsjayy · 04/08/2014 16:43

sirzy you are right they can't do anything right if they didnt show face at the commonwealth games somebody would say oh you would think the royals would show face Hmm the young royals go to things to represent the royal familiy to show people they are working for the country

IScreamForIceCream · 04/08/2014 16:44

Why is everyone being mean to Poor Wills?
Are you all forgetting that he had that special 10 week farming course invented for him at Cambridge?

Fine, so he didn't quite finish it, but holidays don't take themselves you know.