To To be appalled at all the royal palaces.

[purplehazed]

I've just watched Ant and Dec with Prince Charles. The sheer opulence of those numerous palaces. Just how many do they need? So so wrong imo.
Surely in these times of massive hardship for so many it is time they were scaled right back.

The upkeep is to preserve the integrity of buildings that have massive historical value. Even if the Royal family was abolished we would still need to preserve the buildings as they are part of our history and culture.

But thanks for starting this thread op because you have reminded me about that program and I am off to watch on catch up. I love the Royals. :o

YANBU.

I am a raging leftie though so I don't expect you'll get much agreement

Bees bring more to the economy than the Royal family.

George and Charlotte should share a room with bunk beds

YABU to be appalled at something that will never change, except for maybe a revolution.
Royals have always lived in palaces like this.
However, you are entitled to your opinion of not agreeing with it.
Just seems so pointless to bother about something you can't change.

I don't believe for one minute the myth that the royals bring in tourists

Doesn't matter what you believe, they do. There are people whose job it is to ask the tourists, so they do actually know

i agree with you.

Of course the royals bring in tourists!! Even if you don't like the royals, you just have to look at the crowds who flock to royal appearances to see that they're popular - foreign tours, church on Xmas day, Buckingham palace balcony appearances, trooping the colour etc.

And what would YOU do with the palaces?

They're not the property of the current royaks, you do realise? They are held in trust and handed down from generation to generation - part of britain's heritage...

And what do you mean about Paris? People visit paris for all kinds of reasons, and visiting Versailles is not necessarily top of everyone's list. That's a little disingenuous.

I agree OP - All those homeless soldiers sleeping on the streets after fighting for Queen and country - they could be housed in them. The whole of the Rf could live in just one.

The world loves our royal family and of course they bring massive income via tourism to the UK.

I loved that programme, how can you not recognise what Prince Charles has done over the last 40 years? All those young people given a chance and as for the guys in prison - he does amazing work and work that probably only someone in his position could do.

Ant and Dec are bloody annoying though.

YA definitely NBU.
We'd be a lot better off if we'd followed the French example and got it all over and done with a couple of hundred years ago.
The amount of wealth the royals have is obscene in a modern democracy.
And yes, turn buck palace into a reception centre for refugees. It's morally indefensible that men, women and children live on our borders in tents in the depths of winter, while there's hundreds of rooms free in those palaces!

Prince Charles has done excellent work with the Prince's Trust. I bet Harry takes over from him in the future.

I thought it was a great programme, and Charles, William & Harry came across really well I thought.

Most of the homes are already open to the public... And as a PP said, where does it stop? I have a spare room, shall I take someone in?

I don't see the relevance of the fact that these palaces are not 'privately owned' by the royals. They have free use of them for their lifetimes, so it sounds like a pretty cushy deal to me.

But I speak as somebody who thinks the monarchy should be abolished completely. Mumsnetters seem to love the royals (in general) though I have no idea why.

snowing I know people who have been helped by the Trust, I met Charles and Camilla once, Charles was like he was in the programme, an impish sense of humour and so very very interested in the people he meets really puts a person at their ease, yes trained to do so and its very much part of the job, but OMG did he make me feel special.

Camilla was lovely she asked me what perfume I was wearing, when I said Arpege, she said I love the classic ones.

So I don't give a monkeys chuff how many palaces they have

I hear you OP

I would happily live in a republic, but that aside - how many houses do they need FFS?

Come on op.... What do you suggest we do with all these palaces??

Yanbu. But then I would abolish the royals tomorrow. Nothing against them personally - a very average group - but the whole concept is flawed.

I think you'll find they have been handed down the generations.... What are the royals supposed to do?

I've been told I'm lovely oldsu - where do I claim my free palaces?

Oldsu - I have met a couple of members of the Royal family too. I don't know what they put in your drink but they sure didn't put it in mine!

If you and I meet, you find me charming and so on and you think my voluntary work is good, would you also be happy to fund a palace for me?

I really enjoyed the programme he started a great charity I think Harry will take it over

What about all the government jobs that come with accommodation

Dorneywood, Burnham — official ministerial residence; a country residence usually for use of the Chancellor, or for the Deputy Prime Minister

Admiralty House, Westminster — official ministerial residence

Admiralty Arch, Westminster — official ministerial residence

No 1 Carlton Gardens, Westminster — official ministerial residence; usually for the Foreign Secretary

Chevening House, Chevening — official ministerial residence; usually a country residence for use of the Foreign Secretary (during the Cameron ministry, jointly with the Deputy Prime Minister)

Hillsborough Castle, Hillsborough — official ministerial residence for the Northern Ireland Secretary

Speaker's House, Palace of Westminster, Westminster — official residence of the Commons' Speaker

Lord Speaker's Apartments, Palace of Westminster, Westminster — official residence of the Lord Speaker.

When you sold of the palaces you would of course have to make living arrangements for all the servants you've made redundant. Presumably you would have to rehouse them, but it doesn't matter does it because they served Royalty, so just throw them out.

also a bit mystified by this idea that "only" the royals can do certain things

there are many non-royal people working hard on schemes for all sorts of good causes