To think there are higher priorities than Buckingham Palace.

[lazylab]

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/queen-elizabeth-pay-rise-royal-public-funds-buckingham-palace-sovereign-grant-royal-family-crown-a7809716.html

Whether or not we agree with the monachy i don't think now is the time to throw millions of taxpayers money at one huge old palace. There are far far more important things that need our money. Anyone agree?

Yeah. We should spend it on nuclear weapons and bribing terrorists to vote with the government instead

It isnt going to the palace it is going into the soveriegn crown. It is wage increases for all the staff, royal parks etc. It is not just throwing it into the palace.

The soveriegn crown also pay a rediculous ammount of tax that is put back into the system.

Do you understand what the Sovereign Grant is? In short the Queen hands over all her income to the state and it gives her a paltry 15% back .

I cant see anyone else getting up and going to work and handing over 85% of their income to the tax man.

Then of course Buck House is state owned. I'm sure you get your council house done up and maintained as and when?

My council house doesn't have eleventy squillion bedrooms. And several swimming pools, tennis courts and cinemas.

This "Council house" also brings in squillions of tourists every year

Was just about to point out the tourist point of view. It's a massive selling point for us.

So kick the immigrant occupants out and have it as a state owned attraction. Be much cheaper.

Do you understand what the Sovereign Grant is? In short the Queen hands over all her income to the state and it gives her a paltry 15% back
Hardly paltry, 15% of the crown estates is an enormous amount of money. If we didn't have a royal family we wouldn't have to give her any.

I cant see anyone else getting up and going to work and handing over 85% of their income to the tax man

Please tell me you are joking. Absolute bonkers statement.

I don't fall for the tourist nonsense. It's a myth, the royals don't even know themselves if it's true but they love that the gullible amongst us do. More people visit Legoland when they come to the Uk. The royal palaces are way down the list of most visited places. In fact empty palaces would probably generate MORE money.

Yeah. We should spend it on nuclear weapons and bribing terrorists to vote with the government instead

No we should spend it on our crumbling hospitals, nurses, schools, transport, care in the community, the poor and disabled, the police.......the list is endless.

In short the Queen hands over all her income to the state and it gives her a paltry 15% back

Ahh. The Crown Estates. All the land stolen by the Crown a long time ago.

I don't think the Queen's ancestors paid for the land?

When Lizzie passes Charles will have it as his office and open it up to ticket paying guest. Much more so than currently.

They need to prepare it for this.

This "Council house" also brings in squillions of tourists every year
Proof please, until then i'll carry on knowing that is not true.

So kick the immigrant occupants out and have it as a state owned attraction. - Rather racist of you Thisarmingman.

So people who's family moved here and took British citizenship generations ago aren't really British?

Ahh. The Crown Estates. All the land stolen by the Crown a long time ago

Well spotted, Orlantina There's a pretty decent basic explanation here: www.thecrownestate.co.uk/who-we-are/our-history/ but fundamentally you're right - the estate came about through land seized by William the Conqueror back in 1066

the estate came about through land seized by William the Conqueror back in 1066

Maybe the people should seize their land back?

Maybe this could be discussed in Parliament?

No - it can't. The Monarchy is not allowed to be debated in the Commons.

People do keep making cheap rhetorical points along the lines of "The Queen has LOADS of spare rooms" vis a vis Grenfell Tower displaced and homeless generally. Corbyn was calling for empty luxury homes to be requisitioned. Maybe there's a Top Secret Bolshie Plan?

The reason the Royal palaces don't figure in recorded visitor numbers is that most tourists stand outside for free and watch the spectacle (e.g. Changing the guard) so the numbers are not recorded. Anyone familiar with Buck Palace will know there is always a crowd outside and tourists all around the area.

why not just clad it - much cheaper way of doing it up

Maybe the people should seize their land back?

Even if anyone wanted to, this would be very difficult as much of the land has been disposed of over the centuries through gifts to the aristocracy, "payments" for services rendered and so forth

Another interesting point concerns the so-called "private" properties such as Balmoral and Sandringham - specifically, where the money came from to purchase them

As ever, these are complicated subjects and offer plenty of opportunities for the monarchy's advisers to pull the wool over the eyes of the less informed .. something they've had a great deal of practice at

Indeed. Given to people who were court favourites and then taken back when they fell out of favour. Or when they were executed...Henry VIII, looking at you..

Anyone familiar with Buck Palace will know there is always a crowd outside and tourists all around the area
That doesn't mean the tourists have just come to see the palace, it is an attraction yes, but only one of many. The Palace of Versailles is one of the most visited places in the world, think that says it all.

I agree, we are short of money so why spend it on this project. Let the Queen retire as at her age she deserves to relax. Do not replace her. I wonder how much Buck House would fetch on the housing market?

Yes John i know, i think any reasonable person who thinks it through properly would agree, rather than be pro royal at any cost. Fair enough to be loyal to the monarchy but even the most ardent supporter should surely think "well this isn't appropriate at this time". I mean where would they draw the line?