To think the royal family are a bloody embarrassment

[MariaAngustias]

Just that - why are we paying for this bunch when we could be spending the money on essential services? Let the Queen continue then after her just get rid of the whole bloody lot of them. We have and alleged paedo, a whinging multi millionaire in his 30's moaning constantly, an allegedly corrupt heir to the throne meeting dodgy russians for money....... just go, enough. Seriously - this is all Jeremy Kyle for poshos.

,She has given decades of faultless public service

Think most of us would do the same for the rewards, not just for ourselves but multiple family members going down the generations.

In a lifetime most of us will have worked much harder for very little reward.

I reckon many are keeping their powder dry regarding the RF due to loyalty, admiration and respect for HMQ. That actually protects many of them from too much criticism at the moment.

However when Madge departs I think people will feel able to criticize them one and all, and there may be no holds barred then. I doubt very many have respect for Charlie. I hope he manages to iron his own newspapers and wipe his own backside by then.

Remember it is people like them and their milieu who can keep their wealth and face no tax hikes for social care, but the ordinary Joe and Josie have no choice but to struggle to carry them via hikes in NI.

Paul Burrell commented in his memoirs (published long before Yewtree) that Jimmy Savile was the only person the famously anti-smoking Prince Charles allowed to smoke at Highgrove.

@TatianaBis

No you are innocent until proved guilty. If the police come and arrest you and you don't co-operate the legal system still says you are innocent until proven guilty. If we are going to ignore that then there is no point having a legal system is there.

Presumed innocent until proven guilty is simply a legal principle within criminal trials to the effect that the burden of proof rests with the prosecution.

It doesn’t mean the general public can’t speculate wildly on whatever they like. I am free to say I believe Virginia and I don’t believe Andrew.

But you actually aren't free to say he is guilty, that's why they have slander and libel laws.

Well of course you can say it but then you are at risk of being prosecuted yourself and you also put MN at risk.

In regards to tourism money, it would be interesting to know if the money spent on events (trooping of the colour, weddings and jubilee events etc) brings in more money than it costs in security fees etc.

When Madge departs I think people will feel able to criticize them one and all, and there may be no holds barred then. I doubt very many have respect for Charlie. I hope he manages to iron his own newspapers and wipe his own backside by then

If Fawcett goes he may have to ... except, of course, Fawcett won't be going anywhere

SnottyLottie Security is the big one that's never included in the published expenses, hence us getting the nonsense about 67p a day for the RF

Naturally they won't give details of what's done and how, but I see no good reason why they can't disclose what it costs ... only of course it doesn't suit

We’re currently footing security bills for five former prime ministers, at least two of whom are multi millionaires. I wonder what the cost of that is?

• I don't think even Virginia Roberts-Giuffre is alleging rape, and she was 17 at the time and so above the age of consent in the UK, (not sure about NY.)

Yes, and she looks genuinely happy in that photo. Has more women with any allegations against by Prince Andrew come forward?

£250 millions is nothing compared to the huge amounts of wealth added each year to U.K. and worldwide billionaires.

The end of the monarchy is long overdue. Utterly ridiculous in a democracy we elevate one family of no proven worth, just by birthright or marriage, to the status of 'royal highness, prince, princess or whatever'. Unearned positions, unearth wealth and unearned status.

Crass that anybody thinks these people should be bowed and curtsied to. Or indeed that anybody should be.

Every change in monarchy has had to be forced upon them. The Queen had to be forced to pay taxes. She had to be forced to pay for her own repairs to her own private house at Windsor Castle. She had to be forced even to lower the flag for her deceased DIL.

The young royals cannot even demonstrate they can sustain full time employment - William (part time, rarely there helicopter pilot), Kate, (never worked), Edward, never worked - his two attempts at it embarrassing failures.Andrew, after a stint in the armed forces, never worked. Let not even go into the attempts by Fergie, Sophie and Andrew to cash in on their positions and sell access to the monarch for personal gain.
These people are multi millionaires. We spend a fortune on them - paying security for every jolly jaunt they take - Beatrice and Eugenie milked that for all it's worth while contributing nothing back to the public purse by way of service. One had a lavish ridiculous wedding that cost a fortune because daddy Andrew wanted us all reminded 'she is a princess'. Galling.
These are scrounges living off tax payers money and choosing occasionally to pop out and cut a ribbon or two. They have countless homes between them - many lying unoccupied for most of the year, yet are heated, staffed and secured at our expense.
Before you even get to Andrew being 'hidden' behind palace walls and making a mockery of justice, these people have clearly demonstrated they are irrelevant.

Think of the royals who have 'disappeared' and you realise their loss is not missed in any practical terms. Philip - gone, nothing changed. Diana - gone, nothing changed. Andrew - gone, nothing changed. Harry - gone, nothing changed. Charles - invisible! - unmissed.

The hatchets are out for Harry and Meghan - at least these two worked!

Charles at 72 is serving the most expensive to fund and longest apprenticeship for a Job that isn't even vacant. He's had no other job! His son William is serving the same apprenticeship and isn't working, and his son George is already being trained for the 'job' he might be 80 before he gets! Bonkers As for Kate - a mere decoration whose hair and new frocks are her main contribution to royal life - like the ideal Victorian wife for rich men. Cringeworthy.

She has given decades of faultless public service

So have millions of British citizens - but have not been rewarded by multiple mansions filled with servants, security, chefs, chauffeurs, secretaries, nannies, butlers, dressers, 'ladies in waiting', private yachts, private planes, private trains, private healthcare, private education etc etc etc. She also has got away with tax free living for years and secured jobs for life for all her kids and their families.

@MariaAngustias

Just that - why are we paying for this bunch when we could be spending the money on essential services? Let the Queen continue then after her just get rid of the whole bloody lot of them. We have and alleged paedo, a whinging multi millionaire in his 30's moaning constantly, an allegedly corrupt heir to the throne meeting dodgy russians for money....... just go, enough. Seriously - this is all Jeremy Kyle for poshos.

I agree with you, OP.

They are an antiquated, pointless, ridiculous embarrassment of a family. All of them.

I'm sick and tied of the forelock tugging, scraping and bowing, subservient, deluded morons who worship them - in the media and general public - and genuinely believe were at a turning point now. The end of them will be when the Queen dies, hopefully. If we must have a head of state, that person should be elected by the people. Not anointed by an unseen, unproven 'God' purely on the basis of whose fanjo they popped out of.

There are no splinters in my arse on this issue; I detest them and want them gone, I want a Republic. If any of you daft supporters of this family of entitled sponges who think they are way, way, way above you and yours are sitting there foaming at the mouth like a dog with rabies, I couldn't care less! I'll lose no sleep over it and sweat about it as much as your beloved Andy!

Never understood the fascination with them. To curtesy or bow to another human who is just another human is just weird! Most of them have the morals of alleycats as well!

@Blossomtoes

We’re currently footing security bills for five former prime ministers, at least two of whom are multi millionaires. I wonder what the cost of that is?

Nothing compared to the security of the royals. We're paying for round the clock security for 21 members of the royal family. Highly trained police officers guarding them in shifts round the clock. The bill for that must be enormous. Why should police resources be squandered on these over privileged toffs who aren't in need of protection any more than the man in the street. It's preposterous.

@Hogwarts4Christmas

YADNBU, I can't stand the monarchy and think all their assets Inc money, property, etc, should be surrendered to the state and, bar the Queen, Phillip and Prince Charles (only due to age), the rest of them should all have to start working for a living and pay their own way.

All the money from the Crown estate, etc, should be used to fund essential services such as NHS, cheaper public transport, etc.

If you go back far enough their riches stem from taxing ordinary people and landgrabbing, etc, anyway so I don't see it as 'their money/properties' and I do think it should be restored back to the public.

Tourists would still come because the Palaces, etc, would still be there, same as people still visit Versailles, etc, so that's not a valid excuse. It's not like they get to meet the Queen when they're looking around Buckingham Palace.

Philip is dead, so irrespective of age he won’t be working anywhere

We’re currently footing security bills for five former prime ministers, at least two of whom are multi millionaires. I wonder what the cost of that is?

These were elected by us and like them or loathe them, their job and policies put them at risk. The royals have never been elected and the majority of them spend more time in leisure activities than work (and I don’t consider what they do as work as most of us know it.

Yes, and she looks genuinely happy in that photo. Has more women with any allegations against by Prince Andrew come forward?

Well if she's smiling in a photo, she can't possibly be a victim.

We're paying for round the clock security for 21 members of the royal family

Yes, outrageous. We should just let them get assassinated or kidnapped.

And it’s actually only 5 of them that get 24/7 security.

Why should police resources be squandered on these over privileged toffs who aren't in need of protection any more than the man in the street

Is this supposed to be a serious comment? MI5 and the Metropolitan Police decide who gets security based on risk assessments and intelligence. Members of the royal family sit at the top of most terrorist hit lists. Obviously. 🙄

I am not a monarchist but the amount of ignorance on this thread is astounding.

@ponyexpress22 source?

I can only find reports for 5 who get round the clock protection - Queen, Charles, Camilla, William and Kate.

Otherwise it’s only when carrying out royal duties.

Presumed innocent until proven guilty is simply a legal principle within criminal trials to the effect that the burden of proof rests with the prosecution

It ought also to be how decent people react when others are accused of wrongdoing.

No need to “presume innocence” but a simple benefit of the doubt would be sufficient.

But I suppose “paedo prince” is a much more exciting narrative for the hard-of-thinking.

@DrWhoNowww

www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/100million-to-guard-21-royals-around-234485

Oh, it’s in the Mirror so it must be true.

FFS. You googled then went down to find the one (and only) article that supports you, ignoring the ones that don’t!

Charles, Camilla, William, Kate and the Queen are the only ones who get 24/7 security.

Andrew, Eugenie & Beatrice get none at all.

Anne, Edward & Sophie only get it when they go on engagements.

@MariaAngustias

Just that - why are we paying for this bunch when we could be spending the money on essential services? Let the Queen continue then after her just get rid of the whole bloody lot of them. We have and alleged paedo, a whinging multi millionaire in his 30's moaning constantly, an allegedly corrupt heir to the throne meeting dodgy russians for money....... just go, enough. Seriously - this is all Jeremy Kyle for poshos.

What criteria did you use to come to that statement ? Have you studied in depth about the royal family ? Have you researched how they have and what they have contributed to our society ?