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.

Andrew must be really glad Harry and Megan have been so vile. All the press do is go on about what they have /haven't done. Who cares?
At least they're not as bad as Andrew but nothing is ever said about what a shit he is (or at least not as much as H&M).

@GADDav. Exactly. Worked like a Trojan for the Firm. For herself, in a role she created. Not for us.

But you feel sorry for her...

As for William, granted, he used to have a job. Used to. Now he takes his overprivileged kid on grouse shoots while sounding off about protecting the earth's resources. Ffs.

@Hawkins001

From reading the thread, does anyone have any facts, figures, ect that prove e.g. Levels of tourist s , details of tourists in other countries and the various attraction s, then levels of costs vs revenues ect things like that , that help give a detail breakdown ?

I think this thread genuinely demonstrates that people are so pissed off with this bunch of no gooders (ex HRH QE2) that they no longer care about the benefits.

I would far rather tour BP or Windsor as a historical home. At least there would be a proper tour and decent revenue stream, rather than a whistle stop tour where the serfs pay for a brief look at not a lot.

These threads always make me sharply aware that a lot of the commenters have no trust in democracy as it functions in the UK — they are full of people assuming that an even more loathsome HoS would be elected, that the transfer from constitutional monarchy to whatever would follow would be mishandled, divisive or corrupt, and that palaces vacated or Crown goods reabsorbed would be misappropriated. Presumably it’s an effect of Brexit and the truly dreadful current government.

It’s just so outdated. I definitely think that the Queen should be the last monarch. I mean, why do we all have to bow and scrape to a load of stuck up twats who are only there due to a fluke of nature. Not voted in democratically, just sat there presiding over us all like they’re something special.

[quote PeriWrinkles]@GADDav. Exactly. Worked like a Trojan for the Firm. For herself, in a role she created. Not for us.

But you feel sorry for her...

As for William, granted, he used to have a job. Used to. Now he takes his overprivileged kid on grouse shoots while sounding off about protecting the earth's resources. Ffs.[/quote]
@PeriWrinkles

I disagree, the role was thrust on her at a very young age. Way back then she didn't have much choice. I begrudgingly admire her for her work ethic. Personally Id have sacked of the red box decades ago.

Given we won't lose the royals overnight - we could do it in stages.

1. Only the heir and direct heir get any allowance to support their role. Not their dependants ie wife, husband, other children etc)
2. Forget a costly referendum. Just enable an opt out of contributions to those who don't want to fund the royals - then the remaining royal supporters can divide the cost amongst them
3. Sell of the royal homes in public hands to trusts to run as museums, hotels, conference centres, embassies or whatever to put money back into the public purse
4. Sell off royal lands and grace and favour properties to develop affordable housing for the clear need that exists in prime locations.
5. Stand back and watch the work dodgers compete for jobs in the modern market place (oh no - forgot, they are multimillionaires in their own right, so don't need to work!)

Wills plays the game very well. He is rare among the Windsors in having at least two brain cells, perhaps even three.

The clue to who he really is is not who he invites to his wedding, but whose weddings he attends, rich and sucessful Eton Chums.

Andrew must be really glad Harry and Megan have been so vile. All the press do is go on about what they have /haven't done. Who cares?
At least they're not as bad as Andrew but nothing is ever said about what a shit he is (or at least not as much as H&M)

There is powerful mechanism at the heart of the royal machine controlling what the press say. They are not all roundly condemning Andrew. They didn't even roundly condemn Philips misogyny and racism - all articulated in front of cameras and reporters. The investigation into Williams alleged extra marital affairs was squashed by the palace, Sophie, Edward, Fergie and Andrew all too easily forgiven for selling access to Royals for personal gain. The Queen too easily forgiven for tax dodging for years. The Queen Mother's drunken overspending and right wing racist leanings barely gets a mention. Meghan and Harry - not quite sure what they have done to generate such loathing other than have a good old moan about their own Royal relatives and their behaviour. Whatever they have done it's generating daily abuse in the press far beyond anything seen before - even beyond the press coverage of the Nazi persuasions of Edward and Wallace Simpson!

@SeriouslyISuppose

These threads always make me sharply aware that a lot of the commenters have no trust in democracy as it functions in the UK — they are full of people assuming that an even more loathsome HoS would be elected, that the transfer from constitutional monarchy to whatever would follow would be mishandled, divisive or corrupt, and that palaces vacated or Crown goods reabsorbed would be misappropriated. Presumably it’s an effect of Brexit and the truly dreadful current government.

Actually, if we lose the monarchy - and I'm not a monarchist - how on earth would we avoid a load of power and trappings and contracts etc going to Tory party donors?

@StoneofDestiny

*Andrew must be really glad Harry and Megan have been so vile. All the press do is go on about what they have /haven't done. Who cares? At least they're not as bad as Andrew but nothing is ever said about what a shit he is (or at least not as much as H&M)*

There is powerful mechanism at the heart of the royal machine controlling what the press say. They are not all roundly condemning Andrew. They didn't even roundly condemn Philips misogyny and racism - all articulated in front of cameras and reporters. The investigation into Williams alleged extra marital affairs was squashed by the palace, Sophie, Edward, Fergie and Andrew all too easily forgiven for selling access to Royals for personal gain. The Queen too easily forgiven for tax dodging for years. The Queen Mother's drunken overspending and right wing racist leanings barely gets a mention. Meghan and Harry - not quite sure what they have done to generate such loathing other than have a good old moan about their own Royal relatives and their behaviour. Whatever they have done it's generating daily abuse in the press far beyond anything seen before - even beyond the press coverage of the Nazi persuasions of Edward and Wallace Simpson!

He married a black girl. The right wing press hate that.

The clue to who he really is is not who he invites to his wedding, but whose weddings he attends, rich and sucessful Eton Chums

The clue is that despite his expensive education and training he had decided to work only part time when he had a job, and has decided not to work at all despite not being even the heir to the throne - his dad is! A houseful of luckiest, servants, cooks, nannies, drivers etc etc and a stay at home wife and he still justifies sitting on his arse between polo matches, celeb weddings and an occasional visit during a pandemic to thank health workers! Seriously - what a joke.

Actually, if we lose the monarchy - and I'm not a monarchist - how on earth would we avoid a load of power and trappings and contracts etc going to Tory party donors?

We have a monarchy - power, contracts and trappings already go to Tory Part donors. Have you not seen the press stories recently about it all?

@AJGranny

The tourist thing is a complete red herring. Anyone whose ever been to Versailles can tell you that the Monarchy don't even need to be alive to generate tourist income. Go far enough back and the crown estates will all have been nicked off someone or enclosed common lands in order to tax serfs.

👏🏼 👏🏼

Trump held power for 4 years before he could be voted out, which he was thankfully. But still 4 years to wait and vote him out.

An effective opposition party in the UK would be a start.

The German president has a role like her mah, he is elected by the German Parliament and some selected prominent people,etc.it works well leaving the Chancellor to get on with governing.

IMO palaces etc could be turned into hotels, with attached museum, shops selling overpriced Royal memorabilia. They would make way more money from rich people wanting to skeep in them than the RF could ever bring in. They would make excellent wedding locations etc.

As for a president we could arrange it so that anyone who has been a serving politician (at any level) is intelligible for 15 years or so (or ever...) . Maybe Anne would fancy it?
It needn't be Blair, Johnson or Rees-Mogg.what about Tanni Grey-Thompson or Floella Benjamin?

As I posted above, we don’t need to change the constitution or have President Boris. We kick the RF out, get quids in from opening the palaces to tourists, take back the Crown Estates and duchies, and employ a very dull civil servant to do the ceremonial stuff. A bit like Michael Higgins.

@StoneofDestiny

The clue to who he really is is not who he invites to his wedding, but whose weddings he attends, rich and sucessful Eton Chums

The clue is that despite his expensive education and training he had decided to work only part time when he had a job, and has decided not to work at all despite not being even the heir to the throne - his dad is! A houseful of luckiest, servants, cooks, nannies, drivers etc etc and a stay at home wife and he still justifies sitting on his arse between polo matches, celeb weddings and an occasional visit during a pandemic to thank health workers! Seriously - what a joke.

I think he was forced to work part time because he still had functions to perform as a Royal. He didn’t want to give up his job, he was needed to step up to take the load off other members of the family and get in training for his eventual fate as King. He probably hates the constrictions of his life but has no choice. Of course his friends are Eton toffs. He went to Eton. He and Kate are doing a good job with the hand he has been dealt. I also think Anne and Sophie and Edward work hard. Camilla seems to be doing a lot for her charities. I don’t like Charles much and don’t look forward to ihim being King. I think the whole notion of inherited wealth and titles is outdated. The whole system is ridiculous and I shouldn’t think the Royals themselves relish their role in life either.

The pure fact that the queen woke up the day Emma Raducanu won the US open and jumped straight into publicly congratulating here while ignoring her nonce of a son getting served papers for his paedophilia (civil court or not) for over a week speaks absolute volumes.

People love the queen for some reason but she is just like the rest of them. She just has the good sense to keep her nose clean and stay out of the public view as much as possible.

I think he was forced to work part time because he still had functions to perform as a Royal. He didn’t want to give up his job, he was needed to step up to take the load off other members of the family and get in training for his eventual fate as King.
He probably hates the constrictions of his life but has no choice

Just tuning up my tiny violin

People love the queen for some reason but she is just like the rest of them. She just has the good sense to keep her nose clean and stay out of the public view as much as possible

Ironically this is one of the very few things I admire her for - also why her very public support for Andrew was such a disaster

The whole family just about get away with it when they stick to cutting ribbons and encouraging charities; it's when they try to appear like normal people or imagine their views are relevant or worth attention that it all goes pear shaped

The Queen manages to keep her personal views hidden. Which is what's expected of her.

...Views hidden in a totally obvious kind of way, you mean? By blatantly encouraging law evasion?

And showing such twisted preference for the wayward child of the family: is he the favourite because he's the most like her? That's often how it works.

@StoneofDestiny

Actually, if we lose the monarchy - and I'm not a monarchist - how on earth would we avoid a load of power and trappings and contracts etc going to Tory party donors?

We have a monarchy - power, contracts and trappings already go to Tory Part donors. Have you not seen the press stories recently about it all?

If we took duties / power and land from the Monarchy who would ensure that those valuable things were managed fairly? Boris bloody Johnson? It would Covid Contracts x 10 over again.

@PeriWrinkles

...Views hidden in a totally obvious kind of way, you mean? By blatantly encouraging law evasion?

And showing such twisted preference for the wayward child of the family: is he the favourite because he's the most like her? That's often how it works.

Well, I can understand a mother still loving her son. Stupid, feckless, self indulgent and abusive of women in various ways, though he might have been.

His behaviour seems very different from everything we know about how the Queen has lived her life, in that respect he doesn't seem much like her.

That's partly down to the crappy electoral system, which isn't fit for purpose either. But an elected president in the German or Irish model is a neutral referee who intervenes if the govt steps out of line or behaves unconstitutionally (oh wait, we don't have a written constitution either).

Bit of an admin backlog that's piled up over the last 4 centuries. Perhaps Keir'll sort it