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Original poster

To think the royal family are a bloody embarrassment THREAD 2

957 replies

MyOhMySimon · 19/09/2021 06:47

Carrying on from Thread 1.
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4347032-To-think-the-royal-family-are-a-bloody-embarrassment?msgid=110733144#110733144

Haven't seen the OP around, thread 1 is about to run out and someone asked for a new thread.

OP posts:
Puzzledandpissedoff · 22/09/2021 13:26

... my defence is of the monarchy, not the current royal family

I know, Blossom, and though I'm coming at it from the other point of view I actually agree that the whole thing is about the institution rather than individuals, hideous as many of them are (and rightly criticised for it)

I can even go along with the cost/stability concerns, except that first of all nobody suggests doing this overnight - impossible anyway - and that, for me at least, the issue is important enough to be worth the cost

Blossomtoes · 22/09/2021 13:26

A slimmed down monarchy could easily be done without any of the other points being addressed.

I entirely agree. That’s what I’d like to see.

HarrisonStickle · 22/09/2021 13:32

If Charles has been quoted correctly and he means what he says about turning Buck House into a museum, that to me would be a very good start.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 22/09/2021 13:33

A slimmed down monarchy could easily be done without any of the other points being addressed
So that could be a short to medium term compromise until the other aspects change, however long that takes

Yes, that could make sense for the time being, and it's probably why the spin is that Charles wants this - though I'm not aware he's ever actually said anything about it himself?

However with his well known profligacy and entitlement, I'm not convinced it would be anything except window dressing, or that he wouldn't use it to simply keep more of the spoils for himself and his ghastly partner

ponyexpress22 · 22/09/2021 13:34

I think we should at least let them live off their own huge wealth now and take back some of the many homes that belong to the nation. The queen has use of so many mansions, fully staffed and maintained regardless of whether she stays in them or not. Everything else is being cut to the bone, why not the monarchy.

Blossomtoes · 22/09/2021 13:34

It certainly would. If he comes up with a variety of ideas like that it can only be a good thing.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 22/09/2021 13:41

If (Charles) comes up with a variety of ideas like that it can only be a good thing

But Charles "comes up with" a lot of ideas, often it seems as a result of the last person he spoke to, and he doesn't hesitate to prate on and on about them ... so isn't it a little odd that there seeems nothing on record that he's said himself about wanting to slim down the monarchy?

Granted a lot has been attributed to him (and some of the job's already done with Harry and Andrew going AWOL) but then many other things have been said to be "Charles's views" and the reality doesn't necessarily match

Roussette · 22/09/2021 13:45

I do hope he does. I just worry it's to keep the masses from revolting though.
He has talked of slimming down for a very long time, a few years down the line and I want to see action!

I don't want to know about PAndrew and any of his family, PE and family, or even Anne and family.
Just the Monarch and direct heirs

Roussette · 22/09/2021 13:46

Ahhh yes Puzzled. Not direct speech from him, just views attributed

Puzzledandpissedoff · 22/09/2021 13:49

Not direct speech from him, just views attributed

Exactly - and as we've all seen time and again, the RF's "views" can be a moveable feast according to their wants at the time

A silly example I know, but another of his "views" was said to be that Fawcett absolutely had to go

Yeah, right ... Hmm

HarrisonStickle · 22/09/2021 13:53

Charles' problem is that coming up with ideas is all he can do. He can't enact anything major because all he's done for all of his life is be in limbo waiting for his job to become available.

He can tinker and he can have his pet projects and he can write letters and lobby the government, but until his mother dies we have no way of knowing what, if anything, he's actually going to do to modernise the institution.

Which is a ludicrous position for a grown adult to be in. Especially one of his age.

Blossomtoes · 22/09/2021 13:55

Well, he’s not free to put any of his ideas into practice until he succeeds the throne so I’m happy to wait and see what happens then. One thing I am sure of is that he won’t be handing any of the sovereign grant back!

Roussette · 22/09/2021 14:00

So I presume he will hand over Duchy of Cornwall to W? Or keep that and Duchy of Lancaster!

HarrisonStickle · 22/09/2021 14:06

If I were in Charles' position, I'd probably have a fuck it, someone else can squeeze my toothpase attitude.

A sense of duty drummed into me all my life but countered with a normal human desire to have a purpose. Then waiting till I was in my seventies for the job I'd been trained for all of my life.

That's quite cruel when you really think about it. Yes he's been a prick sometimes, that doesn't negate his entire life experience.

ChurchofLatterDayPaints · 22/09/2021 14:10

He has a choice to leave the circus at any time, just like his son Harry has done. Can PC not think for himself?

HarrisonStickle · 22/09/2021 14:16

Being trained from birth as he was and in the way he was makes it brainwashing really. I think he's the last in that mould which makes it easier for abolition in the future.

Blossomtoes · 22/09/2021 14:17

It could go that way @HarrisonStickle or he could listen to his advisors if/when they point out that part of his obligation is to secure the future of the monarchy and he’ll have to modernise to do that. I suspect he won’t do anything that will adversely affect him personally but then, who would in his position?

Roussette · 22/09/2021 14:19

I suspect he won’t do anything that will adversely affect him personally but then, who would in his position?

A person of integrity?

ChurchofLatterDayPaints · 22/09/2021 14:20

Great, so being preached at by a brainwashed zombie for the next 20+ years is preferable to starting the few decades of the abolition process now?

ponyexpress22 · 22/09/2021 14:20

If Charles wanted to slim down the monarchy why doesn't he cut his personal staff down. The man has over 100 servants. Unbelievable. Talk about self indulgence.

Blossomtoes · 22/09/2021 14:23

@Roussette

I suspect he won’t do anything that will adversely affect him personally but then, who would in his position?

A person of integrity?

Hmmm. I’m a bit old and cynical to expect immensely privileged people to have integrity, especially in our every man for himself society.
Roussette · 22/09/2021 14:27

I agree Blossom

ChurchofLatterDayPaints · 22/09/2021 14:27

High time integrity in high places was demanded, instead of expected.

LastSummerHere · 22/09/2021 16:03

It's a hateful anti-Catholic pile of shite. Why do I, as a Catholic tax payer, have to pay for a family that hates me and considers me sub human? Let Protestants pay for them.

CathyorClaire · 22/09/2021 16:31

Everything else is being cut to the bone, why not the monarchy.

Very good question. Likewise how they managed to cut a deal that ensures the value of the Sovereign Grant is shielded from Covid related losses.

There's surely a PR gesture to be made there but as ever...silence.