It feels tone deaf William and Kate talk of moving to Windsor

[Poetrypatty]

With most people their age unable to buy any sort of home of their own, it just annoyed me. What's wrong with Kensington Palace and a Norfolk mansion. Doesn't portray the Royals in a good light to me. AIBU?

Fair to say that if W & K were trading in the Norfolk place that would be fair enough.

Why should they? They own it. Any Windsor property will be rented.

The majority belong to the crown estate i.e. us. Maybe they could be sold of instead of being given to various royal minors for free or way below the market rent.

Yes they could be sold to foreign oligarchs I suppose and the money wasted down the drain by our incompetent government, sounds amazing.

I wouldn't link this news to the housing crisis at all, it's an organisational change in a family business. It's not that different to a couple moving into the living accommodation at their nan's pub to prepare for her retirement. Their brother and sister in law wanted out of the family business, their dodgy uncle is in legal trouble and the grandad died so they're going to have to be more available to greet people.

I don’t think where William and Kate choose to live will solve the housing crisis or the cost of living crisis in this country.

@Wasitworthita

I am not rich but them possibly moving doesn’t offend me. They are not given to vulgar displays of wealth, they work hard and are humble and down to earth. Should they pretend to be poor then?

Yeah, work hard!

Everything I've read has said they'll swap Norfolk for Windsor. So basically they're doing what lots of people do, which is move for work and school.
Windsor will still be a tourist attraction even if they live there. It's currently a tourist attraction and HMQ is there often.

@Wasitworthita

I am not rich but them possibly moving doesn’t offend me. They are not given to vulgar displays of wealth, they work hard and are humble and down to earth. Should they pretend to be poor then?

This.

Monarchies tend to do better than Republics, so I am happy for them to stay.

I really can’t get worked up about royals moving into a royal property.

I don't see it as 'tone deaf'. Why shouldn't they decide to move? At least they aren't champagne socialists claiming to be 'working class' or unnecessarily frequent flyers preaching about the environment.

I don't think you have any concept of the meaning of the term 'tone deaf' tbh.

Them moving from one luxury home to another doesn't bother me. What may bother me is the cost of 'renovation' to make it 'liveable' before they move in.
Moving, when their life circumstances have changed (jobs, children etc) is not tone deaf - taxpayers having to spend millions to make an already luxury home 'more suitable', at a time when living costs are rising, definitely would be tone deaf.

It makes sense for them to move like it does for a lot of people. It's not like they are going on about it.

What's tone deaf about saying where they may eventually move for practical reasons? I may move when the children leave home, or if I get a new job, or when I retire. Is that a dreadful thing to say?

Must be nice to shuffle through the particulars for various stately homes and then say 'we'll have this one please', without even having to put your hand in your pocket.

@Camoye

It's slightly weird that the nature of a monarchy means the platinum jubilee celebrations are being used quite so heavily to try and mentally prepare the population for the Queen dying.

Totally agree. It’s like a creepy desperate publicity campaign. I wish that when the Queen goes (god rest her soul) that the entire thing be wound up. Then all the palaces returned to the people & start generating proper income we desperately need. We do not need a royal family and the whole thing has just turned into an equivalent of the Kardashians for the British. Enough already. Let them go in peace with a few million each and give the rest back. It really isn’t as complicated as they like to make out.

I agree with you both. Let the Monarchy end with the current incumbent.

Yes i thought this was all in the context of an announcement that when Charles becomes king he and queen Camilla () (sorry) intend to LIVE in Buckingham palace.

I take it this is a bit unusual as the queen herself doesn't 'live' in buck palace, preferring Windsor as an actual residence. (Most reports say BP is a bit grotty and drafty and unrefurbished for decades)

W&K will then move into Windsor. They'll prob keep Amner (or whatever it's called) as a country bolt hole.

Is this all disgusting and insulting? What could they possibly actually do to make us feel less them and us anyway? You'd have to be pretty daft to fall for any of this ''oh they're just like us after all shite'' we get fed.

My mother was simpering for ages about how 'William put the baby's car seat in the car himself ...''

Woopy bloody do

sorry that was long!

Thanks CurzonDax you have explained it better than I have. It will likely cost millions and at a time when people can't afford heating. I personally don't think a family needs three luxury homes and I'd apply that to anyone including celebs. But I do accept that the vast majority on here think AIBU and are happy for them so fair enough. Good to see and think about different opinions.

The journalists writing speculative pieces because people love reading about the royals (love them or hate them). It all stems from the assumption that George will go to Eton but not board until older if at all. Been chatted about fir months

Why all this jealousy? It's not their fault that so many people are poor. It's the fault of the voting population who keeps on voting for whatever they think is best for them, like paying less taxes. The countries with a higher standerd of living for the poor have a much higher income tax (like Scandinavia and the Netherlands).

I mean the very existence of the monarchy is at odds with the reality of life for most people, but I can't get worked up about this. Either you accept the monarchy for what they are, with ludicrous unearned tax-payer funded privilege and all that entails, or you disagree with all of it and pledge you allegiance to republicanism. It's odd if people are happy with them living in a certain royal residence for free, but it's too much privilege if they move to Windsor castle.

Eton is in Windsor so perhaps that's why if George and Louis are going to school there

@MatildaTheCat

Would you prefer they joined a housing association list

I’d watch that sitcom! 😂

Would you rather they move to a council flat in Clapham? What a bizarre post.

I do see your point.However they are Royalty ,and it would be misleading for them to pretend they are struggling for cash! They are hardly likely to be on the HA list any time soon (although as a friend used to say Biggest Council House in Britain is Buck House!) While we still have a RF ,they will continue with large homes ,beautiful Jewellery /Clothes Private Schools etc.I admire the Queen, but am wondering who will fill her place eventually . She has done a wonderful job ,

@gingercat02

Eton is in Windsor so perhaps that's why if George and Louis are going to school there

This was my thought

Kensington Palace is perfectly placed to become more of a tourist attraction, so maybe they will give up their home there, the rest of the grace and favour properties will be emptied and it can become something which makes a massive income.

W&K could then use Clarence House as a city spot to stay if not in Windsor.

They own Anmer, so frankly, can do what the fuck they want with it - no business of anyones.