To think this is a complete joke and want to abolish the monarchy

[portugalq]

The Royal Family cost taxpayers £102.4million last year.

As the nation struggled in the cost of living crisis, spending on the royals rose £15million – 17%.

www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/record-100m-taxpayer-payout-royal-27360820

Check out the history of the Crown Estates, and the Civil List. Back in 1760 the entire income from the crown estates (i.e. properties and assets owned by the Royal Family) was given up in return for what was then called the Civil List - now the Sovereign Grant.

The references to the value to the economy don't just include the substantial remainder of the Crown estates income which goes directly to the Treasury, it also includes things like accommodation for tourists brought by the Royal Family, and all the associated spending these tourists do whilst in the UK. So not a direct payment to tax payers in general, but supporting UK businesses.

America seems to manage fine

Get rid palaces to national trust job done

Soundofsilver - Ah yes the French and their good old revolution which was actually based on lies.

The monarchy is outdated and archaic. People bang on about how hard the queen and the royals work ....umm dont we all??? Meeting with the prime minister once a week and waving on a walk around is NOT hard work. For her work efforts the queen has never had to cook, bathe or dress herself, budget, run a home. She hasn't even raised her own children.. We, the public paid for nannies. Leaves a lot of time for playing with the corgies and riding her horse doesnt it.

I've vacationed in the UK before and I don't think you need the RF to attract tourists. The history and buildings alone are enough, just like in France.

For example, I think we as a nation ought to hang on to Buckingham Palace rather than sell it to wealthy foreign interests, but that comes with cost of upkeep.

But why? It make no difference to me who owns it, I'll never see inside, I have no interest in seeing inside, and just think of the revenue it could generate as a hotel?

Amen!

Those tenuously-linked unverified claims amount to millions, certainly not billions, see CounsellorTroi's link upthread. And then those supposed "millions" in revenue are hilariously based on the "Kate effect", the "George effect" and the "Charlotte effect". If they balanced those media fabrications factors against the "Nonce effect", the "Cash for honours effect" and the other effects of the UK being an international laughing stock, they'd probably find the liabilities side is a lot heavier than the assets side.

Who believes this 'they bring in billions'? No one sees the RF unless members are at specific events. Queen hasnt been out much in the last 3 years. Cant see her at Sandringham/Windsor/Balmoral. Others just turn out when necessary. I can go and see the Mona Lisa everyday. Tourists get to see Trooping the Colour, Guard Changing etc. All those happen anyway.

Possibly full of lies (current UK government is shining example) but post Revolution, weak chinned Bourbons are no longer swanning around state funded chateaux, nor dipping into the country's coffers ad lib - and have to pay for transport/new roof/weddings et al, just like everyone else

Significant parts of the royal palaces are open to the public, if you’d like to visit. The RF’s own private homes are not - and thinking they should be is essentially the same as thinking anybody who receives benefits and therefore has their home and lifestyle paid for by the taxpayer should allow the public entry on demand.

And both Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle are open to the public.

People mention the Crown estates but the Duchies of Lancaster/Cornwall are the Queen/Prince Charles personal estates. Cornwall was £20 million last year. Rents are controlled by Charles via Queens Consent. He is the largest private estates owner in the UK. We have no idea of the RF worth - its not public. But think of what Highgrove/Gatcombe Park/balmoral/Sandringham and other homes are worth and what they cost to run. No doubt their will be family works of art. Racehorses cost money (sport of Kings). The RF know they are on a winner (not just a horse!)

How much a year do politicians cost us?

Politicians are elected...

Fan of 'The Queen & I" by Sue Townsend, per chance? 😁

The can all go get in the bin! And the cap doffing, forelock tugging sycophants that enjoy bowing and scraping to them can go do the same.

Buckingham Palace is open to the public. But it's not in the same league as the Château de Versailles.

Tourists do not travel to the UK with a hope of glimpsing the Queen. They come to see the buildings, the pomp and history. They would still see all that if we had an elected figurehead president as Germany and Estonia do. We do not need a royal family or an American/french-style president.

No excuse in 2022 for not means-testing and sanctioning the RF like any other recipients of public funds. If you've got 20 mansions, ill-gotten estates, duchies etc you fund your own sleazy lifestyle. Truth is nobody's got a clue where to start unravelling it all, so on and on it goes.

France has a far bigger tourist industry than the UK and they have no Royal Family

bUt ThEy BrInG iN tOuRiSm

🙄

Time for the monarchy to go. Totally outdated.

@luckylavender - yes I agree. From a tourist's perspective it's a better experience when it's not also someone's residence.