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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be surprised that I see Harry’s point about the security

255 replies

Figmentofmyimagination · 03/05/2025 12:31

Not usually a royal watcher but I watched this as it was on the bbc and I was surprised to feel sympathetic towards his main argument. It’s somewhat crazy that even Liz Truss gets life long security at the expense of the taxpayer, and he was born into this position rather than choosing it, and private security is no substitute if they don’t have arms or access to intelligence. He’s also right that the wider fallout if eg one of his children were to be kidnapped would be something to be seen.

Surely there must be a deal to be struck where he gets high level security provided by the state but contributes to the cost through the tax system. I’m not surprised he’s upset about it and although he was never going to win his case because of the nature of the particular decision making regime, he has put the issue in the public eye in a more effective way than he usually achieves!

OP posts:
Vevvie · 06/05/2025 09:19

YearlySubscriptionRenewal · 03/05/2025 12:40

Why can't the royal family, one of the richest families in the world, pay for his security is beyond me. The simple fact that they all expect tax payers to fund every part of their lifestyle is telling.

I don't blame Harry for complaining - he's as much at risk as anyone else, his kids are as much a target as William's kids, but he's being ignored when convenient for the others.

Because no one can buy armed polio officers, not even the royals.

Viviennemary · 06/05/2025 09:19

SummerIce · 03/05/2025 12:47

I thought it’s not about whether he pays for security but having access to the intelligence that the police / security have.

Is he asking for security to be paid for even when he is in the USA or travelling abroad. This would be a huge cost.

RockaLock · 06/05/2025 10:58

Ukisgaslit · 05/05/2025 12:34

@Serenster
The previous poster was also referring to the fact that Meghan’s off the cuff remarks on stage were articulate and informed . I have seen that line up H M W and K on stage and the difference was stark. Kate is not a fluent or informed public speaker and 14 years of being on the gravy train has not improved matters unfortunately.
Not everyone is blessed with good public speaking skills but if Kate had done something close to an average work load her inadequacies re speeches would have been overlooked . Excluding her year of illness , Kate has had a woeful ‘work’ record ( no royals does much work ) , William is little better
Both lazy and uninterested in their role .
Can we get a refund of the half a billion ? We could do with it .

So Kate is not a good public speaker. Some people will never be, even if they have lots of training. As a trained actress, though, I would fully expect Meghan to be a confident public speaker and so I think that comparison is a little unfair.

But. That’s only a part of the royal role. What Kate seems to do well is looking like she’s genuinely interested in the people she is talking to when she does carry out engagements, and she always looks pleased and happy to be there.

Compare that to, for example, the video of Meghan at a group for women with HIV in South Africa, when she showed no interest or empathy at all with a woman who was telling her about how her baby died shortly after birth.

I know, out of being a good public speaker or being interested in people, which I think is the more important skill/trait to have.

I do agree that W&K could be seen to be doing more public engagements, though. The European royals seem generally to be out and about a lot more than ours. I know W&K have young children, whereas a lot (but not all) of the European royal children are a bit older, but I’m sure there are many things that could be fitted into a school day, and so not be too disruptive of their family life.

EasternStandard · 06/05/2025 11:19

Ukisgaslit · 05/05/2025 12:34

@Serenster
The previous poster was also referring to the fact that Meghan’s off the cuff remarks on stage were articulate and informed . I have seen that line up H M W and K on stage and the difference was stark. Kate is not a fluent or informed public speaker and 14 years of being on the gravy train has not improved matters unfortunately.
Not everyone is blessed with good public speaking skills but if Kate had done something close to an average work load her inadequacies re speeches would have been overlooked . Excluding her year of illness , Kate has had a woeful ‘work’ record ( no royals does much work ) , William is little better
Both lazy and uninterested in their role .
Can we get a refund of the half a billion ? We could do with it .

I don't agree with that. Kate speaks in a natural way in any clip I've seen. Not a problem. I don't engage with MM content really.

Ukisgaslit · 06/05/2025 11:19

The ‘young children’ excuse used by William and Kate is an insult to every working parent in the country

They are both lazy and they no longer care to try to hide it . William has made it clear he will be a Zoom king - if he can even be bothered to do that ..

The money flowing from the taxpayer to the Windsors needs to stop .
They could live lavishly on the Duchy money and pay their taxes too .

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