…to suggest that it’s time the Royal family stands on its own feet and stops taking money from the public purse?

[HappyGalentines]

The Royal family owns and has access to lots of money, land and property. So is it right that they should to take any more money away from us?

You are right but somebody will be along soon to tell us that they bring in more than they take in tourist money. There are never any figures for this and it's impossible to quantify of course. It's bollocks. People like Buckingham Palace etc but they also like Versailles. We dont need a parasitic family living there to attract tourists. We could open the palace up to tourists. Look at France. They had the right idea.

I agree. We should be allowed to opt out. Bunch of wrong uns they are.

Agreed its archaic in this day and age.

I agree and I would agree even if they were all perfectly behaved.

There is no reason for the taxpayer to keep on funding people simply because they were born into a particular family, especially given that family is already immensely independently wealthy.

It’s the complete opposite of rewarding hard work and talent. What does that say?

The whole concept of “The Royal Family” is alien to me. People bowing and scraping to that lot, all the time many in that dysfunctional family thinking they are better than everyone else. Time and again they have proved they are nothing but a shower of shit.

They should get no money given to them. The sooner the lot of them fuck off into obscurity the better.

God YES !!! They're rich enough and don't deserve to be funded by others. They do fuck all for me

I believe their public service role being good to society. So no I don’t believe they should be abolished. I actually think Wills and Kate are very positive role models. I think we should keep our traditions alive and not toss them out for progression. You won’t see an ounce of that money they receive. That’s the reality.

I hate it when this is trotted out . There is absolutely no proof that they bring more money in than they cost. Let's face it, they're not exactly transparent about their finances are they? They need to start standing on their own two feet instead of expecting us plebs to keep funding them.

So what do they actually DO?

I think we should sack the lot of them. But it's unlikely. Failing that, pay them a fixed salary.

It should be put to a public vote.

The people who have to sign off on it being a public vote are them and their cronies though so it will never happen unfortunately.

Even if the tourism thing is true and they bring in money, why wouldn't people still visit the Palace, many historical sites employ staff to dress up and act, so this could be done at the Palace too.

I don't think many people actually come to see Charles himself, so the tourism will still be there.

I’m with you, OP.

The ‘tradition’ argument is ridiculous. Our traditions could be kept alive perfectly well without this utterly shambolic family who are now just a rather shady laughing stock, who look set to continue in the same vein.

As for William being a role model, take a look at some of the articles and books of Norman Baker. He, amongst others, has written widely on royal avarice, particularly of Charles and William. I’ve linked one from even before the ridiculous increase in the sovereign grant.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/nov/24/royal-greed-king-charles-profiting-dead-disgusting

They are not good role models. Just look at them, mostly undereducated, entitled, inarticulate and their skills really only extend to opening factories, looking at how potato crisps are made (Anne), playing house, pretending to know all about early childhood, going to football matches, the tennis, fashion week, premieres and so on. Not a proper job amongst the lot of them. Yet they earn multiple times the minimum wage from the Sovereign Grant. For what?

You are right - they DO own lots of land and property.

All the profits from that go to... The government.

The RF gets back about 12%.

This is called the sovereign grant act, but it was known as the civil list for many years.

So the RF could go and live off their massive land holdings, yes, but overall the taxpayer is going to lose out.

The R F contributes to public life through charity work, economic impact and international affairs

Members of the RF support hundreds of charities, helping raise awareness and funding. Charles founded The Prince's Trust, which has supported over a million young people into work and education.

Royal residences such as buckingham palace and windsor castle attract millions of visitors, contributing significantly to tourism and the wider economy. Internationally, the RF also plays a diplomatic role, representing the UK abroad. Let’s remember King Charles and his amazing intervention with the Trump and Starmer breakdown.

I imagine that they’ve bought so much love and support on their visits. They visit hospitals, dying children and the needy. Normal celebrities aren’t known for doing that, these are selfless acts and they need recognising using as such.

@minipie Great post. It’s completely regressive & we need to move with the times.

They could support charities by giving rather than redistributing stuff they are given / you know their name would still benefit the charity

I mean why give them in particular money because they support charities ? I support charities

I imagine that they’ve bought so much love and support on their visits. They visit hospitals, dying children and the needy. Normal celebrities aren’t known for doing that, these are selfless acts and they need recognising using as such

I can’t tell if this satire?

Posh welfare recipients the lot of them

I wish it would be decided by referendum. Shall we retain the monarchy or become a republic? Let the subjects decide.

There’s no need for them imo, especially in this day and age.

I actually think Wills and Kate are very positive role models

Nothing personal against Kate as it’s what the role demands of her but she doesn’t really do anything. She is a similar age to me & I don’t know anyone who is inspired or influenced by her. My DH would say similar for William.

I sincerely hope the AMW arrest will be the beginning of the end. The up-coming generation mostly couldn't give a toss about any of them and to be honest, even reading Gransnet, neither could a lot of the over 60's (which I am). @UnhappyHobbit Why on earth do you think K & W are positive role models? For whom? They barely work and neither exactly sets the world alight with charisma whilst William is busy trousering as much money as he can. It's totally immoral.

I actually think Wills and Kate are very positive role models

In what way?

They do relatively little work and have multiple expensive holidays, properties and wardrobes, childcare and staff on tap, they are not particularly talented at anything nor have they achieved anything particularly important or useful.

They seem perfectly pleasant, I am not saying they are awful - but I could say the same about many many people who don’t get lavishly funded by the taxpayer.

They are not selfless acts. They get to live a life most of us could only dream of.

Tourist money argument is bullshit. How many tourists come specifically to see Buckingham Palace with zero interest in the rest of London? And how many do you think would lose interest if the palace remained (with an option to visit inside as you can Versailles) but we had no monarchy? About 30 million more people visit Paris each year than London.

Basically it’s the only argument monarchists make and it’s a crock of shit. We should become a republic. Andrew should be the final nail.