…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?

No, we’re not allowed to know that. Nor does it include royal events (coronation, for eg) and much else. And £1.29 even predates the recent increase in the sovereign grant. Another 53 million annually.

@Tutorpuzzle indeed!

I used to be very republican, roll-out-the-guillotine about them, but I'm more circumspect these days. I do think monarchies are ridiculous and archaic, but there is an argument for realpolitik - idiots like Trump, and leaders in the Middle East, do love a royal.

There are also reasonable arguments for solely ceremonial, non-party affiliated heads of state, so I am not necessarily against the idea of a monarch. Democracy has its flaws too.

However, there is no justification for public funding for any of them except the current monarch (and that can be significantly scaled back). The others can all get proper jobs until it's their time to be on the throne. Nobody needs to practice glad-handing and ribbon cutting (certainly not at the expense of the taxpayer), and experience of having to pay your own way will only make the ones who do become head of state more understanding of the people they represent.

So shall we apply that logic to all doctors and nurses? Because they get paid for it, they can’t possibly have a selfless motivation for doing what they do?

I think anyone who says anything about the Royals should be locked in the tower for treason. Historically, Kings and princes ravished young girls up and down the country and did what they wanted and raised taxes from the plebs to serve their own needs. This is what the royal family just did because they had a divine right to rule over us given by God. The Queen was right to lobby the government to give her non-working son a job where he could make money from kickbacks. I have no time for anyone who says we should not pay for them. They rule over us and may God save them. I love each and every single royal because they are better than us mere mortals. I for one would never go near any of the royal palaces if I knew that a debauched family who had intermarried creating a rich and interesting history was not residing inside, it would be pointless.

Then I am happy for it to go there

If there’s no proof that they bring in more than they ‘cost’, they by logic the reverse must be true: there’s no proof they cost more than they bring in.
I find that it’s always best to have evidence to back up my arguments. That way, people are more likely to listen.

I'm Irish - I've visited the UK as a tourist a number of times and the Royal Family wouldn't be a draw at all to us.

We democratically elect a President here every seven years to be a figure head and do the 'schmoozing'.

Think it is ridiculously out of date to have a family like this to fawn over and doff your cap to... No one is better than anyone else by virtue of birth or by marrying into a family. And I think it's very unhealthy to grow up and be in a fish bowl.

My point still stands regardless...they should not be funded by the tax payer

People pointed out brexit would make us worse off it was still voted first you can point out that we financially benefit from the royals and people will still vote to get rid of them

Comparing doctors and nurses with a family who cut ribbons and represent charities..😄

Totally agree.

No reason we should subsidise them. I quite frankly think it’s disgusting given the poverty within the UK.

I don’t expect to see the money in my pocket but there’s lot of places it could be better spent.

Any properties they can’t afford the upkeep of could be sold or become museums etc.

I seriously doubt the number of tourist will be remotely affected because Kate has decided to jump in her luxury car to spend 15mn in a local school and pose for the photos, close enough so she doesn't miss her morning yoga and her afternoon photography lesson or whatever she's doing entertain herself.

Unless it's a sports event she follows anyway, she really doesn't like to waste too much time on public even, and neither does Will.

That’s over £50 million a year then. The fact that’s “only” £1.29 per person is irrelevant, in total it’s a huge amount of money that could be put to better use elsewhere. I’d think the same if it was 1p or £1000 per person a year.

Can I please request that my £1.29 goes to the NHS, police. ...and to fix the fucking potholes? Ta very much in advance

If there’s no proof that they bring in more than they ‘cost’, they by logic the reverse must be true: there’s no proof they cost more than they bring in.

What we do know is that there is a complete lack of transparency around Royal finances. What is state wealth or family money? Why the exemption from the Freedom of information act? A lack of transparency normally means it benefits the person wanting the secrecy….

I used to like the pomp and circumstance but I and many older people now see through them. I have a grandchild and I hate that they will pay for George, Charlotte and Louis just like I, my parents and grandparents have paid all our lives towards their ancestors. They perpetuate the rotten class system in this country.
Prince Philip’s and Charles’ shenanigans, sealed wills when they die, the exemption from environmental and equality laws (and others) but above all the 12 million paid out to protect AMW. Where was the honour, integrity and duty there?
In addition, they have had the best education that money can buy but have not cured cancer, solved homelessness or shown any strategic leadership but they do make sure that their names are attached to projects. W and K seem to pop up every now and again just before they go on another holiday. None of them has shown any leadership and they certainly do not run the country. They are rinsing the country.

You have missed my point. If my original opinion of the royal family working selflessly for charities is to be argued that they can’t be selfless because they’re being paid for it, then does the same argument apply for doctors and nurses? And perhaps all paid charity workers?

A bit like the tax on private schools going to fund those extra teachers?

That money will just disappear into the bureaucracy never to be seen again….

Agreed. Biggest benefit scroungers in the UK

No the point is it’s a nonsensical analogy &
if you can’t understand that I’m not sure what else there is to be said.

Well yes, they're not going to do it for free are they? Many doctors, in fact, have god complexes, a lot like some of the royals.

You missed my point. Doctors and nurses actually, physically, work. They don't just "attend "...they work..bloody hard and very long hours.

Er, yes.

What do these people (and there are many?) actually do???

By a mile