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Covid

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Original poster

Could this be the end of the Royal family?

839 replies

BeijingBikini · 30/03/2020 12:52

I don't mean if they die of the virus...

But there's nothing like a lockdown to really highlight inequality. I saw an article yesterday about Kate + William "isolating" at Anmer Hall, having done a photoshoot where they pretend to be on the telephone and writing ("working").

I think if people are going to have to spend months at home, in small flats with kids, still going out to work or trying to WFH, queueing for supermarkets with empty shelves......that could definitely breed some discontent. Or if people catch it and have to be treated in makeshift hospitals, not getting an ambulance until they're struggling to breathe, while the RF can be whisked away to a private hospital for treatment. I've already seen a lot of comments along the lines of "why don't they offer up their many palaces to be used as hospitals, rather than doing newspaper articles".

Opinions?

OP posts:

BelleSausage · 30/03/2020 16:42

Some people can make anything about the royal family.

Of all the things to focus on this ain’t it.

TheSandman · 30/03/2020 16:42

Here's a question. If the Queen does die during this period of lockdown how will the powers that be deal with it? They can't hold a funeral with empty streets now, can they? And they couldn't really hold her body on ice till the public are allowed out of their houses that would hardly be regal ...

Just curious.

MonkeyToesOfDoom · 30/03/2020 16:43

Wolfgirrl

@josette77

Is that wirth 60 million pounds a year that could otherwise employ 2700 newly qualified nurses?

Are you referring to the sovereign grant? Which is currently set at 25% returned from the profits of the the Crown Estate? And is actually £82million for 2019/2020.
So they pay in to the treasure and get 1/4th back meaning he treasury keeps 3/4?

Maths isn't my strong suit but that seems like the treasury is better off to me than if the queen didn't voluntarily pay that tax...
Or have I got that wrong somehow?

Wolfgirrl · 30/03/2020 16:43

@BelleSausage

If not now, then when? Or shouldn't it be up for debate at all?

MonkeyToesOfDoom · 30/03/2020 16:47

Oh and if anyone wants to study th royal finances, they're all here for anyone to view:

www.royal.uk/royal-finances-0

definitelygc · 30/03/2020 16:50

People saying "the Queen is in her nineties and too old to do x, y and z" do you not realise that is not a good argument for a royal family? If she's supposedly got an important role but she's too old to do it then surely this doesn't make sense?

Wolfgirrl · 30/03/2020 16:51

@MonkeyToesOfDoom
@PlanDeRaccordement

The Crown estates dont belong to the Queen. King George 3rd gave them to the 'Crown' (separate from the Monarchy, it belongs to Parliament aka the public) in return for not paying for defence, civil service etc. The Queen 'owns' it in the way Boris Johnson 'owns' 10 Downing Street, aka it's a perk of the job but doesnt BELONG to him to profit from.

The land wasnt even George 3rds personally, it was just a parcel of land.

Does that make sense?

IrisAtwood · 30/03/2020 16:52

The other issue with celebrities is that people have a choice about funding them. You don’t like Angelina Jolie? You don’t go to any of her productions.
However if you pay tax, some of it will go to the Royals as we don’t have a choice.
The level of funding and the way that they are treated is obscene; but I feel like that about all of the superwealthy. I genuinely think that there should an upper limit on wealth and active redistribution.

goodbyestranger · 30/03/2020 16:53

Running away whilst ill was not acceptable

Especially since he whipped up to the Highlands just hours after Nicola Sturgeon had made a plea for folk not to come to escape to the Highlands, and begged second home owners to keep away.

I think they are lovely people and give a sense of stability in chaos

well the extra marital affair isn't either that lovely or especially conducive to stability.

audreysview · 30/03/2020 16:53

Someone mentioned up thread that at least Harry had the good grace to bow out. As far as I know he and Meghan are still getting security from out met police. Flying backwards and forwards across the Atlantic to give them round the clock security. Appalling if it’s true.

Petronius16 · 30/03/2020 16:57

Rock on wolfgirl, you’re right on the button.

SharonasCorona · 30/03/2020 17:00

Twitterverse seems more fascinated about Kate's book collection on the desk...

Very staged, but it looks like a lot of people are lapping it up.

audreysview · 30/03/2020 17:00

Maths isn't my strong suit but that seems like the treasury is better off to me than if the queen didn't voluntarily pay that tax..
Or have I got that wrong somehow?

Yes you’ve got it wrong. If there was no monarchy the treasury would get the whole lot, the crown estates don’t belong to the queen.

MonkeyToesOfDoom · 30/03/2020 17:03

The land wasnt even George 3rds personally, it was just a parcel of land.

Does that make sense?

The Crown estates belong to the reigning monarch. The profits to be used to pay for the reigning monarchs activity and upkeep of the Crown estates. The queen pays the estates profits into the treasury and gets.back a percentage to pay for her activity and the upkeep of the estates.

More of which càn be read here:
www.thecrownestate.co.uk/en-gb/our-business/our-history/

Quote from link:
"The Crown Estate is though owned by the Monarch in right of the Crown. This means that the Queen owns it by virtue of holding the position of reigning Monarch, for as long as she is on the throne, as will her successor."

Make sense?

SharonasCorona · 30/03/2020 17:04

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been in regular contact with organisations and patronages to understand the issues they are facing during this difficult time.

Last week The Duke spoke to MindCharity
CEO Paul Farmer and The Duchess spoke to Place2Be
CEO Catherine Roche.

One call per week is very cushy WFH

Peregrina · 30/03/2020 17:08

If the Queen does die during this period of lockdown how will the powers that be deal with it? They can't hold a funeral with empty streets now, can they?

I had wondered the same. It applies to the DofE too. 8 days of public morning, the coffin paraded on a gun carriage through the streets, with heaven knows how many in attendance.

I know that funerals are going to be allowed to go ahead, with what was it, immediate family only?

Wolfgirrl · 30/03/2020 17:10

@MonkeyToesOfDoom

You just put the same as me without realising it.

goodbyestranger · 30/03/2020 17:12

It'll save a bob or two if the DoE and/ or Queen has to do without a great big send off though.

returnofthecat · 30/03/2020 17:14

Thing is, aren't the Queen and Prince Charles both high risk because of age? (And indeed, Prince Charles did get it.)

That leaves William, but you don't send off your very next in line to the throne to do public duties in a pandemic unless you have a spare.

Sadly, our spare has buggered off to the USA.

I don't think this will be the end of the Royal Family, but I think it will be the nail in the coffin for Harry and Megan. They were already unpopular in the UK as it was, but now they've flown away to the other side of the world when we're in crisis, and then made unnecessary travel from Canada to the US. Their brand seems to be decreasing in value each day.

Peregrina · 30/03/2020 17:15

If the DoE were to pop his clogs now, which given his age, he might do anyway, it would be a good opportunity to scale down the whole pomp and ceremony and set a precedent. The other European Royals manage reasonably well without the fuss that ours expect.

emilydark · 30/03/2020 17:16

I've never been a royalist so would prefer to see the whole operation wound down once Betty's gone.

Lifeisabeach09 · 30/03/2020 17:16

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been in regular contact with organisations and patronages to understand the issues they are facing during this difficult time.

So they are still networking, awesome! What are they doing or giving directly? Besides the odd speech, visit to a 111 centre and some foodparcels to NHS hospitals. Not to mention the photo opportunities in their lovely homes. All mere tokenisms.

At least some celebs and footballers have donated money and resources. Our tax-funded leading family have done fuck all in comparison.

Freshairimportanttoo · 30/03/2020 17:19

I'm not anti royal. I don't feel so much strongly about them however Prince Andrew, the queen reaction to that repulsed me.

Also I had an allergic reaction to the way William was laughing about people worried about 'coughs' 'chatting to someone in Ireland. The way he said it really rankled me. I just thought he won't have to battle to speak to doctors for his dc if they fall sick! He won't be fearing grubby hospitals and staff scared and worn down... He doesn't know what it's like not being able to get medical help....

It really put me off him and yes.. He's now fled to his large estate where apparently his children enjoy the space 🙄because KP is soo cramped...

I quite like Charles... And camila seems like a right laugh... I bet they have found amusement in his royal highness being infected....

But wills... Nah... I've gone right off Kate as well

Escapeistheonlyoption · 30/03/2020 17:20

One call per week is very cushy WFH

it requires dressing in suit for a phone call , full make-up and a photo shoot

then post on twitter to self promote how much you are doing.

Freshairimportanttoo · 30/03/2020 17:21

Indeed life, at the very least, it would be nice to know they are looking after their own staff

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