Could this be the end of the Royal family?

[BeijingBikini]

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?

Ithought that William lowned them cash for their current home as well?

This may well be the case. We always pay, one way or another.

I've 'pond-dipped' with my DC in the last few days, too. And I can vouch for the fact that rather than coming home with copious nature notes about fascinating little pond creatures, the only thing you're likely to catch in this weather is an old bird feather, a dead leaf, and a chill.

It's transparent, disingenuous BS, and it's highly unlikely to win any PR wars or convince anyone other than the most servile. And those highly amusing, obviously-staged, pretending-to-be-on-the-phone pics were made even funnier than otherwise by the fact that Kate's notebook was a blank as she is. Not one solitary word had she written!

This family is a pointless insult to people's intelligence. I firmly believe that after Elizabeth II, there will be serious questions asked. The right kind of questions.

I agree Mariel well put. Pond dipping is never as much fun as it sounds anyway. My 3 year old (now 13) fell in quite a deep river doing it so I had to go in after her and just a shoe. It shouldn’t be encouraged.

I hope you're right OP but fear the British public will overlook a lot. Prince Andrew's public lying about cooperation with US law enforcement? Harry's 'green' credentials? Charles' political meddling and overstepping? Their relentless waste and indulgence? They cost way more than some posters believe and the tourism benefits have long been debunked. Yet they continue to attract public support in droves. Absolutely their existence goes against any notion of fairness, democracy and equal opportunity. It's a scandal.

Marie

Broadly agree (how could one not?) except , if their ‘brand’ in totality is worth more to us than we spend on them, then...there may be an argument for keeping them (eg, do William, Kate, kids represent British quality or aspiration in terms of interest in image or products that then translates into increased/valuable trade? The queen is the most famous/recognizable woman in the world. What does that translate into?)

Democracies often have an elected head of state. Remember this is Trump in the USA. Charles is right that the monarchy needs to slim down and should probably cull what it does. I would rather have the Queen than Trump!

Sounds terrible what they're having to endure...

(Sorry for the long link, don't know how to shorten it!!)
www-express-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.express.co.uk/news/royal/1262348/Kate-Middleton-and-Prince-William-latest-location-Kate-Middleton-isolating-anmer-hall/amp?amp_js_v=a3&amp_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQFKAGwASA%3D#referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From %251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.express.co.uk%2Fnews%2Froyal%2F1262348%2FKate-Middleton-and-Prince-William-latest-location-Kate-Middleton-isolating-anmer-hall

I would rather have the Queen than Trump!

At least you can vote Trump out. If we ended up with someone like Trump as king we'd be stuck with him until he died.

I would rather have the Queen than Trump!

Why do people always come out with this crap. Why on earth would we end up with someone like Trump. Why on earth should we have a 92 year old woman as head of state, she’s not even up to the job anymore. What madness that we have a hereditary monarchy in the 21st century,
doesn’t matter how worthy they are, you could literally end up with a mad man. So why worry getting someone like Trump, you could get worse than Trump ffs, and there’s nothing you could do about it.

I wish I could work like that, no laptop, no files on Will's desk and only one leather bound folder on Kate's

My desks at home and at the office comprise of laptop, keyboard, mouse, nerdy mouse mat, cup full of pens and pencils, long ruler and scissors, several piles of papers and empty coffee cups. I have a pile of textbooks under my desk at home and some journals that I really should throw out.

@Leighhalfpennysthigh haha sounds like mine, with a phone charger, tablet, headset for calls and a pile of papers.

@definitelygc the alternatives arent Trump or nothing

@SharonasCorona I can't wear a headset so I have my phone on speaker and shout a lot. Which makes the dogs bark. #realworkingfromhome lol

@wolfgirl People always use insert shit president or politician here as an example of why we should keep a monarchy without realising that they are voted in and can be voted out. We are stuck with Charles as our next king, then William, then George, regardless. Replace Charles with Andrew. Hmm. Still want that hereditary line of succession? Well an Andrew type is a distinct possibility.

I would rather have the Queen than Trump!

Fair enough, me too, but the scenario is irrelevant as situation doesn't arise in the UK - Trump is President of the USA! Did you not know that? It's a bit like saying we'd rather have the Queen than Michael Jackson (if he was alive) .

I've never had particularly strong opinions on the royals. If anything, I've erred on the side of being a bit of a royalist.

But tonight, I have finally started viewing them in a new light. Their wealth and out-of-touch-ness is actually making me feel a bit sick and uncomfortable. Never really felt like this befoe., But I think I've finally had enough of them

The Queen has been shockingly absent during this crisis.

I'm not suggesting for a second that she ought to be out and about visiting hospitals or anything, but an address to the nation from home should have been done at least a week ago.

I saw some defending her saying it wouldn't be reasonable to bring a camera crew into contact with her, but it seems to have been possible for William - who, let's not beat about the bush, could become the Heir to the throne very rapidly under current circumstances. His father has the virus, his grandmother is 90 odd years old. So he ought to be as protected as any of them.

So either the cameras ARE safe to come in to the palace, in which case why hasn't the Queen recorded an address to the nation... or the cameras AREN'T safe, in which case why the fuck are they allowed anywhere near the place?

Having seen how important the Queen has taken her duties to support the nation in times of need in the past, I can only assume that either she suddenly doesn't give a toss, or.... she's unable to do so.

It's a bit like saying we'd rather have the Queen than Michael Jackson

LOL I just got the image in my head of Michael Jackson dressed in jewels giving a speech at Christmas

.

Imagine if Andrew had been born first .....

He would have been a perpetual embarassment as a head of state
and now not even able to enter the USA or possibly France too, without fear of being either arrested or refused entry

That's the problem, the monarch becomes head of state by birth order.
no matter whether they are competent, or too old, too dodgy

A modern democracy should elect its head of state every few years
Other countries manage to do this

I don't actually mind the money - we know they are exceedingly rich
and there are far richer people in the world

It's the principle of a hereditary head of state I find ridiculous
It worked in Mediaeval times, but has no place in a modern democracy

"His father has the virus, his grandmother is 90 odd years old"
Price Charles has been cleared of the virus (and probably is now Netflix and chill with Camilla.... haha)
I don't blame the Queen for being absent during this time.
I do think the media have ramped up attention on the RF for PR purposes recently.
So the buck falls on William and Kate if things are going to continue I suspect (for all the RF fans; and do not get me wrong, I do have a little soft sport for the RF but I can definitely understand all opinions on this).

Prince

spot

etc

Prince Charles was symptomatic when he travelled to Balmoral. Infecting half of his team in the process and coming to an area that doesn't have the infrastructure to deal with it.
Selfish prick.

@OtterPotter Totally agree

His father has the virus, his grandmother is 90 odd years old "Price Charles has been cleared of the virus

But he presumably hadn't when they put Prince William at risk by conducting a photo shoot in his home.