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?

dairyfairies
When I pointed out that the Countess of Wessex had a child born with a disability (on the other thread) you implied that it was ok for her because she had plenty of money - you also referred to her 'preachy videos'.

@Clavinova

I will not be engaging with you any more as you clearly have some personality issues that need addressing. My wise old dad once said, 'If in a discussion you think you are right and all the others are wrong, it is probably the wrong way round'.

I hope you find your logic, compassion and sense of humanity one day

Moving on without clavinova's desperate posts, does anyone actually think Wills will actually rejoin air ambulance? And I dont just mean one shift as a PR opportunity.

There is another thread at the moment regarding Harry and Meghans move to LA. They were talking about their outrage at poor old PC having to fund them, and became incensed when I pointed out this is still the taxpayer splashing out for them via a middle man they're so sensitive to plain old fact!

Wolfgirrl
I will not be engaging with you any more

That's a relief - you have '@Clavinova' dozens of times!

When I pointed out that the Countess of Wessex had a child born with a disability

the child had a tough start but is fine now. She is not disabled.

Going back to Andrew's interview - he was reported to have believed it went well immediately afterwards. Absolutely deluded

Indeed

TBF, being surrounded on all sides by deference and sycophants insisting how absolutely wonderful you are must make it hard to keep a grip on reality ... but I'd still have hoped for just a bit of basic human insight

... and it doesn't have to do anything for with this thread. you are clearly desperate now. just back off. it's getting embarrassing.

She was born with a disability - an obvious facial one - her eyesight has been corrected by surgery now - we are not told of any other problems she may have.

the child had a tough start but is fine now. She is not disabled.
You didn't know that when you posted on the other thread though.

They were talking about their outrage at poor old PC having to fund them, and became incensed when I pointed out this is still the taxpayer splashing out for them via a middle man

I only got one taker for my point about Charles sticking intestate estates in Cornwall into his back pocket. It was pointed out he donates the proceeds to charity which is correct although he keeps some back for any possible later claims (you'd think he might fund that remote, spare change possibility out of the £20m a year he makes from the Duchy but still) but the point is he's entitled to the properties in the first place as opposed to the taxpayer.

The smoke and mirrors of royal finances need to be dragged into the clear daylight.

being surrounded on all sides by deference and sycophants insisting how absolutely wonderful you are must make it hard to keep a grip on reality ... but I'd still have hoped for just a bit of basic human insight

It must be hideous being an aide to Andrew and trying to tell him something he doesn't want to hear. This is the man who thought smothering reporters in paint was a jolly good jape. The man who drove straight through the gates of Windsor Castle when they wouldn't open rather than go a mile up the road to another set.

I only got one taker for my point about Charles sticking intestate estates in Cornwall into his back pocket. It was pointed out he donates the proceeds to charity which is correct

and The smoke and mirrors of royal finances need to be dragged into the clear daylight

Isn't there a bit of a disconnect going on there?

Given the Duchy's notorious lack of clarity I wouldn't fancy the chances of even the best accountant identifying where Charles's money goes - and that's assuming they were one of the "chosen" given access to them

I only got one taker for my point about Charles sticking intestate estates in Cornwall into his back pocket.

This money?

"In most of Britain, the estates of people who die without making a will, and who have no obvious heirs, go to the Government."

"But in Cornwall unclaimed estates go to the Duchy, which has been the personal possession of the eldest son of the sovereign since 1337."

"Prince Charles does not, however, keep any of the money; instead it is distributed in charitable donations through the Duke of Cornwall’s Benevolent Fund, with a small amount kept in reserve for any future claims on unclaimed estates."

www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/how-prince-charles-duchy-estate-3805796

Cathy Andrew's also the individual who even some diplomats couldn't bring themselves to praise

A PP mentioning the RF's role in attracting trade brings to mind his record as "Trade Envoy" and accounts of the professionals trying to avoid yet another embarrassing incident ... and all so he could feature in the photo call with a headline of "Andy Inks the Deal"

But people dont seem to understand the Duchy does not belong to PC.

It belongs to the Crown, which is simply a public body which administrates and bankrolled the monarchy. It 'belongs' to PC in the same way 10 Downing St 'belongs' to Boris Johnson. It is a courtesy that comes with their title but it belongs to the public, and should we ever abolish the monarchy, it will return to public ownership.

King George made a deal with the govt at the time that he wouldn't have to pay for the civil service, armed forces etc if he handed over the estates to the government, which weren't even his private land at the time.

It is one big misleading mess.

Yep. We only have the Duchy's word as to where the money from the estates is going but I'm convinced that as ever it won't be to any detriment to Charles's pocket. How much for instance is kept back for possible claims? What happens to the interest on that? Above all why does Charles retain the power of veto over any change to this arrangement (among others)?

In the absence of any inclination to absorb both Duchies into the Crown Estate where they rightfully belong every aspect of royal finances should be fully open to public scrutiny.

I don’t think the Duchy does belong the The Crown like the Crown Estates. It’s listed as a ‘private’ estate, though that isn’t the same as their privately held properties like Balmoral.

It’s status is ridiculously murky.

But people dont seem to understand the Duchy does not belong to PC.

It belongs to the Crown, which is simply a public body which administrates and bankrolled the monarchy. It 'belongs' to PC in the same way 10 Downing St 'belongs' to Boris Johnson. It is a courtesy that comes with their title but it belongs to the public, and should we ever abolish the monarchy, it will return to public ownership.

King George made a deal with the govt at the time that he wouldn't have to pay for the civil service, armed forces etc if he handed over the estates to the government, which weren't even his private land at the time.

This is all true of the Crown Estates, but the Duchies are separate entities.

It’s status is ridiculously murky

Yes. It's private when it suits Charles (income) and public when it doesn't (cost)

People dont seem to understand the Duchy does not belong to PC ... It belongs to the Crown

Not quite, Wolfgirrl; its status seems to change from "private estate" to "crown body" according to what narrative suits
Even some of the best minds have confessed themselves confused, but then it's meant to be confusing ... because that suits Charles just fine and god forbid the impertinent proles should be able to question anything he does

The rf seem to symbolise all that is wrong with a hierarchical society, because they’re visible.

Yet the tories have been stripping the nhs for years, supporting their jammy friends in the city, cosying up to Russian and Saudi oligarchs, and buying up and decamping to holiday homes in Cornwall and Scotland.

It’s not the rf that’s the problem, but the social stratification and embedded inequality brought about by the Laisse faire tories.

It’s going to get much worse with brexit.
Ok, the rf is a pimple on the bum, but brexit is an abscess, and the tories and their financial hegemony are organ failure.

The rf is the least of the problem.

@Puzzledandpissedoff

But the Duchies are both part of Crown Lands? They have certain rights/privileges that dont apply to other Crown Lands but are still at their essence property of the government.

But the Duchies are both part of Crown Lands? They have certain rights/privileges that dont apply to other Crown Lands but are still at their essence property of the government.

That’s not clear at all.

The are legally very different things to the Crown Estate.

@lauriemarlow

Sorry, just to make it clearer. If there is no eldest son of the Monarch the Duchy of Cornwall would revert back to being in public ownership. It is not 'privately owned', it is held in trust for the oldest son of the Monarch as I understand it. It is part of the Crown, not a private asset.

It's a bit more complicated than that, Wolfgirrl - I believe today's story is that the Duchy of Cornwall's a private estate with crown exemption, but as said it defeats even specialised minds so mine stands no chance

The overall point seems to be that you'll never know, because Charles doesn't want you to know and he appears to consider that enough

Totally agree, as if any of these immortals are going to queue for food or struggle with unemployment or accessing DWP support. I mean what do any of them actually DO these days? & then there is the Queen, happily hobnobbing with Bahrain royalty with its appalling human rights abuses, think she stops to think about that at all?? The whole institution needs to be privatised now, let Royalists buy shares in them if they think they are so great, our tax ££'s need urgent direction elsewhere now more than ever!