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?

Anmer Hall is their primary residence. They had it before they were given an apartment in Kensington Palace. They go there are weekends and during school holidays. It isn't a holiday let.

They are more than aware of their privilege - something they would enjoy with or without the monarchy given how rich they are. It is easy to be envious, but they are not preachy and they have also been working behind the scenes to build links between charities that work in the areas they are interested in, so that they can use their profile to make a difference. It is a different kind of work from what many of us can do, but it is worthwhile. No system is perfect, but they come across as very committed, so I don't think that the fact that they live in a nice house is going to damage the monarchy.

We can but hope . . .

Simple answer, it's a bit of escapism. I'm glued to the news atm, stuck indoors for the foreseeable future and it's nice to see some pictures of them as a bit of light relief. Kate is lovely, the kids are cute, I like the beautiful gardens and palaces, they are part of our history and cultural identity. £60 million is a drop in the ocean, far rather the £106 BILLION for HS2 were reapportioned for this crisis tbh.

Cant you watch Love Island or something?

How on earth can you justify 60 million a year being spent on a Head of State that offers, at best, a bit of escapism and a few cute pics of their kids?

The Royals in history were fascinating as their role was not the safe and bland role it is now. We could open the Palaces to the public for money, that way you would still get to enjoy them and they would make the taxpayer/charities a profit, while retaining our culture and heritage.

We simply dont need the royals themselves.

Not just the royal family - I hope that all the people in the top 1% start having to put serious amounts of money into the economy in order to support those lower down the structure. Particularly in the Us & the UK over the last 5 - 10 years the rich have got richer and richer, and they need to pay back into the system to reduce the impact on the economy.

After WW2, income & inheritance tax were huge in the UK as a desperate measure to dig the country out of debt. A similar approach will be needed again.

Is it only Royal siblings that play nicely together? My children used to fight a lot.

Brooke, I can see people associate them with the brand and I've seen tourists asked the question by TV interviewers talk about coming to see the Royals and trooping the colour. I'm just conscious that the UK is about 6th in European tourist destinations according to en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Tourism_rankings. France is first with 203 times more international tourists and has no Royal Family. Then Spain, Italy, Turkey, Germany then the UK. Now Spain had a Royal Family re-established after Franco died and German 'lost' theirs after ww1. I know there's no counter-factual for how many international tourists the UK would get with no Royal Family but I'd probably say there's some parallel between France, Germany and the UK in terms of having historical palaces/big buildings, significant museums and such like and somewhat similar history in the context of a Western European tourist destination if that draws international tourists. In effect, I've never understood why people are certain the Royals bring tourists or, if they do, why similar Western European countries manage to get more tourists. If it's likely, why don't France, Italy, Germany run to reestablish Royal Families for the added revenue or bring their exiled Royals home and cosset them.

So full make up to work from home

I’m wearing full make up at home and I’m not even working. I guess I’ll be among the first to be put up against the wall, come the revolution.

They are more than aware of their privilege.

How do you know this?

Supporting charities as a career is not the same as leading your country and donating your time, energy and wealth in a time of severe need. If tacky celebs can do it, why can't they?

It is easy to be envious, but they are not preachy and they have also been working behind the scenes to build links between charities that work in the areas they are interested in, so that they can use their profile to make a difference.

Not preachy? You dont think William lecturing us about the homeless while living in a stately home (not to mention Frogmore and Buck Palace being empty right now) is preachy?

Wolfgirrl, sorry we cross posted. I need to type faster. Or go back to my day job and stop posting.

Fair enough Welcometothequiz I'm glad it brings you some pleasure

I find Kate and William quite smug tbf. Maybe they are nice people irl but they come across as overprivileged and out of touch. Why would they not be, not really their fault. The children are like any posh children. I feel a bit sorry for them growing up in a goldfish bowl.

@Alsohuman good to have you back!

I like the Royals. No knowing about their wealth and palaces won't change anything, we have already noticed that you know.

If anything changes it will be because they are not doing enough at the moment to boost morale. They should be being much more active.

Oh gosh, yes let's hope so! Kate sitting around posing in that horrid suit - "working". Wills nice but dim also "working hard" on the phone to who? What are they discussing? Tragic.
And they have the nerve to lecture the public about MH issues! While sitting in luxury no doubt with an army of helpers. God makes me so mad.

France with 2-3 times the number of international tourists. 203 times would just be plain greedy. or gloutonne, I suppose.

That's interesting Zilla maybe I've been a bit brainwashed into the tourism attraction without questioning it enough. I think people would still come to see Buckingham palace, maybe the State carriages, and other Royal attractions, even if we stopped paying them.

The Crown Estates, the Duchys of Cornwall and Lancaster are only "theirs" by an accounting exercise. They are rightfully ours and we choose to grant them to the people we choose to occupy these roles we choose to make for them.

We can always choose otherwise.

Zilla, The British are among the biggest group to visit France, but it has much better weather than us - reliable summers, reliable skiing... Italy is the home of the Roman Empire and the Renaissance, as well as having fabulous coastline, islands and skiing. We can never match them for geography.

I wasn't having a go at you, Brooke. I'm genuinely interested as have had so many (not you) stating it as fact.

If anything changes it will be because they are not doing enough at the moment to boost morale

Have they even done anything? other than the clapping kids. I think Prince Charles should've kept his coronavirus test to himself, considering NHS workers couldn't get them.

@Srslydontgiveacrap

Not to mention Wills lecturing about homelessness from his stately home with several empty palaces floating around his family...

The royalists will find excuses every time... 'but they simply cant let people stay in the palace, one of the doors creaks so it is totally unsuitable'

I didn't think you were at all Zilla it's a genuinely interesting point, and something I've taken for granted I suppose - bit like I thought they had a constitutional purpose but recent events have shown they haven't. The fact is they seem to have no purpose whatsoever.

@Brookeinabook

I really admire you for acknowledging perhaps your facts were wrong before and reconsidering.

It is a very rare quality in people these days

I'd happily get rid of the lot of them after Queenie goes. I admire her long term of service but the rest, with the possible exception of Anne who is also massively hardworking and not up herself, can get lost.

Lots of local outrage here when Charles rocked up knowing he was symptomatic but choosing to still bring his share of the virus to NE Scotland. Airport staff, helicopter pilot, his staff, locals all exposed. Absolute prat.

Yeah. Let's just get rid of them. Then the masses can idolise the Kardashians and Donald Trump.