UK Tax Payer to foot Royal Wedding Security Bill, why?

[EggFriedRice]

Just been announced on the news that the UK taxpayer is footing the security bill for the Royal wedding in April 2011. I am not personally a fan of the royal family nor is my DH, we don't agree that our taxes should be spent on someones wedding security arrangements. Why is the Queen not paying for this after all she is one of the wealthiest women in the world? With all of the cuts being announced I don't feel that it is right or fair to make the taxpayer pay for the royals security wedding plans. They will never suffer the hardships that so many people are or will be going through in this country it is a disgrace imo.
I suppose the extra Bank Holiday on 29th April 2011 is to keep us happy

the public foots the security bill for all events of national interest. it's the national interest that generates the need for security....

Do royalists really think that if we de-throned this family we wouldn't get any tourists, I don't think so.

We have to pay for the extra security needed for the olympics, state visitors, notting hill festival, and numerous other protests/marathons etc. It doesnt matter if you care about them or not, these events have always and will always happen and they need extra security.

What a load of twaddle. There are millions of people in this country wasting money. Spending too much of it, living on easy credit, going bankrupt whenever it suits.

The cost of the security for a Royal Wedding is a drop in the fucking ocean. It'll be a lovely day, and we'll get the day off work. The cynicism is boring and wearing.

I'm not bothered that we are footing the bill for security, I don't know where they get the costs from, the police and security services will be working that day anyway or getting a day off in lieu, now it's a statutory holiday.

Just don't agree that our tourist income would cease if we came into the right century and no longer had a monarchy.

Hi there,
I'm not really a royalist....

Bu it really does strike me that surely the money spent on the wedding, who ever pays for it, will be being paid to the British public... ie.... in their jobs.... Like the dudes who work for security, florists, the wedding industry etc?

I bet more money has been spend on I'm a celebrity X factor on ice in the jungle type crap. Personally I think the wedding will be a better show.

Of course the taxpayer foots the bill - its a national event, the security isn't just for the Royals, the Queen is Head of State, the event itself will generate £millions in income for businesses to name a few good reasons.

Why are we such a negative nation?

We get a day off, it'll be a cheerful happy day.

And I wouldn't class myself as a royalist.

Hmmm....No roayl family, no football matches, no state visits, no tradition. I think maybe some of you want to move to N.Korea.

Please English people, start loving your country. We should count ourselves lucky. Life could be a lot worse!

You are so right Baroque

OH and I went to California for a holiday in 1986. At immigration the first words said to us were "You'll miss the wedding" I am of course referring to Fergie and Prince Andrew's wedding. When we were there it was very obvious that the Americans were massive fans of the royal family. On the day of the wedding we were staying in a Best Western motel and the big TV was on in recetion showing it, with a huge crowd stood watching.

I know this was nearly 25 years ago, but I doubt that much has changed.

BTW, as a tax payer I am happy to help contribute towards security.

I'm not bothered about the tax payer coughing up for the security, I'm surprised the Royals are picking up the tab for the whole wedding. It's going to generate a bloddy fortune for the country with tourism, TV rights sold all over the world, merchandise etc. etc. all of which means more tax revenue going into the Treasury. In my job we deal with companies all over the world and people on the phone (especially the Americans) are already going on about how exciting it all is. Trust me there won't be a hotel room within 50 miles of London that week. Kerching!!!!

Do royalists really think that if we de-throned this family we wouldn't get any tourists, I don't think so.

Great post, Niceguy!

You can moan all you like, but they're big time VFM.

They can also claim a thousand year common descent to William the Conqueror (and by marriage/family, way beyond that).

Personally, I like the continuity. I prefer them to the politicos. They choose to do their job. The royals don't.

I think that is just a way of the so called democratic hypocrisy we face everyday!! the average persons in uk works all their life and pays more tax than the rich who will do anything not to pay the taxes!!
The royals are just blood thirsty money sucking vampires they feed off the earnings of those who use sweat and blood honest people who are the back bone of Britain!!

we dont have to put up with it so why do we moan !! Yes the royals never feel hardship and they winge when they dont get a new plane or boat etc get extra allowances!! I think we should have a royal family in touch with the real lives of people who care about the people they govern!! But come one who we try kidding!!! the royals have a histroy of tax avasio and getting what they want regadless of consequences!! if you object to thw wedding simple dont watch the wedding on the Tv or waste your time and money to pave the streets and watch it!! we shouldent have to put up with it ever please read histroy to see how the royals come into power??? The issue of roylity needs to be addressed and we people have the power to make change so stop monaing and get active get rid of a old instution who are biggots a liability on the state!! you dont need them they need you remember that!!!

Crap post, rube.

Totally crap.

Nice rant Rube. But that's all it was. And based on nothing I suspect but your loathing of the fact there is some one richer, more successful than you. I expect you are a fully paid up member of the tax the rich brigade too?

The Crown contributes £210 million a year to the treasury but takes out way less. So in actual fact the Queen pays for you!

"read histroy to see how the royals come into power??? "

God you think that's bad - you should read the stories of early politicians/politics and how they came to power too...........

Precisely.

History has shown that the most stable nations have a constitutional monarchy. When things get bad, they are who we turn to. They are our family. Like a good wine, they have provenance. They have earned the right. And it's not like they interfere in our lives in any negative way.

Bollocks to the naysayers. I profoundly disagree with all you say, but like Voltaire, I will defend to the death your right to say it.

"If so, at what income do we withdraw police protection?"

Quite. It costs us a fortune to investigate the most ridiculous and pettiest of crimes - maybe we should start charging on a sliding scale to deal with your text message argument with your ex boyfriend (yes, we have to deal with hundreds of these)

My force is having to make redundancies to pay for policing the Olympics as there will be no funding from the HO. I'd rather it was for the Royal Wedding thanks

look, people are going to show up en masse for this thing. innocent people just there to see it even if the couple went into a registry house and came out smiling.

they can't just nip the registry house, people would think that was crap, and it's not like prince william can just rewind history and designate he be born to Mr and Mrs John Q Public, so he's not got much of a choice.

murdering fuckers like al queda operatives are going to see it as an excuse to kill people.

other fuckers are going to see it as excuse to make trouble.

it's just a fact.

so it's up to our government to protect our people who are not murdering terrorists as best as possible.

ditto the olympics.

cough up and hopefully everyone's safe and then goes home.

wow expat - you really are on a role tonight

"The royals are just blood thirsty money sucking vampires they feed off the earnings of those who use sweat and blood honest people who are the back bone of Britain!!"

Why all the bitter, vile nastiness? You haven't got a chip on your shoulder, but an entire branch of Harry Ramsdens.

Someone earlier in the thread suggested Her Maj sell off Sandringham to pay the bills. I reckon any royal property sold off would immediately be bought by russian oligarchs who would cover everything in faux zebra skin and gold plate. Give me aged royal scruffiness any day.

I've told Kate that if it helps out I have a lovely wedding dress she could have. Only worn once. Was gonna put it on ebay but I don't really need the cash.