The Security Bill for Princess Eugenie’s Wedding is £2 million

[Butteredparsn1ps]

And it is coming out of the public purse.

Excellent opinion piece by Libby Purves in today’s Times pointing out that this extravaganza will have an impact on real people and actual crime.

Does the silly Bridezilla really think her Wedding is as interesting as Meghan and Harry’s? If she wants to copy their Wedding, she needs to pay for it.

I don't dislike her, I don't know them personally but I agree, it sticks in the craw a bit. No plods in any number in our rural area - one cop shop for pretty much an entire parliamentary constituency, it stings a bit. I know it is comparing apples and pears - royalty, princesses of the blood no less, on the one hand, Granny Smith on the other hand (distraction burglary victim bless her) - but nope I won't be watching.

Are they really having an open top carriage ride? Seems a bit risky in mid-October...

If you want some of the Royal Family, you're got to have them all. Surely there's got to be a cut off point. Eugenie is ninth in the line of succession. She's irrelevant and she does nothing. We don't need her to either. We have the Cornwalls, the Cambridges, the Sussexes, the Wessexes and Princess Anne to do the ribbon cutting and hand shaking. There are more than enough royals.
Eugenie and Beatrice would be happier trying to make their own way in the world, like their big cousin Zara, rather than clinging on to being princesses.

People will turn up for it. Mostly tourists, but they will. Everyone always says no one cares and ridicule/slate the royal family but many do care and will be there waving their flags etc. They're probably people you'd have very little in common with generally so you wouldn't know of their interest would you?

I can't muster up too much concern tbh but then I feel we are just saturated with crap news in this country at the minute. I've nothing left to give in the way of outrage.

I think people are interested in the Queen and the glamour of the Cambridges and Sussexes but Eugenie York? Not so sure.

I would support paying for security for her to get married like anyone else- like it or not, she is a target and that's no fault of hers. However, once you go beyond the scope of a private, low key wedding a la Zara & Mike I loose sympathy. And an open top carriage goes well beyond the remit of a low key event.

This has been a spectacular own goal from a PR perspective and it's so obviously borne of the Yorks clinging onto a royal role despite talk of a trimmed down monarchy. The best thing Prince Andrew could have done for his daughters was decline a title for his offspring like Edward and Anne did.

This is going to sound harsh but I honestly think if Eugine and Beatrice were more conventionally attractive Andrew would have married them off to European monarchs where their princess title would be recognised more as he would have tried to get them in to immediate succession lines. But their personalities I feel let them down the most. They are nothing but a waste of space.

Just think of the trees tirelessly producing oxygen for Andrew and his offspring to continue to spout nonsense!

*like it or not, she is a target and that's no fault of hers. However, once you go beyond the scope of a private, low key wedding a la Zara & Mike I loose sympathy. And an open top carriage goes well beyond the remit of a low key event.

This has been a spectacular own goal from a PR perspective and it's so obviously borne of the Yorks clinging onto a royal role despite talk of a trimmed down monarchy.*

I agree. I'm no republican, but stunts like this don't help the Monarchy. It's a shame no one has had the sense to put a stop to it.

‘Stunts like this’ do help the monarchy and the country.

She and her carriage will be in the OK magazine equivalents all around the world. It increases UK influence and retains the ‘Royal Ta-Dah’ factor.

You might think that is frivolous and stupid and wrong headed. But she will be in those magazines. And as a previous poster pointed out, just because people you know don’t read them or care - others do.

But their personalities I feel let them down the most. They are nothing but a waste of space.

That's just such a harsh thing to say. You don't know them, you've no idea of their personalities. Their Dad is a documented doughnut and their Mum has made some questionable choices however those young women are loved by their families and friends and don't do anything offensive or criminal so therefore can never be a "waste of space". You could say the same about all children that never Fly High and achieve massively.

I get that its only x amount of pence per person but thats besides the point isnt it? If anyone else wants something they cant effectively crowdfund the amount from a large % of people wbo would prefer not to pay for it.

We have the Cornwalls, the Cambridges, the Sussexes, the Wessexes and Princess Anne to do the ribbon cutting and hand shaking.

They’re further up the line of succession than Anne.

Zara Phillips has it absolutely right. She would never have expected the public to fork out £2m for police protection. I despair at all the vulnerable people £2m worth of policing could protect.

@Holly from their interviews and articles, and also feedback from others who know them well, a picture can be put together. It is my humble opinion that the pair have no personality and as they do not perform any royal duties and are a waste of space. They are not active royals and they shouldn't be treated as one.

But we can agree to disagree 😊

Even if you don't rate eugenie, the rest of the Royal family will be there, so I imagine there will still be plenty of crowds looking to catch sight of her cousins, grandparents etc.

Anne might be further down the line of succession but she did the most public engagements out of all the Royals last year, over 500. I don't see any of the Yorks doing anywhere near that much. In terms of public service and interest they are lower down.

I totally agree - I think they’re not allowed to do duties rather tahn not wanting tonthough.

I feel a bit sorryfor beatrice who

Oops who is getting turned out of her home when her sister marries.

The royal family command a vast amount of global ‘soft power’.

I get it that people are reductive (‘£2m is a lot for the vulnerable/destitute’ etc etc) but we take that soft power for granted at our peril.

(There is a brilliant episode of the Mitchell & Webb show ‘Ambassadors’ about this, if anyone has seen it).

Anne is The Princess Royal, she is a very respected and a hard working royal. She has raised well grounded and hard working children in what must have been a tough surrounding.

I'm no major Anne fanatic, but I think she has worked hard enough for her recognition.

We have the Cornwalls, the Cambridges, the Sussexes, the Wessexes and Princess Anne to do the ribbon cutting and hand shaking.

They’re further up the line of succession than Anne.

Higher than the Wessexes too.

Eugenie is nowhere near as glam as Meghan or Kate and no amount of fawning Vogue articles will make her so. I can't see the public rushing to watch her drive past in a carriage.

This has Andrew's hand all over it and could get embarrassing. If the stories about Charles wanting to 'slim down' the royal family are true then he must be holding his head in his hands at this ridiculousness.

At a time when so many services (including the police) are being slashed to the bone it is a particularly tone deaf move. As I said earlier, I thought they would have PR people advising them. Unless they do but just don't listen.

How cringe-worthy and out of touch! I hope this does not happen but remember the public also paid for Eugenie’s security so she could go backpacking. www.couriermail.com.au/news/eugenies-200k-gap-year-party/news-story/28754c0c6857b5ce6fc6ec62d922ab4f

It’s not even purely about the money but the sheer entitlement that gets under my skin.

France, Germany and the USA are all on a par of ahead of the UK for soft power. They are all republics.