William & Kate 10 year wedding anniversary video

[Crimsonripple]

Has anyone else seen this on Instagram? It's so lovely and natural. Their PR camp are hitting the right buttons! The Oprah interview now just seems so trashy in comparison!

@Wbeezer

I think the Queen pays for a lot of things out of the revenues on the Crown Estates rather than straight out of tax payers pockets but of course if we abolished the monarchy the government would get all that revenue instead, whether they would spend it widely is another matter... My opinion on the monarchy is that there are benefits to the continuit6 and tradition provided by the monarchy, it smooths over the bumps in the road of changes in the world and society to have the same figurehead for a long time, it creates links between the past and the present that can feel reassuring. How to retain the benifit without propping up the inequities of the class system is a major challenge though but I'm not convinced a political appointee would work better, particularly as England dominates the Union politically.

I always wonder how it would work (although I hope it never happens) - obviously aristocratic families across the land have houses and land that are theirs, and no-one can take from them. Isn't much of the wealth of the RF theirs, rather than belonging to 'the Crown'?

@Wbeezer

I think the Queen pays for a lot of things out of the revenues on the Crown Estates rather than straight out of tax payers pockets but of course if we abolished the monarchy the government would get all that revenue instead, whether they would spend it widely is another matter... My opinion on the monarchy is that there are benefits to the continuit6 and tradition provided by the monarchy, it smooths over the bumps in the road of changes in the world and society to have the same figurehead for a long time, it creates links between the past and the present that can feel reassuring. How to retain the benifit without propping up the inequities of the class system is a major challenge though but I'm not convinced a political appointee would work better, particularly as England dominates the Union politically.

A percentage of the income from the Crown Estate (which itself derives from historic landgrabs and was recently quietly increased to pay for repairs to royal residences closed to the gawping peasants) is paid to HM in the form of the Sovereign Grant. Royal income from the SG is guaranteed not to fall in value which has had the effect of cushioning them from pandemic related drops in revenue unlike said peasants.

HMQ's private trough is the Duchy of Lancaster run along similar lines to the Duchy of Cornwall in terms of smoke and mirrors when it comes to income.

Continuity of monarchy smoothing a changing world isn't a given. HMQ is an outlier even given the access to the best medical care at the drop of a hat she enjoys. We only have to look at the potential outcome had it been Charles rather Hugh Lindsay under an avalanche in 1988. Airmiles Andy undoubtedly milking us for millions upon millions more and Workshy Wills ahoy.

Continuity of monarchy smoothing a changing world isn't a given. HMQ is an outlier even given the access to the best medical care at the drop of a hat she enjoys
There is continuity though as we always know who is (supposed to be) coming next.

I think the monarchy is gradually getting changed by Charles with Williams help now. It will be slimmed down and those left will be a bit more open and accessible. You can see them starting that now. All the tradition and public celebrations but the rest of the time more like the European royals.

Hilary Mantel: 'I'm not sure the monarchy will outlast William'

www.telegraph.co.uk/women/life/hilary-mantel-haventhad-theordinary-markersof-womans-life/

Haven't actually read it as I refuse to subscribe to Tory fanzines, but thought others might find it interesting.

(I love Mantel though so will find a copy on a non-Telegraph website)

If anyone has access to the Mantel article elsewhere, do please link. Her widely misunderstood (because people only read the Daily Mail account of it) LRB lecture on royal bodies was brilliant.

www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v35/n04/hilary-mantel/royal-bodies

Hilary Mantel. Quite keen to accept a damehood medal from Prince Charles but happy to slag off his family.

I think the monarchy is gradually getting changed by Charles with Williams help now. It will be slimmed down and those left will be a bit more open and accessible. You can see them starting that now. All the tradition and public celebrations but the rest of the time more like the European royals

There's a lot of faith in that post, TruelyWonder. Firstly I'm not aware (?) that Charles himself has ever said anything about this "slimming down", and second it could be yet another example of the smoke and mirrors at which they're so skilled

I don't doubt for an instant that there'll be a lot of orchestrated "leaks" to show what a wonderful job he's doing - after all there are plenty already - but whether there'll be any real cutbacks, or whether he'll simply keep more of the spoils for himself is something else again

Yes Puzzled There are so many 'royal experts' who talk of this. But to be honest, they talk crap most of the time so until I see it happen, I don't take much notice.

If Charles has talked of this, he needs to show it when he takes over. Personally, I think it is just a way to shut us all up. Talk of a slimmed down monarchy has been going on for decades. Back in 1992 it was certainly mentioned.

The slimming down is happening now - Charles is in discussions with William and there will be some changes announced soon.

I hope it will be around titles and cutting some properly free - ie Andrew and Harry. It will go down directly through the line of the heirs. If someone wants to work for the RF then the title would be a job title, when they step away or are told to step away the title goes.

Sounds good to me, it's civil service job with tiaras - someone who wants to do a good job of service gets the perks of the job title, those that the public no longer wish to have represent them or choose to step away - the job title goes. Like the army, you don't wear the uniform once you've left and you don't have people salute your rank if you no hold that rank by no longer working in that role etc.

I don't think a royal living permanently abroad should retain any titles or privileges

Charles is in discussions with William and there will be some changes announced soon.

Really? Where has it said that?

As far as stepping away, obviously it's not consistent. One resigned (Harry), and one was sacked (Andrew). And only one of them kept their military patronages... Andrew has left but can still wear the uniform and be saluted.

And the Queen even gave Andrew the Knight of the Grand Cross, the highest order for personal service possible. All after he was sacked from his trade envoy position because of his dodgy deaings with a Libyan arms smuggler and Epstein.

And yet we have posters so desperate to strip Harry of everything. Bizarre.

I do wonder what the Royal Family are on.

Breaking News:
New royal yacht named after Prince Philip to be 'commissioned within weeks', costing as much as £200m

Who could honestly honestly think this is a good idea?

With businesses struggling or going bust, people out of work, the biggest deficit in generations, nurses having the equivalent of a pay cut, food banks and homelessness soaring, cutting aid to the poorest countries... but hey... let's spend £200million on a royal yacht.

No wonder my views on the Royal Family have changed. And how to push it through with minimal controversy... name it after Phillip . Got it.

@Roussette, if you read beyond the headlines, it is not actually a Royal Yacht as such and is being paid for by the Government as a flagship vessel crewed by the Royal Navy. It will be used for promoting trade. It is being paid for in such a way that it will be able to be built in the UK, creating hundreds of jobs for Cammell Laird in Merseyside where the David Attenborough was built. It is being named Prince Philip as a memorial to the Duke.

Will it have gold wallpaper 😂

Yes. I did read it.

The cost of running the previous Royal Yacht was astronomical. £10million a year back then. It too performed the same duties you are talking about. This is no different.

"The Daily Telegraph reports that the ship would replace HMY Britannia, which was decommissioned in 1997."

Yes smilesy - just read the attached myself, well said - it's also a showcase of manufacture etc. Seems Britannia was only a royal yacht - however, this new yacht purpose will have other purposes too and not for exclusive use of RF. www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/05/01/exclusive-britannia-rule-waves-new-royal-yacht-named-prince/

from the article:
"Plans to build yacht in Britain
The hope is that as a MoD asset, ministers can direct that the vessel is built in UK shipyards in order to create jobs, reinvigorate the UK’s shipbuilding industry and showcase the best of British design, engineering and ingenuity around the world.

One senior source said the plan was “ready to go”. Another said: “There was a bit of a fight between the MoD and the Cabinet Office about who pays for it.

“The lawyers are all over it because in order to stipulate that it is made in Britain it has to have a military use, otherwise it will go out to procurement and could be made in Italy.”

The original royal yacht was retired in December 1997 and is now berthed at Edinburgh, where she is one of the UK’s most popular tourist attractions."

The previous Royal yacht Britannia was not exclusively used by the RF either!

It was used for trade missions by the Trade Board.

That doesn't take away from the astronomical running costs which is why the Britannia was decommissioned.

I suppose what I forgot to say was. That the Royal family did not commission it as you implied.

They are obviously OKing it, if it is to be named after Phillip.

You say it isn't a royal yacht. Every single news source calls it a royal yacht.

Smilesy the Telegraph article says it is difficult to get it made in the UK unless for military use etc - so I expect the RF being able to use the ship as part of it's main task for trade around the world, rather than the previous yacht which was fitted as a home from home for the RF.

Britannia was previous mainly used by the RF - and secondly for trade is where the difference lies, but obviously missed by most that wish to see what they wish to see.

It’s a memorial to Philip. Of course theywill ok it but they didn’t commission it. You said “I do wonder what the Royal Family are on” which made it sound as though it was their idea. It is being referred to as a Royal Yacht but it is not going to be used In the same way as Britannia for the Royal Family to travel about on is the impression I get. There has apparently been a long campaign to have some sort of successor to Britannia to act as a flagship for our seafaring nation.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/may/01/megxit-good-for-royal-couple-other-couple-that-is-kate-and-william
The Guardian take

@Marmaladeagain. Yes I have read the Telegraph article and as you say, it would seem to be a different proposition to Britannia