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The royal family

Three Houses or Four

231 replies

antelopevalley · 18/08/2022 12:54

Yahoo has an update piece about the three houses the Cambridges now have, alongside some of the renovation costs. Still, it is one less than Charles who has four residences.
William and Charles - the great environmentalists.

"When they moved into Kensington Palace: There was understandably some controversy when it was revealed that the move would also be coming with an eye-watering renovation bill to be picked up by the British taxpayer. Neglected and run-down, Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace required a number of major changes and updates for it to be brought up to liveable standards (and allow the couple to add their own personal touches). In 2014, the Sovereign Grant confirmed that it cost over $5.4 million (£4.5m) to complete.

A necessary investment: At the time, press aides told outlets, including myself, that the costs were a necessary investment as the couple planned to use the property as a permanent base to work and raise a family. This house, they assured, would be their forever home. Though the Cambridges had another residence in Norfolk—a property on the Sandringham Estate for school holidays and escaping the city—the $1.8 million (£1.5m) renovation costs for Anmer Hall, a wedding gift from the Queen, were all paid for privately.

The new driveway: In 2019, the duke and duchess added a further $1.2 million (£1 million) to their Sovereign Grant-funded renovation costs at Kensington Palace by installing a new driveway. It was a figure that left many scratching their heads, but was mostly ignored by sections of the press who were more focused on how much Harry and Meghan would be spending on their new crib.
The move to Windsor: Despite the palace promise, the Cambridges’ time at “KP” has come to an end after nine years. Later this month they will move to a new abode in Windsor, for a life “away from the goldfish bowl” in London and what a source tells me is an effort to give their children “as normal a life as possible”. It’s a decision that has raised a few eyebrows, particularly at a time when the country is dealing with a major cost of living crisis. Picking up a third home, especially when one of them cost the public so much to renovate, is hardly the norm for regular folk.

Adelaide isn’t costing the taxpayers anything?? Still, Adelaide Cottage comes at no expense to anyone but the couple, I’m told. Rather than buy, the couple have chosen to privately rent. Any desired cosmetic work or refurbishments will be paid from their own pockets. (It remains to be seen how the duke and duchess will travel to and from London—their love for helicopter trips, which the British press prefer to turn a blind eye to, are not just an unfair cost to the public but also go completely against William’s environmental concerns).

They wanted to get the kids out of London. “They thought about moving to [their home in] Norfolk, but as active senior working royals they could never be that far away from London, so that’s where Windsor came into the picture,” says the source."
uk.style.yahoo.com/prince-william-kate-windsor-move-kensington-palace-153609273.html

OP posts:
Ohnonevermind · 24/08/2022 08:52

i just don’t understand why you’re so angry.

Your husband had to leave early and travel for work, so you’re cross that William doesn’t.

Plenty of people work from home and don’t need to travel, plenty of people re-assessed their lives during the pandemic and made changes. Plenty of people moved out of london to be closer to family as they now had a homeworking option. We’ve moved during the summer to be closer to family and haven’t sold our house yet

it’s a modern world, covid has changed working patterns and culture. people are able to work remotely now, people don’t need to be in offices 9-5 to get jobs done. Just because he’s at home doesn’t mean he’s sitting on the sofa watching loose women eating biscuits.

Roussette · 24/08/2022 09:02

Your husband had to leave early and travel for work, so you’re cross that William doesn’t

Gosh. People do make stuff up on these threads. Angry? Cross? Nope. I am just discussing on a forum, that's all. And pointing out what it's like for millions of families across the country so saying W could work a bit is not a big ask, as we fund him and his family to the tune of millions.

Just because he’s at home doesn’t mean he’s sitting on the sofa watching loose women eating biscuits

Grin Just checked the Court Circular... in the last 6 weeks he went to the Commonwealth Games, the womens Euros and met the CE of his Charity. That's it. Nothing else.

ajandjjmum · 24/08/2022 09:03

I can't believe people genuinely think that William's work consists of a few phone calls a week. It's like saying a CEO just has one board meeting a month. It just shows total naivety as to the working commitments of a senior person within any organisation.

Capri3 · 24/08/2022 09:08

ajandjjmum · 24/08/2022 09:03

I can't believe people genuinely think that William's work consists of a few phone calls a week. It's like saying a CEO just has one board meeting a month. It just shows total naivety as to the working commitments of a senior person within any organisation.

This.

Also a bit convenient to pick the last 6 weeks of Court Circulars as that’s when his dc have their school summer holiday.

Ohnonevermind · 24/08/2022 09:10

@ajandjjmum

I know 🤷‍♀️

toomuchlaundry · 24/08/2022 09:13

Does the Court Circular mention all the phone calls he does or just the meet and greets

Cloud9isnowclosed · 24/08/2022 09:16

The Court Circular is surely a record of engagements not a record of a work diary?

Samcro · 24/08/2022 09:21

do people really believe they work hard?
all this oh they have a young family so PW must be home, surely Kate can manage with all her staff if he goes to work.

Samcro · 24/08/2022 09:23

Also a bit convenient to pick the last 6 weeks of Court Circulars as that’s when his dc have their school summer holiday.
so he gets to have weeks off.... how many people in the real world get to that (seeing as he is paid by the state makes it worse)

Capri3 · 24/08/2022 09:26

Samcro · 24/08/2022 09:23

Also a bit convenient to pick the last 6 weeks of Court Circulars as that’s when his dc have their school summer holiday.
so he gets to have weeks off.... how many people in the real world get to that (seeing as he is paid by the state makes it worse)

Teachers also get paid by the state, as are many other professions. I’m pretty sure they all get weeks off too.

Cloud9isnowclosed · 24/08/2022 09:28

I certainly don't think they are doing 100hr weeks - that would be verging into Jack Monroe territory but I also don't think they have 2 phone calls a week either. I also think we have a particular generational framing with the Queens longevity in that the role of monarch will for PC and presumably PW start in what would be the mid to latter years of normal job roles. For the sake of clarity I'm not suggesting the role of monarch is akin to being a coal miner or nurse but it won't be without its tensions. I mean I'd probably need a 1/2 day flexi after every weekly audience with Boris to calm myself down 🤣

ajandjjmum · 24/08/2022 09:39

@Cloud9isnowclosed Especially if you were 96! Grin

For me it would be the sheer relentlessness of life - yes, they are so so priviliged in many ways, but being on call 365 days of the year forever - my mind couldn't cope with that. I realise that they have lots of people around who help enormously, and have the experience to do so, but the buck always stops with them.

Roussette · 24/08/2022 10:11

Capri3 · 24/08/2022 09:08

This.

Also a bit convenient to pick the last 6 weeks of Court Circulars as that’s when his dc have their school summer holiday.

OK. 6 weeks plus off in the summer Do pick another 6 week period and you will see it's not that different. The odd 'busy' period but not like a full time job.

The Court Circular is surely a record of engagements not a record of a work diary?
As they put a phone call down as 'work', it is not just a record of engagements, no.

Serenster · 24/08/2022 10:25

ajandjjmum · 24/08/2022 09:03

I can't believe people genuinely think that William's work consists of a few phone calls a week. It's like saying a CEO just has one board meeting a month. It just shows total naivety as to the working commitments of a senior person within any organisation.

Absolutely this. Also, I’d note that it was announced a couple of days ago that William will be attending the Earthshot Prize Innovation Summit in New York in a couple of weeks, having only recently made the decision after lots of discussions about it. If you believe Roussette, apparently William hasn’t even had so much as a phone call about the summit, his role, and the arrangements for it.

Roussette · 24/08/2022 10:30

Serenster · 24/08/2022 10:25

Absolutely this. Also, I’d note that it was announced a couple of days ago that William will be attending the Earthshot Prize Innovation Summit in New York in a couple of weeks, having only recently made the decision after lots of discussions about it. If you believe Roussette, apparently William hasn’t even had so much as a phone call about the summit, his role, and the arrangements for it.

I am only reporting what is on the Court Circular, like it or not. Given they log phone calls on there, nothing would surprise me. Interesting there is nothing on there about it, perhaps everyone is arranging it for him, who knows? No one has to believe me or disbelieve me, I am just giving an opinion.

Serenster · 24/08/2022 10:44

I think it is patently obvious that the Court Circular is an incomplete record of their activities.

William also tweeted out a message to New Zealand from their official account earlier this week. It was signed “W” which his office have previously explained means it comes from him personally. I would expect that it came about following a discussion with his office, consideration of a draft and him agreeing to it. Clearly this wouldn’t have taken very long, but it’s also clearly something he’s done that’s also not recorded on the Court Circular. It’s an indication of note worthy actitivities, I think, not a full audit trail of everything any of them do.

toomuchlaundry · 24/08/2022 10:45

Does the Court Circular mention every time the Queen has to speak to the PM, go through the red boxes?

ajandjjmum · 24/08/2022 10:51

I think the Court Circular should change to add in
'Together with six hours (or whatever) of calls and paperwork.

Maybe people might then believe there is a little more to being William than three calls a week! Grin

Ohnonevermind · 24/08/2022 11:20

Perhaps they should put a caveat in for the people who think that’s all they do 🤣

JemimaPuddlegoose · 24/08/2022 15:34

The posters who constantly applaud Harry and Meghan for choosing to escape the press madness are now railing against the Cambridge family for choosing to relocate to a property the Queen already owns in large part to give their children protection from growing up in a goldfish bowl. Of course you are.

What complete nonsense. My God it's laughable what Cambridge stans come up with.

No one has any problem with them "relocating" but they are not "relocating" they are picking up an addition house (which will need full staff - even if they are paying the rent who's paying to staff three houses?) in addition to the gigantic mansions they already own.

If they gave up their existing mansions and just had the new one, no one would complain.

If they wanted to give their children a life away from the goldfish bowl then living permanently in Norfolk (which is what they claimed they would do) would give the children far more privacy than being hurtled by helicopter between London and Windsor all the time. Windsor is far more goldfish bowl than rural Norfolk. Stay in Norfolk and stop using helicopters the way most of us catch buses and voila, privacy.

The chutzpah of saying they want their kids to grow up outside a goldfish bowl when barely a week goes by without them pimping the kids out to the press by dragging them to some event or releasing photos, because there's some scandal or negative press they want to counter and having no real achievements or work of their own, the only way they know how to get counter press is by exploiting their children.

Readinginthesun · 24/08/2022 15:39

@JemimaPuddlegoose what’s a stan ?

Readinginthesun · 24/08/2022 15:39

JemimaPuddlegoose · 24/08/2022 15:34

The posters who constantly applaud Harry and Meghan for choosing to escape the press madness are now railing against the Cambridge family for choosing to relocate to a property the Queen already owns in large part to give their children protection from growing up in a goldfish bowl. Of course you are.

What complete nonsense. My God it's laughable what Cambridge stans come up with.

No one has any problem with them "relocating" but they are not "relocating" they are picking up an addition house (which will need full staff - even if they are paying the rent who's paying to staff three houses?) in addition to the gigantic mansions they already own.

If they gave up their existing mansions and just had the new one, no one would complain.

If they wanted to give their children a life away from the goldfish bowl then living permanently in Norfolk (which is what they claimed they would do) would give the children far more privacy than being hurtled by helicopter between London and Windsor all the time. Windsor is far more goldfish bowl than rural Norfolk. Stay in Norfolk and stop using helicopters the way most of us catch buses and voila, privacy.

The chutzpah of saying they want their kids to grow up outside a goldfish bowl when barely a week goes by without them pimping the kids out to the press by dragging them to some event or releasing photos, because there's some scandal or negative press they want to counter and having no real achievements or work of their own, the only way they know how to get counter press is by exploiting their children.

“Pimping the kids “ ????

JemimaPuddlegoose · 24/08/2022 15:57

LOL, have you seen the desperate scrapings they put in the court circular as "work"? Brief phone calls. Family activities. Social events. They put anything they can down as work because they barely work.

It's hilarious naïve to think they're doing loads of "senior" work behind the scenes (on what? They don't do anything) that they baffling decide to keep private and secret, despite padding their public work record like crazy.

Oh and I would hardly bring up the embarrassing NY trip. Harry does a speech at the UN in New York which garners global press attention. The press are then full of articles about how William wants to do a speech at the UN too. William then immediately announces he'll be visiting New York during the UN conference to give a speech.... but not at the UN, oh no. At an "Earthshot Prize Summit" that his own charity organised and is funding, seemingly for no reason other than to give William the opportunity to give a speech in NY too.

Why is a British charity holding their summit in NY? Why is a charity whose sole purpose is environmentalism hosting a summit involving international plane travel? There's absolutely no reason this summit couldn't have been in London, or online. (Yes, one New Yorker has been roped in to attend, but he could have attended digitally or they could have found similarly qualified people in the UK.)

Earthshot has already had press criticism because their financials showed the majority of their funding so far as gone on throwing the big fancy launch party. Other than the prize money itself, Earthshot has not actually done anything. Like, at all. It's just an excuse for William and Kate to use charity money to throw themselves parties and fancy ego-stroking busy-work trips.

The Earthshot Prize Innovation Summit website looks like it was created in ten minutes on Wordpress (very amateurish looking site) and just says it's going to be William giving a speech with, a former NY mayor present and "others to be announced soon" (it's only a few weeks away, better get on that!)

Such eco warriors! Using charity money intended for eco work for a short jolly to NY just to prop up Willy's ego.

Capri3 · 24/08/2022 16:08

mondaytosunday · 20/08/2022 21:59

Ho hum. Is this really a surprise to anyone that the Royals have multiple residences and fly around in helicopters? I don't think they hide it from anyone. They are not regular people. They don't have regular jobs. I don't expect them to live like regular people.
The Crown estate (visitors to the Royal Residences, sales of souvenirs, income from property it owns - all of Regent St for example - and more) generates an income of almost £500m a year. Net this is about £270m, of which 75% goes to the treasury. 25% is the Sovereign Grant which supports the Royal Family, and which will be reduced back down to 15% in 2027 once renovations to Buckingham Palace are complete.
(The net is after taxes and expenses). So the Crown has already paid millions in taxes (the royal taxation is complicated) and then hundreds of millions in revenue. A year.
There is an argument that if the Royalty was abolished tomorrow, the Crown Estate would be owned by the government so no loss of revenue - though the ownership structure of various part of the Estate are complicated. And all that tourism money is BECAUSE of the Royal family.
I don't begrudge them the small percentage they cost compared to the revenue they bring in. As to their environmental footprint - pah it's fairly negligible compared to some. They could certainly do more for sure.

This.

Roussette · 24/08/2022 16:08

@JemimaPuddlegoose

There's absolutely no reason this summit couldn't have been in London, or online

Exactly, it's all new and I have no idea why he has to go to NY for this. And let us remember... this was continually thrown at H&M for coming across next month in relation to Invictus and WellChild. Posters were insisting he could do the WellChild awards online.
I pointed out again and again, that he has been a patron of WellChild since 2007 and he has only missed one awards ceremony in person because of Covid. Every single year he has turned up to present the Awards and give a speech. Nope, he shouldn't be coming. Ridiculous.
But of course for William it's different... his fledgling Earthshot deserves a trip to NY.
You couldn't make it up.

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