Courtiers the release !

[jeffgoldblum]

In preparation for the books release , and with permission from randompenguin , I thought it would be good to start this thread now !

how do they cost the 3m that a poster has claimed

I guess the press pick a number, times it by 4, double it, add a nought and voila.

It was reported he paid Virginia Guiffre £12m. But if you read those reports, it was just what legal "experts" guessed. Reports are now saying it was actually £3m.
The truth is, we just don't know. So there's no point in writing this as fact when it's just gossip.

So the security staff are better paid than the prime minister for their work 🤔 Where do I sign up

Have we got a Prime Minister? I didn't know that 🤣

We can still sense check numbers though. I wonder if the private guys get paid a lot more

Funny isn't it. People complain about the cost of the RF, and then when steps are taken to reduce the costs, well, they complain again!

The more pertinent point (leaving aside the ethics of the rather heartless hire and fire culture that prevails) is whose pocket those cost savings are lining.

CathyorClaire · Today 19:45The more pertinent point (leaving aside the ethics of the rather heartless hire and fire culture that prevails) is whose pocket those cost savings are lining.

re the Hire & Fire culture. It's a well known career path for those in domestic service, work for the Royals (and accept the low wages) for a year or two, then you can get a well-paid job anywhere.

They haven't just uplifted the Sovereign Grant from 15% to 25%, though. It's actually awarded as two sums. It's something like 52m for royal duties and 35m for BP

You're quite right Marsha, though it leaves the question of whether Charles will see it quite that way. Once again time will tell, but I wouldn't be in the least surprised if in future it all gets rolled up into one sum and an excuse found to go on paying the whole lot

BTW you're also right that their security's never commented on, and for obvious reasons I get why that is. What I'm not so clear on is why the actual cost can't be made known in isolation, and it's hard not to wonder if that's purely because it would blow the "67p per person" out of the water

I imagine so Puzzled. Personally I don't see that saying they cost £100million in protecting them is a security issue. (Or however much it is)
Surely if it's a lot of money it just shows they are well protected and don't try anything!

Once again time will tell, but I wouldn't be in the least surprised if in future it all gets rolled up into one sum and an excuse found to go on paying the whole lot.

There's no evidence to believe that will be the case. The payment for BP is due to run for another 5 years, I think, and has been costed to about £400m on total. But, of course, if you're sceptical of the RF, it's only natural that you'd think the worst. Actually, I think Charles is well aware of keeping costs low because of concern amongst the public, and because opening up the palaces make so much money, I wouldn't be surprised if he tries to do more of that. I'd live to go in St James Palace. BP was great. Loved the chandeliers. I can't wait to go back when it's all been done up.

As for security, we just don't know. I don't think they issue costs for any security arrangements for any visiting dignitaries either. Maybe if they issued the annual cost of RF, the public and the media would look for a further breakdown to complain about, give false info as to how what was occurred which would force more info to be given. Its like feeding a beast. Maybe it would give security information away to those who are more aware of these matters? I don't know.

There are reports that security of Tony Blair is costing millions because of his overseas visits and flights for his security staff etc. There,nern a lot if criticism about it. But TB was always more interested in overseas policy than domestic so it seems unfair to me that he should curtail his overseas work because of his security staff. But we just don't know what the type costs are and if he covers anything thtough his buiseness. And if we did, we'd start comparing one PM to another, nit picking away, so maybe its better to just accept RAVEC makes a decision on a needs basis.

Thanks for confirming what i was thinking the SG covers a fair chunk of stuff and it's up to the Sovereign to manage that money.
It's not personal money. I also vaguely remember the days of the civil list when the RF were paid individually.

With the revolving door at Number 10, at the moment I can certainly see a benefit to having a Head of State who's politically neutral. And likely to give a reasonable amount of longevity.

Number 10 is turning into a football managers position, enjoy while it lasts as you know sooner or later your going to get the sack.

With the revolving door at Number 10, at the moment I can certainly see a benefit to having a Head of State who's politically neutral

So can I in ttheory, except there's a huge question mark as to whether Charles really is

Among other issues I'm thinking of the resistance to the publication of the "black spider" letters, when it was suggested that if Charles forfeited his political neutrality it would be hard for him to reclaim it as king ... a strange position to take if they were convinced he really is non partisan

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/may/13/prince-charles-black-spider-memos-published-after-10-year-legal-battle

So can I in ttheory, except there's a huge question mark as to whether Charles really is

When he did his first speech as king, he said he was moving away from certain issues because his role had changed so I think he saw his role as PoW to be more of a campaigning one and he recognises he can't be involved in that as king. I also think a lot of things he spoke about in the past, he was mocked and criticised for, but later it became quite mainstream and accepted.

I was reading an article today, strangely, of him and Camilla visiting a youth project. The kids were excited at meeting royalty but judged that he would be out of touch and irrelevant. However, after meeting with them, many were touched by the concern they showed which they felt was genuine and felt that they understood and wanted to understand. It made a big impression on them.

I think its great that at the time when Parliament is in such disarray, the Head of State is getting on with business and showing the citizens that he is listening and understanding. And, honestly, if, during his weekly meeting with Luz Truss, he talks about this and what social workers felt they needed to improve things, isn't that a good thing? That he's passing on concerns of people working on the ground.

When he did his first speech as king, he said he was moving away from certain issues because his role had changed

Once again you're right, Marsha, though I remember it more as him saying he won't have as much time for his charities, but on the subject of meddling that's something which only time will show

That said, while I gladly put my hands up to being anti-monarchist, I'm also aware that what's said and what happens can be two different things, that Charles has ample form for trying to keep his actions secret when it suits, and that in any case he's now untouchable as king - and TBH those last three things don't work for me at all

Obviously being anti or pro monarchist does make a difference as to how you view the king. I don't feel the same affection for Charles that I felt for the Queen, but I think he's a good guy who is spoken well of by everyday people who meet him. I think he's talked about issues ahead of their time and he's set up initiatives to help many people, particularly the young.

Listen I could go on for ages about why monarchies work so well and usually exist alongside stable governments but you know all my arguments and I know all yours, so I won't. 🙂

The argument will always be there and will come to the fore at certain instances. I do think Charles, having worked with many young people over the years, is aware of the grumbles about the RF so it'll be interesting to see how he navigates this path over the next couple of years.