Page 4 | 8 million on portraits of the King

AskMeMore · 2023-04-04T00:35:25+00:00

As part 0of the Coronation the government are spending 8 million pounds on photographs of Charles to send out to institutions around the country. The idea is that organisations will display the portrait on their walls. This is a ridiculous waste of taxpayers money. If a school or local authority want to display a photo of Charles, they can buy it themselves. Most would not though. This is totally unwanted.

Hawkins003 · 04/04/2023 21:16

All hail the great king.
8 million, pocket change
when you consider the amount of ££ the country gets from tourism with relation to the royal family .

L3ThirtySeven · 04/04/2023 21:21

Kendodd · 04/04/2023 21:12

Why do public institutions need a picture of the head of state on the wall?
Genuine question.

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It’s some sort of tradition to have portraits of head of state and president/PM on the walls of government offices. Most of the former British colonies still do it (but obviously with their own leaders).

Roussette · 04/04/2023 21:26

derxa · 04/04/2023 21:03

The only things I've seen... he opened Dumfries House one afternoon a week when the weather was cold for a free cup of tea Eh? Dumfries House has a perfectly lovely cafe. What do you mean?

This.

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/ayrshire/king-charles-throw-open-doors-29123790

Roussette · 04/04/2023 21:29

Before you think otherwise @derxa, I have said this is a good thing in my original post!

Shame it was only a couple of hours a week but deffo the right idea.

Marchintospring · 04/04/2023 21:39

Not read the thread but I think it’s just going straight back to the British economy. Not like passports made in France or ships made abroad.

CathyorClaire · 08/04/2023 21:42

8 million, pocket change
when you consider the amount of ££ the country gets from tourism with relation to the royal family

Can you link to confirmed figures?

While I'm waiting, I'll say I'm not surprised at £8m on civic daubs when the new king has commissioned no fewer than 12 new warblings in honour of his own coronation while offering no indication as to who's paying.

Hawkins003 · 08/04/2023 22:42

CathyorClaire · 08/04/2023 21:42

8 million, pocket change
when you consider the amount of ££ the country gets from tourism with relation to the royal family

Can you link to confirmed figures?

While I'm waiting, I'll say I'm not surprised at £8m on civic daubs when the new king has commissioned no fewer than 12 new warblings in honour of his own coronation while offering no indication as to who's paying.

Nah, I got no figures but I'm guessing my math estimate is more than correct,

CathyorClaire · 09/04/2023 21:35

Nah, I got no figures

No-one making that claim ever does.

Serenster · 10/04/2023 08:31

While I'm waiting, I'll say I'm not surprised at £8m on civic daubs when the new king has commissioned no fewer than 12 new warblings in honour of his own coronation while offering no indication as to who's paying.

Someone wealthy supports the arts and showcases their product? Can’t say I have a problem with that, the creative sector gets precious little state support otherwise.

Sudeko · 10/04/2023 08:35

ladykale · 04/04/2023 08:30

I hate this stupid logic.

£12p per person could still go towards something much better

There is absolutely zero use of pictures of the king. Each school could print one from Google if they really want one.

At a time of so much need, the only justification of the coronation is if it attracts tourists and generates extra cash.

£8m on random extra photos will not

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I agree with this. That £8m would hurt a lot more if it came out of his own personal millions. He hasn't done anything for each individual to confiscate even a penny- per-person for his fun and games. Besides, the pennies add up as they say.

CathyorClaire · 10/04/2023 11:12

Someone wealthy supports the arts and showcases their product?

It might have been a little more inspiring had the list had a heavier emphasis on new talent rather than old mates . As it stands it looks like only two of the chosen have no previous royal connection:

https://www.tatler.com/gallery/king-charles-iii-12-coronation-composers-who-are-they

Coronateachingagain · 10/04/2023 12:09

Serenster · 10/04/2023 08:31

While I'm waiting, I'll say I'm not surprised at £8m on civic daubs when the new king has commissioned no fewer than 12 new warblings in honour of his own coronation while offering no indication as to who's paying.

Someone wealthy supports the arts and showcases their product? Can’t say I have a problem with that, the creative sector gets precious little state support otherwise.

So we don't know who is paying? If he pays for it, it's his money - but in this day and age we should not be spending on paintings so that his image is printed in posters in the same ways as his predecessors did. Need to move on, and one oil painting is fine but don't need more.

Serenster · 10/04/2023 13:11

It might have been a little more inspiring had the list had a heavier emphasis on new talent rather than old mates . As it stands it looks like only two of the chosen have no previous royal connection.

I don’t follow your point here. Are you saying that in your opinion only new talent can produce good compositions? Handel (who composed “Zadok the Priest”) had been George I’s choirmaster, and Hubert Parry (who composed “I was Glad”) was the head of the Royal College of Music at the time. Both are very highly regarded coronation anthems that have stood the test of time.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 10/04/2023 13:13

So we don't know who is paying? If he pays for it, it's his money

Given what Cathy just posted about the known connections, I'd be absolutely amazed if Charles is paying at all - especially if we factor in his widely reported distaste for invoices of any sort

Magnoliasky · 10/04/2023 13:15

utterly ridiculous! Surely they just pay someone to take his photo then make it accessible online to everyone in the U.K, with no copy right.

Magnoliasky · 10/04/2023 13:15

I would hope Charles is not using public funds for this

Roussette · 10/04/2023 13:23

Charles is not paying for it!

Oliver Dowden (Culture Secretary) posted a sycophantic tweet saying it's a Government funded portrait.

Errmmm... who pays for the Government?! The taxpayer!

Ap;parently 'we have to unite in the splendour of the King's coronation', he says.

Bollocks to that.

CathyorClaire · 10/04/2023 13:44

Are you saying that in your opinion only new talent can produce good compositions?

Not at all.

Just that if the coronation is regarded as an opportunity to 'showcase' talent it would be more refreshing to see lesser known faces more in need of the exposure.

I'd also like some clarity on who is paying for these commissioned pieces. If (as is most likely) it's the taxpayer, a slimmed down bill for less established talent would fit better with the much touted slimmed down monarchy we've yet to see.

Serenster · 10/04/2023 13:49

Just that if the coronation is regarded as an opportunity to 'showcase' talent it would be more refreshing to see lesser known faces more in need of the exposure.

Oh, do tell me then your current favourite works from the composers listed in the Telegraph article then! I’m always up for a recommendation…

CathyorClaire · 10/04/2023 13:57

Oh, do tell me then your current favourite works from the composers listed in the Telegraph article then! I’m always up for a recommendation…

Do you mean 'Tatler'?

Serenster · 10/04/2023 14:12

Oh, yes, I do, sorry! (You can leave off Andrew Lloyd Webber though, I’m fairly familiar with his oeuvre 😀)

CathyorClaire · 10/04/2023 14:25

No recommendations for any of the rest I'm afraid.

Andrew Lloyd Webber is the highest level of refinement I can tolerate 😀

Serenster · 10/04/2023 14:29

And I suspect it’s the same for most of the people who will be watching the coronation - these composers may be “old mates” of the King as you phrase it, but that doesn’t mean either that they aren’t talented, or they couldn’t do with the exposure. ALW excepted, I imagine currently only a tiny sector of the population is familiar with any of their work.

CathyorClaire · 10/04/2023 14:44

these composers may be “old mates” of the King as you phrase it, but that doesn’t mean either that they aren’t talented, or they couldn’t do with the exposure

You don't think a less cosy playlist would just look better?

Fair enough.

Serenster · 10/04/2023 15:39

I don’t have a problem with people who are experts in their field being selected for a task that requires specific expertise, no.