Duchy of Lancaster Theft

[Roussette]

Just when I thought I could not be more taken aback at some of the practices undertaken by our Monarchy, and the sheer greed.

I then read this article. Bottom line.... anyone who dies intestate in Lancashire, and parts of Merseyside, Grtr Manchester, Cheshire and Cumbria... their assets are scooped up by the Duchy of Lancaster who has collected more than £60M over the last 10 years. Not charity as is the norm.. but into the pocket of our King You need to read the article to see what he actually does with it and how it benefits his personal income.

The article explains it well and will answer any questions and queries about it.

Someone yesterday accused me of 'despising' the RF. I disagreed but I am beginning to wonder if that poster was right. Especially when I read something like this.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/nov/23/revealed-king-charles-secretly-profiting-from-the-assets-of-dead-citizens?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

I started the thread and I am comfortable with what I called it.

There are far worse thread titles on here within the RF board to be honest. My title is quite mild.

You’re allowed to have your own opinion and obviously it’s your thread. I agree with the moral objections, I’m also an autistic lawyer so I’m not sure “theft” should be the prime objection though! Each to their own.

No can do. I consider it theft. The law needs to catch up.

Fair enough. I only started the thread, so not really 'mine' as such

We can agree to disagree. Thanks for your reply.

The law literally defines what is theft. That is partly the problem. Those in charge get to decide. It’s immoral and nobody is keen to change the state of affairs so it’s going to carry on. Similarly people on benefits who underpay or don’t meet the criteria are going to be punished more harshly than those who evade tax totally legally for millions of pounds. Inaccuracy in language helps nobody though.

And @Roussette thanks for your reply in return. I hope it’s clear that I am not saying it’s not a bad use of the money or that it is fair or just. I just take a (slight, only enough to make this point on a thread) objection to the use of the word theft when in my view the problem is precisely the law which makes it not theft and which only a handful of people who are all quite privileged and corrupt can change. I also think that if I had been raised in a tiny little echo chamber of incredibly unusual and privileged rich people and that this was the tradition, I’d probably act as the POW has done and it wouldn’t occur to me that it was wrong, it would be the way things are.

Thank you too @CeciledeVolangesdeNouveau

I suppose my thread title, to me, is similar to a headline in a newspaper. Designed to catch the eye and wanting discussion on this subject because as others have said and agreed with me... the practice is wrong and immoral (to me)

I don't agree with your last sentence and I blame both Charles and his advisers. Times have changed. The RF used to be feted, adored, revered and treated like gods. That time has gone. Society has changed. They are accountable and should be so. And both Charles and his advisers should be forever looking at the optics... at how something will look to the general public. I think that the 70 year 'rule' of the Queen means that archaic practices are so entrenched, that they are not thinking outside the box, as it were!
I thought Charles would be different, it's early days, but I don't think he is different.

Anyway - this issue of bona vacantia was raised in March I think as part of the Guardians ‘ the cost of the monarchy ‘ series
( many thanks to the journalists who are doing all this research and publishing it)
It must have been the story of the individual whose father’s estate was taken by Charles that lit the touchpaper .
Interesting

Lists of facts and reports etc do nothing to bolster support for ‘royals’

I edit for typos

@Roussette interesting points with which I largely agree, apart from the fact that I think Charles is in large part a product of his upbringing and to some extent we can’t blame him for that - I’m not saying he’s had a terrible life but when it’s tradition for him not even to squeeze his own toothpaste, and the Windsors seem to be not the most broad minded or creative thinkers, it’s expecting a lot for reform of the monarchy to be his initiative. I don’t necessarily think he’s an awesome person or that he should be behaving like this, but I can see why it’s happened.

Another problem is that this country is SO hidebound in tradition, convention and just the muddy little areas which allow greedy, venal, self-serving people to take what they want and damn the rest of us. That’s basically the entirety of our constitution (I have a huge interest in constitutional law and have been studying it for over a decade) and it would take massive upheaval for a change. A revolution or civil war. Particularly since the Tories were elected, with the advent of the FTPA, we actually can’t do much about it. So I agree that public opinion is probably the best route for change, I just disagree that they’re breaking the law and don’t see much hope for change. Also I really hope this isn’t patronising but I personally see huge horrible problems that are going to need billions of pounds and if the RF are going to be objectionable away on the side, at least they don’t pose a huge existential threat.

William is lovely. I feel sorry for him however.

I think you are much too pessimistic @CeciledeVolangesdeNouveau .

Reform has already started and the sky didn’t fall in.
There is nothing to stop/ cut massively the offensive flow of money to the Windsors .

I agree the UK is hidebound
Retirn to the CIvil List which has the bonus of parliamentary scrutiny and that would help a great deal

William is extremely popular, not only in the UK, but around the world. I think he will do extremely well as King, as will Catherine as Queen.

Whether you realise it or not @CeciledeVolangesdeNouveau ‘ it’s much too complex to reform ‘
is the defence royalists attempt when they run of arguments.
Bit by bit it can be done

I apologise - I do have a tendency to be gloomy but on this thread have been more trying to be a realist!

However, just to add to the pessimism (sorry) I don’t really have much faith in parliamentary scrutiny because the government don’t care about public opinion, or at least are acting as if they don’t, and atm all parliament can do is point out what is going wrong. The government decide what actually changes. It’s a good idea if everyone is playing by the rules but they aren’t really any more.

@CeciledeVolangesdeNouveau Totally agree with ... I can see why it has happened. Unfair on him maybe... the Queen feted and adored because of her longevity. He was never going to be popular after her.

I've enjoyed your posts

There is nothing to stop/ cut massively the offensive flow of money to the Windsors

I wouldn't say "nothing", Novella
For a start there's monarchs' consent, manipulation by the selling of honours and the exemption from the FoI Act whereby we can't even find out much of what they do - and they're just the three things which occur to me without thinking about it much

When so much of the establishment is bought and paid for by the RF it won't be so easy to persuade them to disadvantage this family

Theft from whom?

In the case of the anecdotal article, from a man whose father didn’t want him to inherit his estate and who didn’t even know he had died for 9 months?

William is extremely popular, not only in the UK, but around the world. I think he will do extremely well as King, as will Catherine as Queen

How do you know that? An opinion poll of 830 people or what...

That's a very sweeping statement that he is 'extremely popular round the world'

Totally agree. It really sticks in the craw of the republicans on here.

I don't understand derxa.

By your reckoning then.... that makes Harry & Meghan very popular! They've had similar crowds and cheering.

But please... let's not derail this thread with how popular William is.

I don't understand derxa. I'm sure you don't 😂
H&M's popularity is neither here nor there as Harry will never be the king.

Just making it up as I am going along Rousette, all for a bit of craic.😀

So you admit you have come on here specifically to derail the thread... 'for a bit of a craic'.

If you carry on with deliberate derailing, I will contact MNHQ because up until now there have been no deletions, no derailing, just interesting discussion.