Princess of Wales ad family

[Desperate2023]

Wishing, Princess Kate a speedy and full recovery from me and my family.
Looking forward to Kate and William doing their bit for the UK soon.
A great family that is adored around the world.

OK, fair enough, we’ll have to leave it there as I have other things to do now. I stand by my point that it’s not the long-standing republicans making nasty attacks. I can’t speak for everyone but most I think are more interested in having a serious debate than they are in point scoring or being abusive.

Despite the disputes I hope everyone on here has a good weekend.

I respect your point, but only if you acknowledge that in my view the long standing "pro royal" posters aren't responsible for the newer posters either.
@Fringepolitics294 .

And I would also like to ask @Roussette , are you samcro and the other longstanding posters one single group?
Am I to hold you and the others responsible for every post ?
Would you enjoy it if I accused you of actions by another poster just because you have similar views?
Because that's what you and samcro both have done to me today!
I don't appreciate it and I certainly wouldn't do it to other posters so please stop now.

Agreed that no one is responsible for any other poster but imho the long-standing posters monarchists didn’t cover themselves in glory this afternoon.

There was one person in that conversation with you yesterday and it wasn't @jeffgoldblum.

@Fringepolitics294 , all of them? , there quite a few you know!
Lumping all poster's regardless of their view , together, isn't fair and reasonable, I try not to do it , I suggest you try not to too !

Ps , I'm not a monarchist, and quite a few longstanding posters aren't either, objecting to labels and then applying your own to others isn't very nice.

Agreed jeffgoldblum, as mentioned below, it’s very unpleasant to be accused of something you haven’t done. .

Quite.

Agreed @Fringepolitics294 👍

Thank you jeffgoldblum 👍

I'd add to that!

I have lived and worked in four countries (three continents):
1 - the UK, unelected HoS, elected Parliament (largely - House of Lords has some influence but can be over-ridden by the House of Commons), independent judiciary

2 - elected HoS, elected Parliament (or equivalent), independent judiciary. Established democracy (well over 100 years)

3 - elected HoS, elected Parliament (or equivalent), some political input in judiciary but largely independent. Established democracy (well over 100 years).

4 - elected HoS, elected Parliament (or equivalent), independent judiciary. More recent democracy.

In every one of them people who are rich and well-connected have disproportionate influence over political decisions, including those affecting taxation, human rights, welfare benefits, state education and healthcare, or any other topic you want to nominate. AND wealth and connections continue over generations and are largely self-perpetuating with a degree of social mobility.

There was a period in country 4, during and following the establishment of democracy, where there was more movement in political and socio-economic terms, but the longer the current set up continues the less movement there is. Certain families/communities/areas have developed and consolidated their wealth and status.

I don't see any difference between monarchies and republics when you look at wealth inequality, or social mobility.

So I don't see any evidence that changing constitutional arrangements in the UK would do anything to change the problems of inequalities in the UK.

It is a wonderful smoke screen to distract people from the power they do have to get involved in the current set up, and do what is open to them to campaign for change and use the levers that do exist to effect change.

The problem is not people lobbying for loopholes that will benefit them, the problem is the government - and elected politicians - agreeing to it when it comes from their cronies and the 'inner circle'. That includes someone paying to go to a political party fundraiser so they can have quiet word with a Minister about whatever legislation is getting in the way of them becoming even richer.

Also before my addled brain forgets @mrsmingleton , many thanks, most kind .

Yet the queen and other cling on to it into their old age unlike teachers, barristers, doctors and other real workers who look forward to retirement and protest at statutory retirement age being extended.
Most who will wait months to get cancer treatment from the NHS they paid to unlike the RF who pay no taxes and get the best health care. https://twitter.com/vicderbyshire/status/1755609901261603089?s=19

@LadyPineapples Yet the queen and other cling on to it into their old age unlike teachers, barristers, doctors and other real workers who look forward to retirement and protest at statutory retirement age being extended.
Most who will wait months to get cancer treatment from the NHS they paid to unlike the RF who pay no taxes and get the best health care.

I wouldn't compare being Queen to being a teacher, barristers or doctor, and I am choosing to ignore the "other real workers". The latter are jobs. The Queen saw her position as her destiny.

It's all got a bit bad tempered here today?

@Fringepolitics294 your DH needs to find a job with more annual leave. 4 weeks is shit. I get 6!

We don't know whether William is work shy. He's not appearing in public for now. He could still be working behind the scenes. I agree he is in a privileged position where he can do it, but I do feel that, given the King's illness, he should be stepping up and covering some duties for him. Plenty of parents have to pay someone else to do the school run all the time! Plus the kids have their mum home now, and their nanny. I do think he should step up now.

I'm puzzled by your belief that RF don't pay taxes. You may be right, but it contradicts what I remember. Queen Victoria paid tax. At some point after her, the reigning monarch ceased to pay any. Don't know which one. Hence when our late queen got the throne, for some of her reign she was exempt. However, I clearly remember things changing, and she had to start paying tax. There was a lot of coverage about it. Private Eye ran a cartoon in which she was talking on the phone to Lester Piggott. The implication was that she wanted tips on how to get out of paying. LP had been convicted of tax evasion. Now, with all that noise about it - it was in the 80s or 90s - surely we would have heard about it if things had swung back, leaving her once again tax exempt. Also, if the monarch has to pay tax, surely the others have to pay. I think inheritance tax is waived for anything passed from monarch to heir. But as far as I know, all other taxes are paid.

I think QE2 simply saw it as her duty. By all accounts she was happiest when a Navy wife in Malta in the early years of her marriage, and Philip was happiest when he had his career and didn't spend his time walking a few steps behind his wife.

They were both devastated when George VI died, not only because she lost her father, but because they had both hoped for and expected another decade or so at least with that life. But they saw it as their duty, and did it.

Royal finances: Where does the King get his money? - BBC News

'In 1992, The Queen volunteered to pay income tax and capital gains tax on her personal income, and the King does the same.

The two duchies are exempt from corporation tax, but the King and the Prince of Wales voluntarily pay income tax on the revenue they generate. However, the amount of tax they pay is not made public.

They do not pay capital gains tax because they do not benefit personally from any increase in the duchies' assets.

Members of the Royal Family pay tax on any income generated from privately-owned assets.

King Charles does not have to pay inheritance tax on the money he received when Queen Elizabeth died, under the "sovereign to sovereign" exemption agreed in 1993 by then Prime Minister John Major.

@wildernesssw I think that's why William and Kate have been allowed, even encouraged, to take a step back while they raise their family - because of the Queen and Prince Philip's experience. I think it's a good thing.

if only some posters knew how they come across to others. Oh well, never mind

Yeah. If only!

Agreed 😂

One of the issues though is that they never really took a step forward. Even before children, they didn't do many engagements.

And their life is different in that Phillip had a pretty serious naval career, he wasn't also working very part time

Agree !

if only some posters knew how they come across to others. Oh well, never mind!

Yep.