C4 Dispatches on Duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster

[Babadookinthewardrobe]

I couldn’t find another thread on this. I watched this yesterday. I am so angry. The royal family are grim parasites funding their luxury lifestyle from the sweat of the British people. Via the duchies they are rinsing the NHS and charities for millions. It’s horrific. No IHT, no CGT, no transparency, no consideration for the environment of which they are supposed to be stewards in the duchies.

Their behaviour and greed is absolutely grim
and I am so sick of the lot of them. I’m joining republic, I’m so shocked at what I’ve just seen. The French had the right idea.

Absolutely nauseating isn’t it, and so bloody obvious!

Have they made any official comment into the outrageous revelations in Dispatches other than the nonsensical “private enterprise with a commercial imperative” bullshit? Or are they just attempting to smother it with the flurry of puff pieces released over the past few days. Stupid question really…

Well....latest is Andrew can now afford to stay at Royal Lodge, he's found a pot of gold and convinced the privy purse or whoever that he can pay for the upkeep.
Is that a puff piece?!

I know, if was a pathetic justification.

"Private enterprises with a commercial imperative" don't have people* singing to them about how "gracious" and "noble" they are. Or lining the streets to see them roll around in a state funded gold carriage.

So maybe they should pick a position. Totally chill if they want to be revoltingly rich private individuals with a nasty mercenary streak. But then maybe we can do away with the whole idea of a monarchy.

If they want to keep the monarchy they need to at least act vaguely as if they cared about their "subjects"

*(I mean, I don't sing the bloody song etc, but a lot of people do)

That’s what gets me the most - the entire lack of giving any sort of a crap about his subjects while we are all supposed to be on the edge of our seats about his health battles. And them turning up to grace the nhs with their presence at the opening of a new ward when it could’ve been 2 wards if the royal family hadn’t stolen the money.

They truly make me sick.

To be fair, they turn up to open wards and things because the public want them to.

They criticised if they don't do enough appearances. How often are W&K called lazy beggars in contrast to Anne for e.g.

I can't be exercised to be upset. They're monarchs. Many m(b)illionaires and lots of MPs who vote for austerity measures also do the 'good charity fundraiser, oh look at me, please pap me while I'm here, do-gooding' gimmick.

• they are

They don't just turn up 'because the public want them to' but because due to the monarchy they have public facing roles; so it is the job they are expected to do. And W&K are lazy.

And the difference between them and other multi-millionaires, celebrities and MPs is that the latter have to pay taxes. The royals otoh make a show of being public servants whilst helping themselves to public money. Their hypocrisy is staggering; they (pretend to) give with one hand what they take away with the other.

The public want them to because we know no different. Imagine how refreshing it would be to have a ward opened by Robert Winston, inventor, scientist, doctor, a peer... and the man who pioneered IVF.
Sir David Attenborough opening a new building for animal rescue
Dame Judi Dench opening a performing arts centre for disabled kids
Simon Armitage UK Poet Laureate opening a Library
I could go on...

The Royal Family haven't done anything except to be born into a certain family. I just don't understand why people revere them so much.

They don't just turn up 'because the public want them to' but because due to the monarchy they have public facing roles; so it is the job they are expected to do. And W&K are lazy.

I don't know enough about what W&K do away from their public engagements to determine if they are lazy or not. I disagree that the public do not want to see the monarchs out and about doing things, shaking hands etc. The huge throngs lining up to see them clearly demonstrate that they do.

The latter part regarding tax I can't argue with.

I guess essentially my stance is you can make an argument that we ought not to have a monarchy anymore and should become a full republic.

But I can't understand the expectation that people designated as Monarchy do anything for anyone, act as public servants, pay taxes, or not charge rent etc. They are Monarchs. Grace and favour is inherent in the title. It's silly in my opinion to expect them to act like grateful benefactors/resses. I actually don't know why they are obligated to do any public facing roles.

It's also ridiculous- looking at countries like the USA - to think that there will be more equality or meritocracy simply if this small handful of people are removed. There absolutely will not be. Precisely the opposite will happen.

Why isn't there the same anger towards the donor/lobbying/shareholder class for manipulating policy and democracy? Because they manipulate it in ways much more tangibly and more directly harmful to the average man and woman.

Times are a-changing though @BustingBaoBun - I don’t think you’ll find many royalists in the younger generations. Tick tock William and Kate….

I saw this last night. I am outraged, on no level can I see the justification for charging the tax millions on lands that they originally seized from the people. Then they have no tax liability themselves. And being poor landlords/ environment destroyers whilst preaching to the rest of us. I thought I was supportive of the monarchy but I now feel they are absolute parasites. I hope they do the right thing but doubt they will

The Rothbury Estate in Northumberland 9500 acres was put onto the open market last year by the hereditary land owner.thankfully wildlife charities are fundraising to buy it. How can it be OK where a person can sell a huge chunk of Northumberland on the global open market? I would love to see land returned to the ownership of the people

Huge throngs turn up to see Peter André turn on the Christmas lights. Doesn't mean we should give him and his family and descendants for a thousand years twenty palaces and a golden coach.

They are going nowhere any time soon. However I feel their popularity will wane when our parents' generation is gone.

Those coming up behind them are more interested in TikTok and Insta and all that jazz and I doubt many will want to look at kilt wearing, hatted and booted formally dressed middle aged and older Royals dripping in jewels much.

Resentment will build too from all quarters eventually I feel, but actually it is indifference to them that will do them in.

But they will keep their wealth anyhow and won't care. There's the rub.

Yes, bit it's not a like for like comparison.

Peter Andre is not a Monarch firstly. Also Peter Andre is not a constitutional figurehead. Also neither Peter Andre, nor his offspring, are representative of, or embody, a nation's entire constitutional history going back to King William the Conqueror.

Also Peter Andre pays his taxes

Yes, there is that.

But that's because he's not all the above.

Agree.

I also think that the numbers that show up for PoW, king and queen are very low.

That shines a light that would be best not shined...

How would you organize the land being 'returned to the ownership of the people'? Would I be given an acre, free? Which people would qualify to be the new owners?

Of course having an elected head of state would abolish inherited privilege. Trump won the Presidency entirely on his own merits....

Or possibly not.

All this handwringing about how nothing can ever change to stop this family taking the massive piss is doing my head in.I bet it was the same in Versailles in 1788. Oh nooooo, we can't possibly do any reforms, our hands are tied, let them eat cake

'Why isn't there the same anger towards the donor/lobbying/shareholder class for manipulating policy and democracy? Because they manipulate it in ways much more tangibly and more directly harmful to the average man and woman.'

I think there absolutely is a lot of public anger towards all those who manipulate and subvert democracy. But it is especially galling - and depressing - to see those who are supposed to represent our nation and uphold the best of our way of life, behave in the same way and worse.

From the Royals' own website: '.... The Monarch has a less formal role as 'Head of Nation'. The Sovereign acts as a focus for national identity, unity and pride; gives a sense of stability and continuity; officially recognises success and excellence; and supports the ideal of voluntary service.'

How successfully do they do the above in your view? How do they give a sense of unity (the King can't even unite his own family btw - is he really well placed to be 'Head of Nation?). How do they recognise success and excellence when they embody inherited privilege? How do they effectively support voluntary service when they have been found to take money even from charities to enrich themselves (so they have directly enriched themselves from public donations).

I don't know what they do away from their (increasingly few) public engagements.....I must say though that the idea of them toiling away tirelessly on our behalf behind the scenes seems vanishingly unlikely. All the evidence suggests that they are all about appearances and making a little work seem like a lot.

'Of course having an elected head of state would abolish inherited privilege. Trump won the Presidency entirely on his own merits....
Or possibly not.'

Abolishing the monarchy won't by itself lead to equality; however it will ensure that inequality is no longer baked into the system as it is now.

I mean, it would help if they had some expertise rather giving the collective impression of being rather dim. They are hardly Britain's best and brightest, are they?

They don't have to be the best and brightest. AFAICS they just need to be able to wave and nod/smile at their subjects now and then.