RF covering for Andrew?

[flippantlydone]

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/dec/28/dubious-use-of-the-freedom-of-information-act-stopping-access-to-files-on-prince-andrew-researchers-say

I'm not a royalist but I am a constitutional monarchist.

It isn't a surprise that Andrew's business dealings are murky. It's never been clear how he could afford to fulfil the terms of his lease of Royal Lodge so obviously something was up. The vastness of it is a surprise though. Well done to the journalist for keeping going on the story.

I find it interesting that Charles was ignored when he suggested not making Andrew a trade envoy. I suspect that the reason it's so hard to uncover details of his dealings is because it reflects badly on politicians and the civil service, not just Andrew. What reason do they give for ignoring his own brother thinking it was a bad idea?

The late Queen obviously had a blind spot where Andrew was concerned. I think though instead of being a pattern for the future, the very fact that people are looking at the finances of minor royals is good for future transparency. Going forward let's hope things change. Charles isn't from an era of reverence and I believe he will be more open about royal finances. He doesn't though have the power to look at anyone else's, even in his family, that has to come from parliament.

We are no longer living in an age where the very rich and or aristocratic can be sure they can get away with dodgy dealings and deference will protect them. Let's face it Andrew is the Royal tip of a very large iceberg of people behaving illegally). There are vastly greater numbers of non royals with dubious finances and tax avoidance schemes. I want financial transparency for everyone wealthy not just royals.

So yes I'm all for much needed reform. I just don't want it to stop with those related to the King.

I find it interesting that Charles was ignored when he suggested not making Andrew a trade envoy. I suspect that the reason it's so hard to uncover details of his dealings is because it reflects badly on politicians and the civil service, not just Andrew. What reason do they give for ignoring his own brother thinking it was a bad idea?

I think his Mother enabled him and her word was final. And you say this @MrsLeonFarrell, I respect your post. And maybe I need to think of myself as a constitutional monarchist. A realistic position for me perhaps

Charles isn't from an era of reverence and I believe he will be more open about royal finances. He doesn't though have the power to look at anyone else's, even in his family, that has to come from parliament
I do disagree on this. I think he is even more secretive than his Mother if that were possiblle. We are not moving forward as far as transparency, if anything it's backwards.
As I posted elsewhere... parliament’s clerks have vetoed every attempt to raise concerns about Andrew and other royals. They have argued that parliament’s standing orders and Erskine May, the authority on ­parliamentary procedure, prevent discussion of the monarchy and of any matters that reflect on the sovereign or royal family.

The Royal family are fully protected and can do what they want with no scrutiny.

Queen Elizabeth was in charge, not Prince Charles. Why would the government ignore what the Queen says and go with what the Prince says?

And if this was a government cover up which I doubt, there would be every reason for Labour to expose it. Labour would love to expose something that made the Conservatives look bad. The reason they have not is that I strongly expect Queen Elizabeth was very involved in any decision making.

It is hard to be sure when transparency will come and with whom. I would hope it will start with Charles but I could be wrong. If not with him then it will definitely happen with William if only by then I think the public clamour would be impossible to ignore.

William is the least transparent of the lot of them.

He is keen to defend his private life, which is understandable, but I have seen no evidence that he is secretive about anything connected with his royal duties and position.

They took ages to publish the diversity of their staff team. I think they did not publish anything one year. They give way less detailed information in their annual report than Charles does. They often do not put visits in the Court Circular ahead of time. They hide when they are on holiday. Queen Elizabeth used to openly say when she was off on holiday. Catherine got papped at the ski resort over New Year with no official announcement she and William were on holiday.
Sure William is not secretive about the PR photoshoots during his "work"

I don't see any problem with them not announcing holidays. From the security standpoint alone it's probably wise.

The Court Circular hasn't been an accurate reflection for years and they aren't in charge of what goes in and what doesn't. More detail in annual reports would be good.

You claimed William was more transparent. I said he was less transparent.
Queen Elizabeth announced her holidays and where she was going. Are you saying she was not at any security risk?
William does not even has to announce where he is going, just say he is on holiday. That presents zero security risk. He just does not want the public to know he is semi permanently on holiday.
Same with Court Circular. He does not want people to realise how little he does.

I agree. The only hope was Charles. Transparency will not happen with William, I'd put money on it.

I didn't say he was more transparent, I said I hoped he would be transparent around finances if Charles didn't make changes first.

I also said I don't see evidence he is secretive in terms of his duties and position. I take the point that his annual reports could do with more detail and agree but apart from that I haven't seen evidence that he is secretive around his royal life. I have no problem with him keeping his family life and plans private.

He just does not want the public to know he is semi permanently on holiday.

Yes. We've only just heard he is in Mustique with the family. He is incredibly secretive I think.
I don't hold out hope when he becomes Monarch.

William I think is more determined and more hard nosed than his father.

I thought they were skiing?

That was in January.

Mustique now

@MrsLeonFarrell

Charles isn't from an era of reverence and I believe he will be more open about royal finances

well he hasn't been so far despite ample time and opportunity

ah right.
Poor loves must be exhausted.

How do people find out where they go on holiday?

I didn't find out. It came up in the media all over.

What do you mean by Royal life? Do you mean his PR photoshoots? Of course he is not secretive about this.

Dear god - so the Wales were skiing in January and now it's Mustique?

I grudge nobody a holiday and can quite see a break will be welcome after the year they've just had, but it's not exactly doing much to assuage the "lazy William" thing

Yes. No idea if they're still there. Also Ma and Pa Middleton with them

They are rich. Even less wealthy people go away for both Christmas and the February half term (several families in my childrens’ classes have done exactly that). Also, I presume they didn’t have holidays last year due to Kate’s health. And it was Carole Middletons 70th birthday on 31 January, so she may well have wanted to go away for a family holiday to mark the event (we also went away for a big family holiday to mark my mother’s 70th).

But obviously people will judge them for it. I don’t think they should Iive their personal lives to attempt to minimise the negative views of people who likely would regard them negatively whatever they do - any more than I would bother doing that myself!

They are all grifters.

I don’t think they should Iive their personal lives to attempt to minimise the negative views of people who likely would regard them negatively whatever they do

Well....it's optics isn't it?

I don't know anyone who has gone for a ski-ing holiday followed by a holiday on an exclusive private Caribbean island. I obviously move in different circles to you!

Official visits, charity visits, Duchy meetings (I'd like more information about these), investitures, patronage, campaigns he is supporting etc etc

As opposed to things he does with his children, family holidays etc. I literally do not care about those. I don't care how many times they go abroad, rich people have more foreign holidays than I do.