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

The various Royal Correspondents are the same people. The people who get invited to the Palace, and the ones who get sent the press releases, and get invited to tea at The Palaces, plus the editors. You just have to read, for example, the snivelling drivel written by Royah Nikkah in The Times, for example, to see that they are in no way anything other than the PR arm of the Royal Family.
The problem with having a Monarchy isn't necessarily the people themselves ( I do respect King Charles more than most of younger Royals, including both his 2 cheeks of the same bum sons) the issue is that other people ( Parliament, the press, the courts, the government) collude with them to give them preferential treatment. They ask for things, the people who's jobs are to work for British citizens, when it comes to the Royal Family, roll over.

I couldn't agree more, MrsLF

Now, if Charles really did oust his brother from Royal Lodge, or parliament insisted on a proper inquiry into the Yorks' antics that might well attract attention, but clearly Charles isn't going to do that and in parliament there's an all too convenient understanding that the RF won't be discussed

How very convenient

Tomatotater

2 cheeks of the same bum

Haven't come across this before - love it!
Definitely going to adopt it.

Totally agree. I think there are far bigger fish to fry constitutionally, and if we were to have a ceremonial President like they have in Ireland, whats the point, we may as well keep a family to provide a Ceremonial Head of State and do their show pony bit, but they need to be properly scrutinised, and be made to justify why they want to do things like be exempt from legislation, and having papers hidden even though they relate to work done for the UK government, like Andrew Trade envoy role. If it is then granted, fair enough, but proper open debate about them in Parliament and in the press is essential.
Even though the hangers on will always exist, proper scrutiny from the press will hopefully mean they will think twice when approached by shady people. I don't see what is wrong with what Zara is doing- shilling off her links to the Royal Family- (she cant help being the Kings niece, and I don't want to support her to open a shopping centre- Harry and Meghan should have been allowed to do the same thing) but some open scrutiny from the Press would go a long way to stop them getting involved in dodgy dealings.
The problem is that they are none too bright as a family, so cant see that more scrutiny will benefit them and stop them getting into so much trouble. Their enormous entitlement means they need to be protected from themselves, but not as it is now, where they do something stupid then have to rely on an army of willing subjects to cover it up, but by having to think about whaether what they are doing is advisable. They would benefit from not being surrounded by obsequious forelock tuggers willing to do whatever it takes to protect them. So many of them don't know how to behave, or how to listen to advice maybe they need to be forced into it by knowing that what they do will be openly discussed in public.

Well said @Tomatotater
Sometimes I think to myself with some of their antics...are you thick? Why on earth would you think this will wash with the public? Don't you ever think things through?
The problem is they have obsequious aides and PR people who are cut from the same cloth...old Etonian types, yes men.
I remember when Kate was going to appoint a new PR person, a woman who had worked for Jamie Oliver...well, she never started the job in the end, her ideas were probably too forward thinking!
Things are going to have to change drastically and I think it's only going to get worse when Charles is not around, I don't hold out hope for a modernisation of the Monarchy with William

Agree. I think the only things William will change are things that will mean he has to do even less. He wont want to give up any privilege for himself or deny his kids the right to live on a huge estate and get paid for doing a few engagements a year.

Or, alternatively, someone who really cares for the institution and doesn't want to see it destroyed from inside.

And a serious structuring of the Royal Family wealth, so that it is not concentrated into the hands of the Monarch and the Heir. The current model was put into place when the spares could be expected to have plenty of rich European royalty, home-grown Dukes/Earls and their trust-funded sons and daughters and, in the 19th century, American heiresses, lining up to marry (fund) them.

Not so now, so we have the problem of kids growing up in the bosom of one of the richest and most prominent families in the world who get to a certain age and then have no access to the Royal family money, except what they can negotiate with the Monarch; and no training for a job in the outside world. And plenty of predators willing to suck up for whatever motives.

It's interesting to look at the late Queen's grandchildren. Two sets obviously being brought up with the need to make their own money (Edinburghs and Anne's), through sponsorship or related things but at least they are doing the work. Then there are the Yorks who have obviously caught entitlement from their father. At no point could they think that they were going to be working royals and yet they seem very keen on dodgy money sources.

The only person who I think was brought up with expectations of constant funding was Harry. Diana always made a point of saying she raised the boys the same which did him a disservice as he clearly isn't the same as the Heir. Harry chose to leave but I can see he wasn't prepared for real life. I hope this whole problem gets fixed for the Wales children and their cousins because I agree it needs attention.

While I think both they and she were superfluous before she died, I've said ever since I think they missed a trick in not walking off stage when it happened.

That said, I can understand C holding out because he'd waited 70 years for the gig but lazy Willy has already signalled his disinterest in much of the charitable 'work' we're assured is so vital while also signalling his intention to decrease even the limited financial transparency Papa allows as a sop to the masses.

A lot of royal fans are going to be disappointed IMO.

I think Andrew was hoping to get his children on the civil list - and he was apparently furious when their security was taken away just before Kate and William got married.

Kate and William have the opportunity to make this change work - it's a challenge they have to prepare Charlotte, and to some extent Louis, just enough so that should they end up the heir they are prepared, while at the same time encouraging good non-royal careers so that they don't need to beg their big brother for money or go to russian oligarchs for handouts.

Yep.

I too reckon there's a lot known but unreported by the press. Whether it's a case of preserving their access to the feel-good stuff or whether it's tiptoing round the swill for honours is anyone's guess but I'm exceedingly grateful to those who aren't afraid to lift the lid.

The thing is, this has to be done now, while they are at school. Who knows what they will turn out like-Andrew was an exceptionally cute child and clearly adored by his mother, yet look how he turned out. It needs to be clear, for their sakes that they will need to forge a life for themselves, for their sakes as much as anyone else's. If it's a choice, it's one the least deserving will make.

Well, the Wales are said to be closest to the Edinburghs and Anne's family and they seem to be forging the better path (with the occasional slight blip of Peter and his 'royal' Chinese milk!) so perhaps they'll have a good example to follow for Charlotte and Louis.

I'd certainly hope that the Margaret/Andrew/Harry lesson has at least jogged them into planning and action.

Children of royals do benefit by the association and simply by the social circle they've grown up in. But they'd still have that if the UK became a republic - the aristo/establishment network will keep on churning. Be interesting to see what down to earth, regular jobs the Boris Johnson offspring find themselves, or future Duke of Westminster kids)

Of course they will, but in a world where they are cushioned by money and can do what they like ( not to mention benefitting hugely from the existence of the RF) you would hope they would not choose to associate with decidedly shady characters but they do. Hopefully the spotlight on Andrew will get the Wales kids to either use some common sense or listen to people paid to use common sense for them.