Why are we still doing this?

[ohdelay]

Article on the BBC today about the annual price going up while everything else is being cut. What is the purpose of a "royal family" in 2025? Surely it's time to let them just be rich people who pay taxes like everyone else and stop funding this circus. It's especially irksome seeing so many in uniform covered in pretend medals when they charge the army millions in rent
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crld11w9538o

No it isn't. That is a weak argument.

Don't forget Charles's crown having it's own velvet cushion, limousine, master at arms, security, being driven on it's own for state openings!

It’s the no IHT that gets me. The rest of us almost halve our estates, they keep the lit. They are not alone in this, but it stinks

This weak straw man comes up every time. We have an elected prime minister in the same way the US have an elected president. We could replace a waving royal with a flag, why spend all this money?

I would like to know too. How are they good value?

Before anyone goes on about the pomp and marching bands and all of that... that will STILL happen. It does in France, and they got rid of their lot! I have been to Bastille Day in Paris and it was massive parades, fireworks, fly overs by planes, troops marching in formation down the Champs Elysees. We won't lose that.

I haven't forgotten, they're hugely expensive displays of wealth when we're looking at cutting benefits for the most vulnerable in society. It's a perfect example of the state of the UK.

If he had paid Corp -25% now AND dividend tax (like the rest of us do).

He would walk away with closer to £8m

You pay then! Start a go fund me

This is also my pet peeve. It's the contempt and not even trying to curb the excesses in spending. The new crown, that looks only very slightly different from the old one. Millions wasted in the rebrand from EIIR to CIIIR on insignia, letter boxes, every digital template. Shouldn't someone have said lets make this generic now so we don't have to spunk it all again in 10 years time. Why is there money for all this but not for the elderly and vulnerable?

Our head of state is a billionaire, who owns vast tracts of land, is above the law, doesn't have to pay inheritance tax and owns palaces.

Only forelock tuggers think this is acceptable.

Charles is not a billionaire. He is only a few quid short of being a double billionaire. Money grows money. Especially when you're not liable for IHT. William will be the same.

Even some of the arguments here are indicative of the legality. They are billionaires only if you believe that they are the legal owners of land and possessions, which other would argue are state owned. Yes there is balmoral and Sandringham, the rest is up for debate and possible legal challenges

Meh, it’s a drop in the ocean and they bring in huge amounts of cash in terms of tourism. Agree they should be subject to the same tax rules as the rest of us though.

No, they don't bring in huge amounts of cash in the way of tourism. That is a myth. There would be no difference if we didn't have them. Even VisitBritain has said this.

How come France takes in more per capita in tourism than us then? They have no monarchy.

I never get this argument.

Then again, France hasn’t had a monarchy since 1848 and tourists never ever go there…

Well, I’ve never actually studied it! But, palaces etc seem to be high on the list of “must visit” places for foreigners who come to the UK. Not my cup of tea but whatever. In terms of the expenditure of this country and the vast, vast, vast sums the public sector pisses away, I can’t get worked up about it.
I am more pissed off about Angela Rayners £60k per year “ personal photographer” or in fact the “personal photographer” of any political party member. Or the fact that they, apparently for tax purposes, do not have “second homes”.

They don’t pay tax as we do. No IHT. That could be a real money earner! No tax on Duchy of Cornwall profits. That should be stopped. Profits equals tax. Taxpayer effectively pays for Buck House. Why? Charles has around 40 properties. It’s too many. As we’ve never not had a RF we have no idea whether they add to gdp or not. Useful for bribing Trump I guess.

i would favour taxing them more and rationalizing their properties. Charities obviously like them and they try and do some good.

Anne does the most - still. William needs to pick up from what he do
in 2024 (71 engagements) now. Hopefully he and Kate will. Sophie and Edward did a lot- 250 between them. If they are not visible, what is the point of them.

Agree with others - ditch the uniforms.

Are you getting this from republic or visit Britain. no data means exactly what is says

"Verdict
There is an absence of data as to whether tourists go to the UK specifically because of the royal family. However, while tourists might not be primarily attracted to the UK solely by the monarchy, the spectacle of royal events and access to parts of the royal estate across the UK enables VisitBritain and other national tourism agencies to build on Britain’s tourism appeal which blends heritage, pageantry and the contemporary. In this way, the relationship between royalty and tourism has an important economic and destination marketing dimension."

In this day and age it's all just silly.
Celebs in fancy dress.

Says you.

Cheese. Gotta be. Maybe wine. Fizzy wine is a real hit. The French have cheese and wine nailed.

That's a lovely 'verdict' for a royalist.

As I say... how come France takes in more tourist revenue per capita than the UK without a monarchy

I know Trump wanted to be Pope, as well as POTUS, but even he couldn't manage President of the UK as well 🤣

Now that I agree with. Give me a runny camembert any day

I’d miss it as it’s the only soap opera I watch, same with my mother around the same age as the Queen, it gave her a lot of pleasure following their doings.

There is such a thing as a Republican head and a monarchist’s heart. The head knows it’s daft, but the heart feels otherwise.

No, it’s not good value for money. It needs streamlining, houses cut back, Andrew and Harry’s head chopped off and Princess Anne should be Queen.
And why scores of tiaras? One each I say. Hidden jewels too, piles from the Russian royal family gathering dust.
The tourist argument is bonkers. Duchy land disgusting.
Ireland had a brilliant President in Mary Robinson, we don’t have to have a Trump🙄

Do I sound confused? I am.