What do you expect from our Royal Family

[Spectre8]

There were alot of good discussions and comments on my previous thread re. William missing the VJ day around the role and expectations of the Royal Family. I didn't want it to be a bashing thread to make personal attacks at William or Kate but well some comments were still made.

So its made me think there is still a very worthwhile discussion to be had about the future of the RF and their role. So lets try to keep it about that and not specifically about the person in that current role.

For me, if the next King wants a more private life, that his service and duty is not about the number of engagements he or the working royals do then its needs to be really articulated what their purpose is and 100% transparency of the sovereign grant, even a reduction of it since some of the money goes towards covering the cost of these engagments. I'd also like to see some of assets returned to us so we can monetise them to pay for their upkeep.

Apparently, elected politicians Starmer, Reeves, Raynor, Lammy et al are not doing a fantastic job for the UK because KC3 is Head of State

Also please link to whoever has said this. Thanks.

That's incorrect, and is a cut and paste from a very unreliable source.

Prior to George III in 1760, the Crown Estate was owned by the monarch, who also had the responsibility of funding some of the expenses of government out of it (responsibility for other expenses had been taken over by parliament from around 1690, after they took over tax revenue).

Following the agreement being discussed, the Crown lands were handed over and used for government expenses, and the monarch received a yearly fixed payment.

You are saying no different to what I posted.

You are quite correct.

There are those that live in fairytale land and think the State can seize assets from private citizens without severe consequences being dished out by financial markets.

Those that are attached to reality understand eminent domain means the taxpayer compensates the person for assets at fair market value.

So, with the mansion tax incoming to plug the budgetary hole, I wonder where fairytale land residents expect to get the financial resources to pay the RF. Unicorn tears or mermaid fins?

President Trump and PoW - December 2024

Archive link: Telegraph - Soft power

Recent summary of monarchy finances for anyone interested (Parliament research briefing)

Finances of the Monarchy

From what I read in press that appears to be the plan.

Use it as offices and for big state events - ie grand halls and gold wow factor -and possibly have it open more to public rest of the time.

I do wonder how it will all evolve - I don't think there is yet political or popular push to get rid of monarchy because it's a lot of work for no obvious gain - there's more indifference I think that bizzarely often morphs into flag waving at big moments.

We only need one person at top the monarch - so maybe they'll role back the charity sector part/opening things part wider RF family do - as more of the younger generation aren't working royals.

Balmoral is privately owned property, anyway. It's not owned by the Crown.

Balmoral is privately owned.

That is just hilarious and if you think William negotiated to save us billions on the tariffs situation, I am 🤣
Besides which that article is February and Trump didn't present his big beautiful tariffs board until April !

If you think William holds any influence over Trump and the tariffs, you are very mistaken.

We only need one person at top the monarch - so maybe they'll role back the charity sector part/opening things part wider RF family do - as more of the younger generation aren't working royals.

I agree. And I believe William has already said that he isn't doing the patronages but just bit initiatives.

Yes, but Trump said William was very handsome, so clearly soft power worked.

@bluegreygreen said "Following the agreement being discussed, the Crown lands were handed over and used for government expenses, and the monarch received a yearly fixed payment."

She is not strictly correct here. It is the management of the Crown Estate that was handed over to Government and specifically not the ownership.

Abolition of the Monarchy and seizure of the Crown Estate in the event of a Republic being formed is a very grey area, which would be setting a precedent which would make many of us very uncomfortable.To reiterate, the Crown Estate is owned by the Sovereign, not us the people. To try to prove otherwise would undoubtedly have the courts tied up for years

Handsome devil he is, that obviously reduced our tariffs!

Crown estates are tied to the Institution of the Monarchy and if we became a Republic with no Monarchy, it would depend on the constitutional arrangements made during the transition. As in other republics, crown estates are not retained by a past Monarch because it is tied to the institution, and not to an individual.

This is not me advocating for a Republic, by the way, it would be an unholy mess. We are stuck with a Monarchy whether we like it or not. I want it changed drastically though.

There are a lot of people saying that PW won’t do this or this or that he and his wife are lazy. Who knows what they will plan for their time as royals. Someone on the last thread said PW and Kate should be doing more because Charles had cancer and he is working so so should they. Which actually I find a bit shit. They’re not performing monkeys. If W and K need some time with their kids or she has health issues surely that’s okay? Honestly, they’ve had a shit time, leave them be for a bit.

@PensionedCruiser is completely right. When Charles succeeded to the throne one of the first things he did at the Accession Council was to confirm he would continue to give up control of the Crown's hereditary revenues from the Crown Estate in exchange for the Sovereign Grant. People think that getting rid of the monarchy would be easy, and would mean that we have more money as a country. It would be complicated and messy and would, I think, end up with no actual benefit to the people of the UK.

Abolition of the Monarchy and seizure of the Crown Estate in the event of a Republic being formed is a very grey area, which would be setting a precedent which would make many of us very uncomfortable.To reiterate, the Crown Estate is owned by the Sovereign, not us the people. To try to prove otherwise would undoubtedly have the courts tied up for years

I've heard it's not clear who own what and would like many other constitutional aspects possible be a pain in arse to work out/rework - though not impossible.

It would just take poltical energy and time -and after brexit did similar who really pushing for those sort of changes - where's the payoff for the effort and what would get ignored while we sorted the mess out.

It works currently even if outdated in many aspects and until it's an obvious liablity can't see any real push for UK to get rid of them. Plus they have so far been good at changing with the times - maybe they'll pull that trick off again - though not sure how they'll do that.

Fabulous post at @MrsLeonFarrell and I totally agree. I read the last thread which was very uncomfortable reading in parts due to the sheer resentment and jealousy of the life that William and Catherine lead from certain posters. I have never heard William and Catherine claim they are just like the average Joe, not once.

Trump is very personality driven. He likes William. He thinks William is doing a good job. He thinks Catherine is a good mother and wife. He's publicly stated that he won't kick Harry out of the US because Harry is married to a terrible wife and he feels sorry for him. When William came to NYC, he made an excellent impression.Your tariffs are much more favorable than the EU tariffs. I posted a link yesterday in another thread that showed the difference.

As a American tourist, you should leave the RF Windsor. I like the idea of visiting an estate that has been occupied by the monarchy for a thousand years.

No one likes BP. Rent out the non-state rooms?

I also think people should consider what is a job. My job had some major staff shortages and I had to move to non- public duties to cover the missing people. On a day when I did have a public service day, a woman told me that she wished she had months of vacation like me and that I was a lazy bum. I had a similar experience when I returned from three weeks of COVID. I could barely walk but had to come back. Some people don't understand that work can be done behind scenes or people can be legitimately ill and not just faking it . This became very clear, for me at least, after COVID.

William has been criticized for touring his duchy and talking to its residents. I personally think that is a good move on his part since he can observe, listen, and make changes. He's been duke for 2 years. I don't understand why he is blamed for leases and conditions he inherited. Let's hope he has time to make the needed changes.

What happens in other countries is not germane to this discussion. The bottom line is that we do not know how such a situation might be resolved.

You are absolutely correct. Those who glibly call for Charles to abdicate in favour of William, or clamour for a Republic have no idea of the ramifications of a Constitutional change. That doesn't mean that there shouldn't be a change, but I do wish people would stop and think about why things are as they are and not just listen to those who imply change would be easily effected.

"alot of indirect moaning about having to do this role and how they want more normal life."

And I agree with them 100%. They should have a more normal life. I think we should open their gilded cage and let them all loose into the wild. I'm sure they won't starve.

That's odd. Posters bring up other countries repeatedly when a Republic is mentioned.

I'm not sure why you think it's odd. Countries have different histories, constitutions and laws. I suspect ours is probably more complex than most, given that we have 3 different legal systems as a starting point and precedents that go back to the Magna Carta.