Can anyone please tell me....

[Ihateboris]

What they actually do for us, the British tax payer? If anyone comes along and says they bring in more than they cost, kindly provide a current legitimate source..not a quote from ChatGpt.

Less and less I think OP.

I struggle to imagine how royalists can justify their love for the royals. What's to love?

Even the ones the papers celebrate (Kate and Wills) are beyond miserable. Zero warmth.

Superb book.

Norman Baker has another book (Royal Mint, National Debt) on royal finances due out imminently.

I fully intend to read and gasp at that too.

Casting the rest of the hangers-on as 'support acts' doesn't really explain why they're needed as such.

Can you quote any of the arse-licking words which were spoken in public to President Trump? Were they direct compliments to him as a person or were they references to a long-term, fairly good relationship between the USA and the UK?

I really don’t think it would. Versailles is a far more opulent stunning piece of architecture, Buckingham Palace pales in comparison. The draw to Buckingham Palace is who resides (or doesn’t reside) there.

@upinaballoon
Obviously the public were not in hearing distance of any conversations that took place. The carriage ride around the closed Windsor estate comes to mind though..

I think the most valuable asset of the Monarch is their separation from government and therefore politics. If a HOS is required having one with no political allegiance is positive for international relations.

I don’t think it’s about comparing Versailles to Buckingham Palace. I’ve always thought that the most interesting historical tourist attractions in London are Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London for example. Both steeped in history, the atmosphere in both are incredible. Dead Royals tend to hold a lot more interest than live ones.

Versailles is incredible and apart from the fact that it is absolutely stunning to look at, again it’s the dead royals and seeing where Kings were born and stories of aristocrats peeing in pots behind doors because there were too many of them forced to live there by a king because he didn’t trust them when they were in their own homes and out of his sight.

To see an actual royal in real life on the street by sheer ‘luck’ was the most underwhelming experience for me. They are much better in the imagination.

No one resides there! It is an empty shell, open for just a couple of months a year. How right is that? A 700 room palace shut off from the people.

As for your previous post about Kate, I've never read anything quite like that! No one I know, (and I've lived long and know a lot of people) feels like you describe! You are talking about her like she is some kind of deity! Anyone who thinks a well dressed woman walking in London must be a friend of Kate's needs to get a reality check!

I do wonder if the monarchy will exist into the late stages of this century. They seem pretty bullet proof, the recent revelations about AMW are the least of it.
Imho then end should have come post WW2 - the shennanigans from the Windsors (not just Edward) should have been the demise of the institution.

Absolutely agree 👏👏👏

I personally don't think we should have a Royal family. However, if it should continue; then why can't they fund their own lavish lifestyles? They are truly minted (especially Charles and William). I find it disgusting that there are people who can't afford to feed their kids or put the heating on, and yet these entitled people get everything paid for.

I’m confused as to why republicans think that getting rid of one tradition ( monarchy) would mean we still get to keep other ( monarchy adjacent) traditions? Why would we still have horse guard parades? Etc if there is no monarchy all those things that were created for and lead by the monarchy will be removed too ! , it will no longer be possible, no monarch on bank notes ( so they will need replacement) , no longer will courts be in their name , no qcs ( or kc) … I could go on and on but it seems that many people have not thought about just how much the monarchy is threaded throughout our whole history, country and society.
if there is no monarchy then all that will need to be changed, restructured and removed.

I’m confused as to why republicans think that getting rid of one tradition ( monarchy) would mean we still get to keep other ( monarchy adjacent) traditions? Why would we still have horse guard parades? Etc if there is no monarchy all those things that were created for and lead by the monarchy will be removed too !

Disagree. There will always be the parades, horses, fly pasts, cannons, marching bands.. Having been to Paris on Bastille Day, it's totally over the top! . What do you think, all the uniforms, horses, bands, music are just mothballed... nah, not whilst there's a captive audience. Nothing will be removed.

But in the end, they aren't going anywhere so it's all hypothetical

@jeffgoldblum agree entirely! Get rid of the lot, all the pomp & circumstance.
I dont think it will happen unless George or his children/grand children want it.
I can't think of an elected Govt that would have the gumption to abolish it.
Labour, when in opposistion talk a good game but always doff the cap in office.
Not ever a huge fan of Margaret Thatcher, she does deserve all the plaudits for naming Anthony Blunt as a spy in the HoC - despite huge push back from security services.
What was Anthony Blunt (3rd cousin of the QM, purveyor of the house art & Cambridge 5th man) doing running round Germany post war gathering up private correspndence ( from Vicky to various children/grand children🧐 or so they say) on behalf of the royal family & art & jewellry until the yanks said "get it bloody back or we"ll name the Crown as looters!"
Given a sweet heart deal & allowed to continue - rotten to the core.
It really should have been the fall of the House of Windsor & all that goes with it.

I don’t think many republicans do think that, do they? I expect that the palaces and so on would be like other stately homes and remain tourist attractions, but I’m not expecting Trooping the Colour and so on to continue. Other countries that aren’t monarchies have posh dinners that people dress up for so something for shallow people like me to gawp at!

Sorry no ! You cannot think that you get to keep all the royal centric activities without actually having a monarchy.
we are not France, our history is not the same as France ( who have not had a monarchy for ages) , our forces swear an oath to serve king and country, some take it seriously, that will need to change, no royal mint , no warrants, no honours , the list is endless because we have had a monarchy for longer than most people can remember or imagine , it is not a simple thing to change because 40percent of people who haven’t considered or actually know what it means decide!
it would be a hundred times worse than Brexit ( and many people thought that was simply just leaving) .
whether people like it or not it is entwined historically with our country, it’s our national identity and what other countries know us for, it’s not something that can be removed without causing an awful lot of issues.

You may not but others have literally said on this thread that we would still have trooping the colour and horse parades.

I do not expect any sort of change as I said. We are stuck in this situation with no appetite to change anything. There won't be hope for no Monarchy for a very long time.
All that you have listed, I do know about you know!

My only hope is that there is a massive slimming down. I don't hold out much hope for that though.

As for the formalities, how do you think France's evolved? They do massive fly pasts, marching bands, military etc.

Of course we would have horse parades? Why wouldn't we?

What reason would be behind the horse parades?

Also Bastille day ( national day for the French) is a specific national holiday similar to the Fourth of July for America , it has historical significance for them! , it’s not just a holiday.
how would the U.K. have such a celebration without the historical significance?

Good grief, you honestly think if we had no Monarchy all the Armed Forces ceremonial parades would disappear? I don't think so! Military ceremonial parades are linked to the Military. You are suggesting that the Cenotaph march past wouldn't happen without a Monarchy. Certain occasions would be renamed and repurposed but all the parades would happen. There would still be State Opening of parliament with parades, State visits. There would still be the spectacle of military parades, if other countries without a Monarchy do it, why can't we?

All the horses, uniforms, regalia would be dumped... yeah right..🤣

how would the U.K. have such a celebration without the historical significance?

The end of the Monarchy perhaps?!

(as I have said, it ain't happening, but it's a narrow view to think there would be no parades because we don't have a reason)

Her Or His majesty’s armed forces!
what will we call the royal navy? , most of the celebrations you mentioned have ties to the monarchy, you can complain all you like but those are the facts.
we don’t have impromptu major events at the drop of a hat for no reason, they are seated in history, so if no monarchy new reasons will be needed , new traditions invented for these things.