Meghan's "Holiday" special aired at 8 am British time today ...

[meghansturkey]

Here's a summary for you - it's full of British traditions like cracker pulling which she explains 🙄 , how to decorate a tree with lights and wearing matching pyjamas with her friends. Harry appears for the last 5 mins.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/royal/2141430/meghan-markle-netflix-holiday-special-latest?int_source=amp_continue_reading&int_medium=amp&int_campaign=continue_reading_button#amp-readmore-target

This isn't about Kate personally. It's about the institution, so don't confuse the two.

I will always have an opinion on a bunch of people who have amassed huge private wealth while 'serving' the public. Who are funded by the public.

Wealthy people, celebrities can do what they want with their own earned wealth.

That's the difference.

I’ve never watched any of MM’s stuff but have some wrapping and ironing ahead today; might just tune in for a laugh.

The thing is many wealthy people in the UK and elsewhere are not the original ‘earners’ of their wealth. They are also beneficiaries of inheritances going back to their scrappy ancestors siding with the right medieval monarch.

Even celebrities in the UK and particularly the world of media networking are dominated by those who had privileged upbringings with expensive private education followed by Oxbridge.

The royal family are a shiny bauble which looks like it’s the lynchpin for the class system but it’s much more entrenched in UK society - you could get rid of the monarch tomorrow and the rich controlling influences of the old money families wouldn’t change one bit.

Excellent points, @wordler 👌

Pivot much? So it’s not about identifying now, is it? It’s just the usual, dreary, republican talking points.

I have zero interest in fighting about this or trading insults, I never do that on MN.

Says she, accusing another poster of sycophancy.

I'd get rid of them too.

I mentioned upthread that the upper classes, Royalty, House of Lords etc, they are all intertwined.

The Royals are just the more public facing of the lot of them. And when they start to try and pretend they are like us then I find that nauseating.

The rich, controlling families, whether old or new, will be the only ones with the means to run as a the republican head of state or be the money men behind their puppet of choice. The rich run the world shocker!

edit to say great post!

But they have that money anyway.

So they can spend it on beautiful earrings which put money into the British economy. Or they can leave it gaining interest in their accounts.

Which would you prefer? They're going to be incredibly wealthy regardless of whether or not they spend it on earrings.

I don't see why you need to be so spiky in your responses.

We don't agree, aren't we lucky we can all have differing opinions.

Never have I heard any royal claim “they are just like us” has anyone else heard these claims from the royals themselves?

Never.
It's often claimed in these threads (it's another common trope) yet I've never found evidence to support it.

How dare you use a personal insult and call me spiky! I’m very smooth, I’ll have you know!

Never.

Just like I've never heard Kate and William describe Forest Lodge as their 'forever home'. I've seen it many times here though.

Think of David Cameron and Boris Johnson....

Even celebrities in the UK and particularly the world of media networking are dominated by those who had privileged upbringings with expensive private education followed by Oxbridge.

Yes and if anything it's getting worse. There used to be a lot of 'working class' actors and other celebrities, but now it's rare to find one who isn't among the 7% of the population who are privately educated.

The royal family are a shiny bauble which looks like it’s the lynchpin for the class system but it’s much more entrenched in UK society - you could get rid of the monarch tomorrow and the rich controlling influences of the old money families wouldn’t change one bit.

That's also very true.

Some of the most egalitarian countries in the world, such as the Scandavian nations, are monarchies. While many very unequal societies are republics. Even in countries like France or Italy which abolished their monarchies and peerages, the former aristocrats still retain a lot of power, wealth and influence.

Think of the levels of corruption in republics!

Nice thread derail, thanks people.

Any idea how you would implement this utopian, socially mobile, merit based society?

How far down the wealth index will people be allowed to hang on to their inheritances?

If my Dad leaves me his £400,000 house I’m okay but if my Dad has a £4M estate I’m out of luck?

What if my ancestor invented somethi g 100 years ago and my family now has massive wealth - all unearned by us?

What if I won the lottery last week - am I banned from creating generational wealth keeping trusts for my DC?

Ok, say I agree with what you've said.

Do you not think it's high time to have more scrutiny into their finances going forward? To be more in line with a modern Britain? To identify with for example today's youth who don't have any great love for them and who are ultimately their future?

That maybe trimming back their wealth, would give them more respect. Perhaps then when they go on about homelessness, visit food banks, talk about climate change, that people might listen more? I think they are way out of touch and it will be their downfall because they have such a brilliant opportunity and platform to do loads of good and highlight so many issues. There's a happy medium somewhere. I don't expect them to sell the castle and shack up in a semi-d but come on. William has such an opportunity but I don't see him doing anything to shake things up.

It's obviously too late to go back centuries to see where their 'private' wealth came from but they didn't earn it. It makes me laugh when I hear about their 'private' wealth.

Nice retort! :)

Ok, say I agree with what you've said.

Do you?

I'll answer your questions when you answer mine.

Made up nonsense.