Yes. I am asking this question.
Do they have enough? Is a lack of money leaving our Royal family vulnerable to exploitation?
I'm interested in this quote from Royal Biographer Andrew Lownie in The Guardian
"That’s what the Chinese and Russian secret services realised – that the easiest vulnerability of the British establishment is the royal family,” says Lownie. “There’s no scrutiny. They’re greedy. They’re short of money.”
Are our Royal Family short of cash? I mean short of cash in relation to their current position, not the average Joe.
Consider that our Royal Family tend to have to borrow things from other people richer than themselves. Super Yachts from the Saudi Royal family as one example. Why do they not have their own, if that is seen as social currency in the circles they're required to mingle in? I remember Meghan receiving earrings or something from a Saudi family. I also remember them having to borrow Tyler Perry the film producer's Mansion. Tyler Perry is now being accused of serious sexual harassment. Yet Meghan and Harry felt compelled to stay in his mansion (albeit before the charges) and likely remained friends out of a sense of compulsion afterwards. They needed to stay in a place befitting their station.
Why are our Royal family being tempted with lavish gifts and having to borrow from other Royals when they are Royals themselves, or borrow cash as Fergie, from other murky super millionaires? Surely as representatives of Britain, the former Empire, they should be the ones giving the gifts? Do they feel like poor cousins or poor relations when schmoozing with people of similar pedigree?
They do seem poor in relation to the Saudis and many multi-millionaires and people of influence today. When we send them abroad to hobnob with influential powerful people as our 'soft power' brokers, do they appear underwhelming in terms of wealth among those people? So that these people quickly realise that offering gifts or the use of lavish conveniences will be a permanent way into the Royal graces and possibly a way to exploit and compromise?
Aside from state functions, can Charles and Camilla or William and Kate really put on an imposing display of power abroad?
I've read that a lot of the Royal dwellings are in need of repairs. Andrew's was. How embarrassing to be a Prince and invite people of influence to a home in need of doing up!
It's a new world. There are more billionaires than ever and we will soon enter the era of the Trillionaire. Royals are surrounded by people much wealthier than them. Decades ago it would have been more equal or unequal in their favour.
I remember when Harry and Meghan were offered Frogmore. Many people, particularly Americans, could not get their heads around the concept of a Duke and Duchess being expected to live in a cottage. No amount of explaining that a cottage can still be an extremely large home within the UK and their relatively minor place in the line of succession made sense to many. There is a disconnect between these high faluting titles Prince, Duke, Princess, Duchess and their actual accompanying material wealth/assets in the eyes of other people. It surely puts pressure on the individual to live as though they're wealthier than they are.
Meghan is making Jam for money!