[Closed] Words are cheap. What is the Royal Family really contributing?

100% agree. Total waste of money and offensive. The tourism thing that gets trotted out is bullshit.

Perhaps they could go and help on a ward or something.

I think the last thing sick and vulnerable people need is Prince Andrew "visiting" them

They have a large central London property that could be converted into a new major hospital.

800 spare rooms at various properties. Be a great way of spreading people out.

Since there is no tourism any more, maybe we can get rid?

Yep, cut off all money to them. If they want anything they can sell some stuff or property.
Same as the grasping parasite shits in the church.

I’ve never really understood what they’re for in a modern society. Bet they employ a fair few people though.

Scotland’s just lost its senior medic for the same indiscretion as Prince Charles - why is he not quitting as well?

A less serious indiscretion - she did not have any symptoms - he did

Yep - the Royal family is a nonsense institution that perpetuates centuries old privilege of a select few.
And what will make the farce even more silly is that after this crisis. We will be having a person who isolated and did absolutely nothing of benefit during the crisis - pinning a Honour/gong/medal on not a nurse who continued to work on the wards during this crisis, or carers who continued to care for vulnerable people with the virus .. but some chief executive of the NHS or Local Authority who isolated their families and themselves at the first opportunity.
This covid virus has again demonstrated there is a Them and Us in society.

Didn’t the Royals move to their other homes before the lock down? Makes sense for Charles not move back once the lock down started and even more so once he was tested positive.

Didn’t the Royals move to their other homes before the lock down?

That isn't what was reported at the time.

At the very least, the magic money pipe that is the Civil List, or whatever it's called now, should be stopped and the money diverted into the NHS.

I'm 50. In my lifetime the number of scroungers on the civil list has been reduced, they pay more tax than they did. Queen and Phillip both still "working" into their 90s.

Their estates employ and house thousands, all paying taxes, and they and their properties are huge draws for foreign tourist money.

They publicise and support all sorts of UK business and charities.

They represent a continuity and stability for the country that I don't see in republics around the world.

There's lots that could still be improved, but it's a work in progress. Takes a while to turn a thousand year old tanker.

As Harry recently showed, being born with a silver spoon is not a choice many of them would make.

Easy to criticise, but I don't envy them or their privilege. I suspect they contribute as much, if not more, than they take.

I suspect they contribute as much, if not more, than they take.

Source? Numbers? They really ****ing don't.

Their estates employ and house thousands, all paying taxes, and they and their properties are huge draws for foreign tourist money.

They publicise and support all sorts of UK business and charities.

They represent a continuity and stability for the country that I don’t see in republics around the world.

The estates would employ people without a royal family.

The same with tourism- see France for example.

Nonce is a great flag bearer.

Stability - brexit, rich getting richer, decades of war in Ireland , not much different to France, Germany, Ireland, Austria, Switzerland, USA,

They really **** don’t.

Source? Numbers?

A hashtag I'd really like to see the Royal Family bombarded with every time they open their mouths is #ShutUpAndGiveUsYourMoney

I'd also like to see every celebrity going on instagram and telling us we're all in this together to see nothing but the same.

They are in this only for themselves. They appear on TV, go out shaking hands only to continue to project their image to the populace and keep them relevant. Many of the people they employ are there to continue the media presence and keep the royals popular.

Get rid I say and take all they have acquired over the centuries back and have them run for public good not private.

The one thing having a Monarch is good for - not ending up with a prick like Trump as an elected head of state...

Even Ireland’s head of state (who has no political power aiui) is seen as a comedy figure...

But yeah, they my are incredibly privileged and increasingly less relevant.

They really **** don’t.

Source? Numbers?

Tell me where they generate income in excess of what they take and have taken from the public purse?

The BS line that is trotted out about tourism is nonsense. The tourists would come regardless, even more so if could actually open the Palaces up and let people see inside.

The French do OK from tourism and they haven't had a Royal Family for a while.

Easy to criticise, but I don’t envy them or their privilege.

Yes it is easy to criticise, because there lot's to criticise. For me the perpetuation of a system that sees a v teeny percentage of people owning vast parts of the UK, is in of itself enough to put a stop to it. The whole system of ennoblement and title should have gone decades ago, but Queen's ownership of huge wealth effectively undermines any real chance we have to change.

I don't mind having a titular head of state, I don't mind that person living in relative luxury for their term, or earning a whopping load of cash for their trouble. I do mind an entrenched system that privileges vast wealth to a few folk just because of who their dad was.

Sick of heading comparisons with WW2.

Me too, but it's their defining moment. What's also of interest is while undoubtedly it touched almost everyone's lives at the time, how relatively little most folks lives were actually impacted by it. In that way, it's quite similar to Covid-19

Goodness, it's cheery in here this morning...

Didn’t the Royals move to their other homes before the lock down?

Charles flew into Birkhall on the Sunday (when we'd already been told to avoid non-essential travel and not to go running off to 2nd homes) and the lockdown was implemented the next day.
And given the timeline, he likely already had CV-19 when he got here.

Tapeworms on our society.

Gobuchul, do you have any data to show what they cost the country compared to what they bring in? I’m also not a fan but more to do with the land ownership.
I can’t see land ownership being any different if the Royals were removed, the land won’t be given to the local community, i would have thought that other wealthy families will just end up wealthier.

Didn’t the Royals move to their other homes before the lock down?

Yes it was. I was in communication with a couple of them at the time and had a meeting postponed.

I personally do think they are a force for good.

I think they do bring in more money than they cost, through tourism etc.

I also think that they do a huge amount of work encouraging many. The reason for our meeting was to encourage dozens of people across a few projects, face to face, quietly and with real personal care from them, not just vicariously through the Royal staff (who by the way is surprisingly small). The positive impact of the things we were/are arranging would last for a long time on the individuals and families.

Charles flew into Birkhall on the Sunday (when we’d already been told to avoid non-essential travel and not to go running off to 2nd homes) and the lockdown was implemented the next day.

a serious question as genuinely don’t know but is Birkhall his ‘home’ though as opposed to Buckingham palace?

If she really cared for her people she would disband the monarchy and all it's money and assets be sold and made to benefit the under privileged.

'In this time of crisis I want everyone to remember that we're all in this together, as I speak to you now from my 48 bedroomed palatial mansion with adjoining country estate and ornamental lake, with my every whim catered for by an army of servants and the best medical care money can buy.'

And the whole thing with the commonwealth, cmiiw but weren't most of those countries that the British sailed to, colonized by force and took their people for slavery? We should be ashamed.

The tourism thing was always a bit weak

Versaille gets many more visitors than bucks palace

What would we do with all the coins and bank notes though? Who’s face would stare out at me from my pocket?

Versaille gets many more visitors than bucks palace

5m less according to Dr Google or 8m less according to Versailles data.

I'm no royalist, but...

All the folks here saying that Her Royal Madge should do more to help, you may have a point, she probably should. But what 'more' are you doing to help? Are you doing any of the NHS volunteering stuff? Are you giving any extra to any charities? Are you keeping in touch with elderly/isolated neighbours?

If so, brilliant, thank you. If not, maybe think about what you could be doing before pointing the finger at others. He who hath not sinned, etc (and I'm no Christian neither)

I'm staying at home and keeping my family safe. If I was a millionaire with several properties I would be doing a dam sight more for the effort.

Based on a sample of a couple of older (most at risk) relatives, what they provide is a source of reassurance. I imagine some people take the same level of comfort from religious leaders, even though what they provide can't be quantified in £'s or face masks.

There's been a lot of talk on here of the mental health benefits of exercise. To a lot of people, the Royals and religious leaders are of equal mental health benefit, simply having someone familiar telling them its all going to pass and everything will be OK, especially when they may not have anyone else, will be very reassuring.

Save the guillotines for another time.

What would we do with all the coins and bank notes though? Who’s face would stare out at me from my pocket?

I haven't used cash since lockdown began

Vast majority of my purchases are digital

I know that's not the case for everyone.

But for most cash is an anachronism , just like the royals

I can’t see land ownership being any different if the Royals were removed.

Because the Aristocracy is perpetuated solely by the Monarchy, take away the head of all, and the rest has to go. TBH, if the current holders of idiotic titles, i dunno...the Marchioness of Whoknowswhere of whatever, wants to hold onto it  then good luck to them, but that should be the end to it.

Yep, cut off all money to them. If they want anything they can sell some stuff or property.
Same as the grasping parasite shits in the church.

This. **** them all.

What would we do with all the coins and bank notes though? Who’s face would stare out at me from my pocket?

Wilf Lunn?

If I was a millionaire with several properties I would be doing a dam sight more for the effort.

At least one of the things I suggested requires no financial outlay on your part.

We can all probably do more, it's too easy to whinge that others aren't.

Yup pretty much that TomH me I have no interest it what she says so when she came on I went hunting for some goodies.

a serious question as genuinely don’t know but is Birkhall his ‘home’ though as opposed to Buckingham palace?

Clarence House is his official home, I think. Birkhall is his Scottish holiday home.

Whatever you think, The Queen spoke to the nation last night, no it's not the same as doing a 12.5hr shift on ITU, but she did, I'm not sure what not sort 'numbers' she got, given the circumstances 20m maybe?

She said what most people who aren't rabidly anti-Royal wanted and needed to hear and she's got more gravitas than most so in the long-run will save many lives.

So wind your ****ing necks in and keep your republican views for another time.

What would we do with all the coins and bank notes though? Who’s face would stare out at me from my pocket?

Johnny Ball
Professor Heinz Wolff
Reggie Kray

Must be a million choices.

So wind your **** necks in and keep your republican views for another time.

Ah the old 'its a national emergency so opposing political views must be silenced' line

So wind your **** necks in

Let's not be beastly, eh?

Clarence House is his official home, I think. Birkhall is his Scottish holiday home.

Ah! That rings a bell. Ta.

I find it a bit weird that the Queen manages to be both Supreme Governor of the Church of England and Commander in Chief of The British (along with several other) Armed forces

'Thou shalt not kill' (unless there's oil)

There again, it's a bit like on the one hand celebrating the birth of the arms dealer and paedophile enabler Prince Andrew by suggesting councils fly their flags and ringing the bells of Westminster Abbey, then on the other encouraging the masses to clap the NHS (but only when they're needed, it's not like there is a national day of celebration for the Health Services equivalent to trooping the colour, which is of course carried out in the presence of the head of the Freemasons, who held Prince Andrew's role of Special Representative for International Trade and Investment throughout the key years setting up the Al-Yamamah deal)

EDIT: In case you missed it, that chap hidden away in the hat is the Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent, Grandmaster of the United Grand Lodge of Freemasons

So wind your **** necks in and keep your republican views for another time

Congratulations on your promotion to Moderator on the forum.

so in the long-run will save many lives.

can you show some evidence for that?

Words are cheap. What is the Royal Family really contributing?

Usually 4 - 10 pages in the Daily Mail.... It makes Phil Space's job easy.

I love that they get to wear medals awarded by their Mum.

A posher version of gold stars on the fridge for tidying your room.

Except in this case, the equivalent of tidying your room is clearing away the cluttered natives and dissenters from continents you want colonized for your, admittedly more covert than in days of old, empire

I wish jivehoneyjive was here. He’d love all this talk of getting rid of the royals and anyone who’d been in a picture with them.

Perhaps ‘they’ got to him?

Cheered up my morning the thought that "The monarchy may save lies".Proves to me that being a royalist is like belonging to a cult or religion.

So wind your **** necks in

Are you missing your student's union or social club?

I think once this pandemic has settled and we look to the changes needed in society, there is a need for a land tax. And, since people have become used to exponential growth, it should be based exponentially on area. If you cannot pay, you can give some of your land back to the nation. Now is the time to redistribute some of the wealth in this country; and to look to how we can trade more fairly with other countries (I have little idea how we would go about this).

can you show some evidence for that?

That's going to be fairly impossible.

But do you think the speech last night is more likely to encourage more people to stay at home who, up to now haven't been sticking to the rules, or less?

Do you think stay at home saves lives, or not?

Johnny Ball
Professor Heinz Wolff
Reggie Kray

Must be a million choices.

And you picked those three?

I love that they get to wear medals awarded by their Mum.

A posher version of gold stars on the fridge for tidying your room.

😂 that’s true and has very much cheered me up

I wish jivehoneyjive was here

What makes you think he isn't? ^^^^^^^

So wind your **** necks in and keep your republican views for another time.

I was sat in a Zoom meet-up with 5 young adults when someone made reference to the Queen being on the telly. Without any prompting from me, they were all pretty dismissive of the idea that why she had to say at any time was worth listening to, largely for the reasons identified in this thread.
They’re an anachronism, with a malign undercurrent to many of their activities.

What makes you think he isn’t?

Oh I know he’s always watching. Just makes me laugh that someone so concerned with who is behind everything has a second log in.

But do you think the speech last night is more likely to encourage more people to stay at home who, up to now haven’t been sticking to the rules, or less?

I think it will make no difference whatsoever.

Do you think flying up to your holiday home in Scotland, possibly when already infected, or decamping to Windsor is more likely to encourage more people to stay at home who, up to now haven’t been sticking to the rules, or less?

Do you think stay at home saves lives, or not?

Well I for one thought she looked very nice.

Just seen on Jeremy Vine that its pretty unanimous that the Queen’s speech has boosted the country’s morale... so wind yer necks in 😂

It’s amazing that people still actually fall for this ‘British stiff upper lip will get us through’ bullshit.

I think it will make no difference whatsoever.

Really? I don't agree, and I don't actually believe you either.

I don’t actually believe you either.

Please feel free to expand I’m unsure if you think I’m lying or that I’m incorrect? I’ve also added an edit you may wish to address.

They don't contribute, they've been stealing a very fine living from us all for many years.

Private Eye have a good regular feature on the royal households, which suggests her maj is really stretching the definition of essential work at the moment.

Royal funding should be reduced to 80% of normal (subject to a monthly cap of £2,500) IMO.

It’s amazing that people still actually fall for this ‘British stiff upper lip will get us through’ bullshit.

To be fair, she didn't actually say anything like that, she said

"I hope in the years to come everyone will be able to take pride in how they responded to this challenge.

That the attributes of self-discipline, of quiet good-humoured resolve and of fellow-feeling still characterise this country. "

But do you think the speech last night is more likely to encourage more people to stay at home who, up to now haven’t been sticking to the rules, or less?

Wouldnt know I didnt see it, I expect it will make next to **** all difference tbh.
Royals are such a waste of money and the poster boys and girls for social immobility annd the like it staggers me that anyone with half a brain cell could think them a good idea to keep. Its so far from what I think is right I cant even really argue against a Royalist, I can only shrug and laugh.

Well I for one thought she looked very nice.

Forum in 'need a 'like' button' shocker 😎

It’s amazing that people still actually fall for this ‘British stiff upper lip will get us through’ bullshit.

Every phone call to my mam now has a 'blitz' type reference in it. She was born in the North East in 1949... Jesus ****ing wept.

"Fellow-feeling"? Is that some kind of upper class sexual harassment?

I have to declare that given an opportunity to bin the lot of them I’d love to see them gone so my views on this are far from even handed.

She is most relevant to the oldies who are most vulnerable to this. Some warm cheer and assurance to them is no bad thing. However, and it’s an enormous however, those most effected by short term and long economic hardship from this are the young not the old. Millions of young(er) people are having their liberty removed and are suffering now and in the future to protect the older generation(s). And so they should. But as an oldie herself a very clear message to other oldies, with their secure pensions and the concept of furlough and the future raised taxes to pay for all this something that is happening to other people, to have a little gratitude and appreciation would have gone a long way.

Then of course handing over cash, facility or both to the National effort should have been part of her role too. Regardless of what a comparative drop in the ocean it would have been it was the right thing to do. And glaringly missing from her (their) contribution so far.

I though her speach was quite good and nicely subtly congratulating those that are doing the right thing rather that telling ****wits to stop being aresholes! But also getting the point across.

Don't think peoples view of the royals is really relevant at the moment. IMO of course.

I think the queen is an inspirational head of this country , we would be poorer without her influence

I think the queen is an inspirational head of this country , we would be poorer without her influence

Can you explain this as it utterly baffles me.

Fundamentally, though, what's to stop her bunging a few quid into the proverbial pot to help? Urging us to follow guidance is all well and good if people listen, but actually giving up a bit herself to aid materially would be a stronger show, in my opinion.

Or am I being naive?

Can you explain this as it utterly baffles me.

Baffled of Prestwick agrees.

I'm certainly no monarchist, but

They have a large central London property that could be converted into a new major hospital.

Do you think a dusty old building with loads of small rooms, carpets, old lighting and probably inappropriate power everywhere is really the based building to put a hospital in? If we had gone down that road the military would still be stripping out the old shit at the moment. Exhibition centres are actually great for this - quickly reconfigured large space, used to supplying electricity, networking etc into a flexible area, good HGV access in and out, probably easier to control temp, can set up the layout as cubicles rather than rooms so easier to safely staff etc.

A less serious indiscretion – she did not have any symptoms – he did

On the one hand, but on the other he only ignored guidance, she actually broke the law! A law she would have been instrumental in having created!

And the whole thing with the commonwealth, cmiiw but weren’t most of those countries that the British sailed to, colonized by force and took their people for slavery? We should be ashamed.

Yes, but would abandoning the commonwealth now actually **** them over again? Being ashamed of things people many generations before did, isn't a reason to dump any benefits that have manifested from the bad shit we did.

Don’t think peoples view of the royals is really relevant at the moment. IMO of course.

Isn't she essentially appointed by God?

The rf, like the church are very good at telling people what to do whilst doing nothing themselves. Like the rf, the church has been remarkably quiet on how it gould use domebof it £1bn a year revenue to help the vulnerable. I'm sure individual congregations are spending thier own money doing things but not the church.

I wish jivehoneyjive was here. He’d love all this talk of getting rid of the royals and anyone who’d been in a picture with them.

Perhaps ‘they’ got to him?

I may be wrong, but I assumed JHJ was the poster above yours....:-)