Charles and Camilla

The queen receives an annual income from the state. Is that classed as wages or benefits? If the latter does she have any spare bedrooms? (I expect this point's been raised on another thread??)

But as a pensioner, would she have to pay it anyway?

(the Bedroom Tax, I mean...)

Oh...are pensioners exempt? And I expect Charles is a pensioner too, or very nearly?

Charles was born in 1947 I think, so yes, he is now officially an OAP and still waiting to start work in his chosen career, ha!

He was born on 14th Nov. 1948. Still waiting to start work though.

I am sure Charles will make a good king as he has been schooled to become king all his life. I don't think I could accept Cammilla as queen as there has gone too much water under the bridge regarding Dianna. I will always believe that she was murdered by "the establishment"'It will take a long time for her to be fully accepted, I think.

I think she's almost there, nanna7. George V1 and the present Queen both had/have the right people at their sides. Camilla is proving to be the right person for Charles.

I have avoided this thread carefully (as I said before ... I never talk politics, religion or sex with friends! ) but having finally succumbed, I am unable to avoid supporting a lone warrior! ..... Merlot, you are not alone in the Royalist camp.

And before I start to wax endlessly about the amount of revenue they generate, or whether any of us would still want to be working at nearly 90 .... I shall retire. Mainly because its too late in the evening to have to go hunting for a flame-proof jacket

Re: Servants carrying cushions or whatever. The situation would be exactly the same if we were a republic. The servants would be paid by the taxpayer and not the President and if it was President Blair he'd probably have twice as many of them.

I have been thinking about this Aka and my (personal) decision is that the royal family are probably on wages ( giving them the "benefit" of the doubt).So bearing that in mind they should each be subject to full PAYE and NI contributions plus, employers NI, plus corporation tax and class 1 A contributions etc.

Once again, let me point out that there are other ways of electing and serving as a republican president. Gransnetters seem to be fixated on the American system and often make the President Blair comment to suggest how awful it would be compared with the present monarchical system. (I agree that that would be awful.) How about the Irish model? That would work well.

Oh dear. What a lot of ranting about these poor people. Better out than in I suppose and it saves the NHS shelling out for Valium.

I think "poor" is what they aren't!

I found it very entertaining when Prince Charles talked about young people these days thinking that they should just be able to walk into whatever highly paid top jobs they wanted, eg footballer, pop star, when they had no particular talent. I guess that doesn't apply to being king.

Of course it doesn't. Monarchs just need to do the job that's expected of them which requires dedication, not talent.

Yes - what should he have said? Charles didn't have a choice.

He has a choice now though, and has had for a long time. He'd still have plenty to live on too, even if he opted out of the kingship bit.

He doesn't need to choose. They believe in succession so why should he do otherwise?

Good point, merlot, in which case his having or not having a choice is irrelevant.

But anyway he does because he could abdicate. At least, he will be able to. Hmm. I'm wondering now if a king designate can abdicate before his turn actually starts?

Funny how on other threads GNetters are against older people being sidelined in favour of the young despite the fact they have more training and experience yet when it comes to the Royals.....

Nothing to do with age as far as I'm concerned; I just think Charles is a twit.

Why shouldn't he have an opinion about young people today thinking they should just be able to walk into any job they want (a view echoed on this forum in the past)? absent seemed to be saying that it was ridiculous of him to voice his views on the subject, just because some consider him not up to the job of monarch...

Don,t you think it a tiny bit ridiculous when he is to walk into a job for which he doesn't appear to have any talent? Slightly ironic, much? I think that was the point.