Royal family or a president?

It’s the country estate that I was talking about too . Not KP ( where there is already round the clock security ). Why should extra security for their “country hideaway” be paid for by the tax payers ?

I note now the police are asking for more money to cover massive security bill for their wedding too.

Granny could write a cheque out and not even miss the money, or she could sell a painting or a tiara if she’s struggling .

I don’t agree with renting a property in Oxfordshire, why not a property in Sandringham

Yes Jal gilly and me fully understand that the football clubs don’t pay the full bill - I think you’ll see that our posts make that quite clear.

Your figures are from the RF brainwashing media service and in any event do not include the costs that the police are having to find for the country pad. As for costs for security for some ex ministers, PMs - well what is your point? Are you seriously suggesting that this on a par with paying fir H and Ms security a second home?

I thought they were buying the country pad but who knows - either way there’s a security bill

I can understand them not wanting a country pad in Norfolk. It obviously suits William and Kate but they have many friends there with children the same age as George and Charlotte. They are also welcome at the Middleton's country pile whenever they choose to visit.

It's different for Harry and Meghan. Why would they want to isolate themselves so far from London? Meghan doesn't have a close family like Kate and Harry's friends are probably Cotswold dwellers He might also want to be nearer to Prince Charles who sees very little of the grandchildren he already has.

Try before you buy seems a good idea to me.

home.bt.com/lifestyle/money/mortgages-bills/how-much-does-the-royal-family-cost-11363982445194

I’m not sure whether the 62p a day cost to tax payers is just spin Jalima ? Other sources claim that their cost is probably
10 x higher than we are lead to believe .

In any case should tax payers pay for Andy’s £14,000 helicopter trip to watch golf? Or Charlie’s £240,000 private jet to Nelson Mandela’s funeral along with many other huge wastes of money ?

Mandela died nineteen years ago, considering every country sent a representative how do you expect them to get to S.A. Book tickets , book hotel rooms,

Actually now you ask Anniebach yes I would expect him to fly first class BA .

Maybe a poor example but there are plenty others.

Nelson Mandela died in 2013.

Yes Merlot I know that so how much was that £240k in today’s terms ? Seriously though, why couldn’t he have flown first class BA ?

Ooops, thanks merlot

Sorry, gilly. My reply was to Anniebach and yes, I agree about the private jet.

I'm a monarchist but that doesn't mean I stick my head in the sand where criticism is concerned.

Not everything comes down to price. There is a difference between knowing the price of something and the value of it. Slightly paraphrasing Oscar Wilde. It is all very well to discuss the cost of the Royal Family and I am well aware there is indeed a price but I remain certain for now that they are value for money. Long live the status quo (kept trimmed and compact). Tradition and stability have a real value.

How is what we have at the present time "trim and compact"?

Royals any day of the week .. otherwise
President Corbin could be in !!!! Aghhhh shudder :0(

So why do we have to pay for the security of their country pad - this is an extension of the budget. One solution could be for some other cost to be dropped by another branch of the ever expanding family - you know the one in one out principle. We simply say, here’s your security budget, it’s not going to be increased - cut coat cloth - you know like in the real world where we have to make choices. Trim and compact - you must be joking #I expect it’s all JC’s fault

Yet another one who doesn’t understand the difference between head of state and head of government - tell me why is it that it is only royalists that seem incapable of grasping this basic constitutional principle? Perhaps there’s a causative link between being a royalist and not understanding. I wonder what that could be? Also being able to spell leading political figures names might inspire a bit of confidence.

they are value for money

It's an interesting thought, but are they really? I don't think so. Only the top tier have value. The various relatives and hangers-on have become more like celebrities, enjoying extraordinary wealth and privilege and popping up at exclusive places the gawping public can only dream about.

I got sick to the back teeth of the Meghan and Harry nuptials and run up to the day. I don't wish him ill but I am beginning to see the 'boys' (seen as poor motherless youngsters by me at the time of Diana's death, and viewed with a fondness) for what they are now - stinking rich young men who are waited on hand and foot and have a life of privilege and luxury. 'Work' comprises of short public engagements every now and then, or tours abroad which seem to keep the masses happy.

To be honest if I never saw Meghan and Harry again, online or elsewhere, I'd be happy. I am not sure why they are feted. I may be alone in being sick to the back teeth of Beckham 'news' when that family are of no consequence. Reading about their latest expensive holiday or home purchase is a slap in the face to the well being of all those who toil day in and day out for very little and cannot afford a holiday to Blackpool, never mind a month in the Maldives most exclusive hideaway. I am feeling that way now about the royal family. It's a relatively new feeling. I preferred them when they had mystique, perhaps?

Keep the Queen. No President for me - Beckham would be appointed no doubt. Keep her immediate heirs. Charles and William can continue the line, but really, everyone else should be cast adrift and completely self-supporting now, imo.

I felt incredible anger that security for H&M's luxurious hideaway should be in anyway the responsibility of the taxpayer. Most families with money sort out security for themselves. Perhaps Charles could pay for it as a wedding present to them?

Well Day6 wow just wow

I mean really really? TM who whatever you think of her politically did not become PM because of who she married or whose vagina she came out of, practically kneeling before a woman in her mid 30s whose main roles in life are to have children and dress well.. TM - this is not a good look in a 21st century do called democracy. Yuk.

What are the arguments against a slimmed down monarchy and an end to bowing and curtsying?

I'd vote for President Beckham! (I would have put the smiley face symbol next to this if only I knew how)

Ilovecheese, remember you'd get his awful wife for first lady and Brooklyn taking enormous numbers of pictures of them. We'd be inundated with images of his tattoos, her strange leg-out stance, Harper in her latest expensive, trendy gear (being 'adorable' no doubt) Romeo modelling for every fashion house under the sun and the youngest boy churning out rap music for our delectation.

I really cannot work out why the past-it Beckhams haven't quietly faded away into a quiet and private life of luxury, but the pair seem to keep their profiles high by publicising their every move.

Not much different from the Royal family I suppose, but the Queen, Anne, and Charles do old-skool royalty quite well, preferring a bit of stately distance and privacy. It would seem the future of the Windsors will depend on the availability of James Corden to provide the MC role at functions.

Now celebrity and Royalty have jumped into bed together, I believe (and sincerely hope) the Windsors days are numbered and they will be forced to pare down the royal family and the privileges bestowed on the many, many wealthy people in the family who will not inherit the throne.

I find this celeb/royalty interface quite disturbing - as a republican I should welcome it as it’s making the whole thing look really really tacky - which it is but I think heads of state and their families should have some dignity at least

That picture of TM curtsying to Willies wife makes me almost want to throw up ! Who the hell says that “she” is our better and we should almost fall at her feet ?

Well said Day6