Those royals wasting money again

I’m judging how someone dresses because I said the queen wears a hat to church ? Really ?

And I don’t Annie . Neither is it right to assume that because someone attends church that they are a morally better person than I . I struggle to see how greed and hoarding money fits in with Christian morals But maybe I’m wrong .

I remember seeing my late grandmas priest and asking his permission to read an eulogy to her in his/her church . I told him outright that I was a non believer and he said that my grandma talked about me regularly and that maybe I had more “Christian” values than some others in his congregation .

Yes, GrannyGravy13. I am proud not to be on Facebook but is seems to be appearing here somewhat.

Gilly, how you live your life is your concern but in my opinion it is wrong to judge how you believe a person who has a faith should dress or express their faith. You don’t know what is between queenie and her God, who are you to tell me as a Christian how I should think and act, I wouldn’t tell you an atheist how to live your life.

Annie there is more to living a good and decent life than praying to a “god” or attending a church in a fancy hat waving to ones public . That I do know .
I do not believe in a god but I do try to live a morally good and decent life. I love and care for my family. Which is my “ religion”.

Anniebach totally agree with you on that, faith is personal to each individual.

A persons faith is between them and their God

Sometimes I believe in God, sometimes I don't. I have tried and failed to be a Christian. I like the parables and often think of them.

I quite like the royals and enjoy a peek at their outfits. Surely we are capable of nuance and change? We don't all fit into boxes.

Really hope that one day there will be a 'gransnet thread' that is not reduced to virtual back stabbing and insults against other grans just because we do not all share the same opinion.

Blimey the nastiness on here is awful.

Off topic , I wish to say I am not capable of hating anyone, so any poster who claims I hate is a liar .i am not capable of hate or malice , if only the latter was against rules of the forum.

Eleothan my little stalker, I have not changed my views on the queens stamp collection etc.

You missed my posts on the cost of security, your slipping my little stalker. And my posts on the title of the Prince of Wales, the costs of Wormwood etc.

Gilly, as an atheist you wouldn’t know

I agree that appearance is important Polly, but I had to make an effort to look presentable in my working life too. I'd have rather worn trainers than heels and jeans rather than skirts or smart trousers. I hated my commitments on many days and also turned up when I was feeling under the weather. I was out in the traffic in all weathers early in the morning, whether I felt 100% or not. Five days a week, starting at 7am and sometimes going on into the evening.

There are no wardrobe worries for royals, no pressing other jobs to do when their clothes are laid out for them, laundered for them, and makeup artists and hairdressers ensure they look good.

Their hardship or mine? I don't really consider, say, two functions a week arduous, and although a royal tour takes up a few weeks, the travel commitments are hassle free, as are all the arrangements.

I cannot sympathise with their 'plight' I'm afraid. I don't see any hardship at all.

We all have cages. Theirs are gilded. Ours tend to be very sturdy and we only get out of them for two or three weeks a year to go somewhere else, if we are lucky and can afford holidays.

I like my life. I know no different and accept my obligations, work, chores, weekends, family occasions, etc. I am sure they like theirs too and even if not born royal I cannot imagine the restrictions of being part of the Windsor family are too hard to adapt to, or too horrendous.

I wonder why it would appear people either have to be practically manning the barricades demanding a revolution or be fawning and worshipping at the feet of the RF

I suspect that most people are like me - don't even think about the RF unless there is something in the news about them, we then note what is happening and then promptly forget about them again.

Charles has done a lot for young unemployed people through the Prince's Trust.

Oh and meant to add to OldMeg that my DH is going really well thank you . Working far too hard and very long hours for a 66 year old man but that won’t change any time soon .

A good post Eloethan. I have never described myself as a Christian. But there is something about this family who claim to be so religious and yet hoard their collective £billions for themselves . I wonder if the queen ever stops to think that those people waving flags and curtsying at her feet might be struggling to make ends meet? I shouldn’t imagine she does. Why would she ? Do the royals have a conscience ? Do they really believe that going to church makes them good Christian people ?

I don’t know .

anniebach It seems, along with Corbyn, your other pet hate is Diana and her children. I agree that they do very little of any importance but is that so different from any of the members of the royal family? Edward attended "an event marking the death 1,100 years ago of Anglo-Saxon ruler Aethelflaed" - a somewhat niche occasion that I would imagine has little relevance to the lives of most people. At least Diana brought attention to important contemporary issues - land mines, AIDS, leprosy, etc. etc.

Again, your views seem to have transformed since 2014. You now give the affectionate title "queenie" to the queen and often pop up to commend her, whereas back then you said:

"I have doubts about the queens dedication to her role. Yes she turns out to cut ribbons etc, she reads the red boxes , she turns up for ceremonial events, duty done.

"But she is a woman of great private wealth, would she miss her priceless stamp collection, one or two of her paintings from her private art collection, several pieces of jewelry from the vaults - much was not come by honourable.

"If giving money to countries where children are dying is wrong , how can locking millions in the vaults when ones own country is suffering be right

"What has envy to do with questioning the cost of a monarch, as for envy of her personal wealth, I for one am not envious , I do question how as a Christian she can give her annual Christmas speech speaking of the message of the Christ Child yet store up treasures on earth."

And she was criticised for wearing the same coat for the Wedding that she'd worn 3 times before!

Agree. I like to see them when they come out for events but wouldn't queue up for hours and certainly don't worship the ground they tread on. Also I agree the family should be slimmed down -there are far too many. That balcony was crowded! Bug I'd hate to be without a monarchy -I would have thought Trump was a big enough warning about what might happen if we had an elected President!
As I said, I think the main royals do have lots of engagements as well as a life of luxury. No they dont have to come home to washing up anx bills like the rest of us, but they do have to look perfectly groomed at all times. They can't just say I'm not feeling well/ menopausal/pmt day etc and stay off work (unless very ill.) Even if they have a dreadful headache they must smile and nod and express interest in other people. I'd hate it. Kate was criticised for looking so good after giving birth but she would have been even more criticised if sh'd looked dreadful.

I'm in Day6's middle ground.

A monarchist but not blind to questionable extravagance.

All these assumptions about how many engagements various royals have are just guesswork. If I could be bothered Id look it up -must be easy to. I bet they have quite a lot more duties than some think , but again it's a guess.

I think it was Charles who decided to slim down the family Maw.

It is interesting that you make that point MaryEliza as I think I read somewhere that the Queen had decided to “slim down” the Royals who are in receipt of the allowance and who perform public duties. Sayonara Beatrice and Eugenie, Princess Michael and others.
I have no idea what the details are and who gets what, but I understood she was aiming at a closer knit group, Ann, William, Harry and their wives and presumably the Wessexes . Perhaps it was meant as a subtle (?) way to ease Airmiles Andrew into the background?

"They may have money but they do not have choice. They have to pursue these duties - get poshed up, shake hands with all and sundry, smile, pretend interest in things - yawn, yawn!"

Ah, but by the same token, most people get up when the alarm clock rings in the morning and get to work in rush hour traffic, week in, week out, year in, year out. They do that every day of the week, they have no choice either.

They come home to yet more household chores, bills, expenses, etc, etc.

They cannot get off their particular hamster wheel either. Why do so many people do the lottery? Maybe because they'd like a life of luxury for a change too?

Now, if we look at royal engagements today, you can bet that the majority of royals have nothing pencilled in. They may have one duty a week? Hardly arduous. Has William got up and gone to the gym? Kate and Meghan will have. Breakfast in bed? Hairdresser due at 10am? Meeting with the Middleton family for lunch in Berkshire at 1pm maybe? Riding over their acres somewhere? Drinks at the members only club with friends?

It's a job like any other but one with few working hours, lots of leisure time,and all the privileges having servants bring, as well as 24 hr security so that the outside world does not intrude unless it's invited. Then the Royals depend on the public turning out....because that justifies their existence.

That's not bitterness, that's fact. Ordinary mortals have little choice either, and none of the privileges or riches. Again, it's true and if it makes me reflect on personal 'prisons', then we all have them.