Those royals wasting money again

Anyway, he was on official engagements, so why should he pay? How many people on here paidd for their own travel expenses when they travelled on business - unless they were self employed? I certainly didn't. When I travelled on business, on my return I submitted an expense claim and was reimbursed by my employer.

How many private jets did you claim for though Monica I’m guessing none .

I mentioned this to DH who said:
"But the Royals get a set sum of money (the Sovereign Grant) allocated by Parliament to carry out their duties - this money must have come out of the budget for that - if he over-spends then why worry? There is only so much money in the pot, so one of the others may have to economise".

He is neither particularly pro-Royal nor republican, fairly happy with the status quo, but, as usual, straight to the nub of the matter.

There is such a thing as the Queen's helicopter flight which forms part of the Royal Household. Wouldn't it have been cheaper for him to use that?

a supine media
I presume you are excluding the outraged DM from that description as that was the paper which brought all this to our attention

If you want to believe that he paid for the private jet that’s fine maddy629 but IF (and it’s a huge if) he did why not come out and say it ?
Of course he didn't pay whatever it cost (and I doubt that was £37,000, even the DM gets things wrong sometimes!!) - it came out of the Sovereign Budget!!

ie the money allocated to HM who pays it out to those carrying out royal duties, whether they be a Prince, a Duke, a PA, a washer-upper in the kitchens or whoever.

What was the reason for Prince Edward having to do two years engagements in different parts of the Country on the same day?

The Daily Mail criticism is but a drop in the ocean of the fawning coverage on the TV and radio and in most of the newspapers.

I live in Tamworth and can only think of the Castle grounds as a suitable landing place, but then he'd have to walk through the town to get to St Editha's Church and our town centre is dire so I can't see that happening!!! Unless of course he landed at a small airport nearby (Birmingham ?) and was driven to the Church!

Merlotgran,

Prince Andrew arrived here by helicopter a few years back in the Castle Grounds that's what I was thinking of!

The reason for two years engagements on the same day was doing arrangements he had made and honouring the arrangements his father had made before having to retire.

gillybob Being pro monarchy does not make me a “monarchy worshipper”. The story came from the Daily Mail and the headline quoted a much larger sum than the actual text. You, yourself when you came back with a second comment raised the cost from £37,000 to £39,000, just showing how easy it is to add arms and legs in the retelling of a story. NB. I am not defending the cost per se as I am not sure of the accuracy and reasoning behind the arrangements, just commenting on how easy it is to retell inaccurately and without substance. I would be happy to read solid facts the commenting on the cost. Thank you mawbroon for keeping it light and real.

I didn't claim for private jets, gillybob nor, in this case did Prince whoever it was, the vehicle involved was a helicopter., but DH certainly claimed for the cost of private aircraft on several occasions and on one trip I hitched a lift with him.

1. The U.S. actually spends more on the First Family than the UK spends on the royals.

2. The royals are the only family in the UK who are actually taxed twice. Their income comes from the revenues of the royal estates. That money goes to Parliament and then Parliament provides them with a salary, called the civil list, out of those monies. So they don't keep all of their income in the first place (tax #1). They also pay tax on the civil list (tax #2).

It was a jet M0nica . The photos prove it . If your DH ‘s company could justify his time /hourly rate against a private flight then so be it.

I read that story too it was in the Daily Mail and it definitely said tax payers were paying the cost of the trip. It would have made more economic sense to have paid a chauffeur to drive him and Sophie. I am sure it would be comfortable in the back of a limo. A total waste of money in my opinion. He has obviously not been told the country is supposed to be in austerity measures. This when some people are told they can't have cancer treatment as it costs too much.

The royals do not declare how much tax they pay versus earnings ! Apparently the queen pays a voluntary amount .......if only ?

I volunteer £50 a year . Now go away and shut up . Basically .

AGNURSE you do know, dont you,that the royal family dont actually OWN the royal estates/crown estates.They were handed oer to the goernment by George 111 in payment of debts .He made a deal that the RF would get a small payment from them every year.That payment is still being made ..hundreds of years later.
How nice would it be if we could all claim money from something we dont own .

got a problem with the V on my keyboard ,thats why its missing in the above post

You do know the sort of engagements he was carrying out - visit to an independent school, a luxary yacht maker, celebrating 1100 years since the death of some Anglo Saxon ruler - fgs. Public engagements? Really? Bit like that Margaret - when her ‘public’ engagements were analysed they mainly consisted of her going to the ballet ( which was a real love of hers).

Agog with indifference.
The old saying, “today’s news is tomorrow’s chip paper”

Or as Ralph McTell sang “Yesterday’s paper and yesterday’s news”

Fine MB carry on being indifferent. Others of us won’t. The utter irrelevancy of Edward and his ‘public’ engagements isn’t yesterday’s news but it’s part of an ongoing issue that some of us think matters. You don’t. So?

Very important engagements they were too MaryEliza (or rather hand picked to suit). At least that’s him done for a month or so eh? Bless, it must be so hard having to fly 130 miles in a private jet, shake a hand or two, eat a lavish meal, visit a yacht maker (maybe place an order who knows?) shake more hands and fly home in the private jet of course. I ask myself ..... how does he do it ?

Did anyone see Heathrow on ITV last night? Charlie was passing through the airport terminal and the palace had sent instructions for the airport staff to curtesy and bow as he went by. It was enough to make you want to throw up.

I'm guessing you are not a fan of the Royal Family then
Gillybob!!

I think they do a great job in the main, some hangers on could be dispensed with. Must be difficult having your every move and word monitored and criticised. I wouldn't want to live like that. I am a big fan of the Queen who has done a difficult job with dignity and a great sense of duty for so many years.