Those royals wasting money again

I don't think anyone has said that the tax payer paid for the trip directly although I would be willing to bet my life on the fact that Eddie (like his brother Andy) wouldn't have put the trip on his own credit card.

Yes lots of Perhaps(s) Jalima Perhaps he did pay for it himself. Perhaps pigs really do fly.

I’m saying there is no apparent evidence about how it was funded.

Yes, evidence please, that we, the taxpayer, paid for this.
Perhaps the firm funded his trip because they thought it could be good for the firm's 'prestige' and publicity. Perhaps they were doing a return journey and had to go there to pick up some businessmen/women.

Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps.
I expect the people who invited Edward to perform whatever royal duty it was (haven't looked at the link, sorry) didn't think he was 'a waste of space'.
Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps.

We can only surmise.

Who is feeding the "rubbish that they really are just a 'normal' family? I believe they have the same emotions and needs that the rest of us do. Hit them physically or emotionally, it will hurt.
Obvs they don't have to worry about paying the mortgage/rent, electricity or going to the food bank. Would any of us seriously swop with any of them? I certainly wouldn't. I'm relieved that my youthful indiscretions were blasted over the worlds media, that people aren't constantly checking my weight (too fat, too thin), my clothes, my hair, my shoes and most of all, my whole extended family. I'm even more relieved that the youthful indiscretions of the young people in our family and friends network have been protected from the front page of the Sun or DM.
I just don't get it. By all means campaign for a Republic but does it all have to be quite so unpleasant/

We are fed this rubbish that they really are just a "normal" family winterwhite but are we really that daft as to believe any of it?

Assuming it happened and cost what it did, it’s a blatant instance of conspicuous consumption whoever paid. And very off message, because I thought we were all supposed to be thinking how ‘like us’ the rf is these days.

having driven Poole to Oxford and Oxford to York via Tamworth. There is no such thing as doing it in light traffic, unless you do it between midnight and 5.00am.

The direct route involves the A 34 from Winchester to the M40 and between the M4 and the M40 the A34 is a frequently a linear car park, I know I use it several times a week. Yesterday morning we came off it just north of Oxford because it was so slow and used a country route that made us 30 minutes late for an appointment, staying on it it would have made it nearly an hour. From our experience, Poole to Tamworth by car is more likely to take 5 hours or more.

With a day's programme like that, there is no alternative to a helicopter.

Do they Spinlady70 can you give any details of the 'millions' they bring in?

The royal family are just about our most valuable asset. They create millions in income through tourism, trade etc. and realistically it wouldn't be safe for them to travel public transport, they would be prized targets for terrorists.

Apparently the train would have cost £250

Could have funded it himself. Or maybe we funded it who knows.

they feel like part of our own family

Please tell me you are joking fluttERBY

As far as I can ascertain the Earl of Wessex attended a service of commemoration for Aethelflaed, Lady of the Mercians (certainly a role model for today if you follow Michael Wood's account of her life) in Tamworth on the morning of June 12th, followed by a reception at Tamworth castle in the afternoon; this was followed by a visit to Sunseekers Shipyard, Poole, in his capacity as Chairman of the board of trustees of the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme, followed by a Dinner at Brownsea Castle concerning apprenticeship schemes, to attract local businesses to participate. He is spending today and tomorrow promoting tennis activities, again for the DoE Award in Dorset. All quite worthwhile activities, I think.
I would imagine he flew from Tamworth to Poole; the journey from the Midlands to Poole is not easy by train, coach or car at this time of year as I know from personal experience, having done it many times.

Who could we have at the top instead of the royal family? They give us continuity nobody else could, they feel like part of our own family. Forget what they spend , we get it back at least 10 times over with the attraction they are for tourists, and don't forget they are trapped, surrounded by security, they can't lead a normal life. We all know William would far rather just fly his helicopter, but he has no choice.

No problem Maw Its been like this for years. Sometimes I almost grab the poor postman just to have someone to talk to.

Poole to Tamworth

3 hrs 12 mins driving in light traffic.
4 hrs 22 mins by train (3 trains - 2 changes)

I don't think anyone has provided evidence yet for whether PE was using his own money or ours. Have they?

Worth every penny.

...and imagine replacing a devoted and beloved monarch with another despised elected politician.

Gillybob sorry to hear that

Many thanks for that Neil it works!

This is what I normally do Neilspurgeon but the link would not "blue" as it usually would.

Or maybe....just maybe....I'm just not worth my salt

Ok links on an iPad.

Click on the link in the top of the browser window, just once so it goes blue, then click gently again and choose Copy (you will probably have Copy/Cut options)

Click in the gransnet message (text) box and choose Paste

Not overly complex and any GN worth her salt can master this with practice - honest you CAN

Ned (former eGovernment Adviser to West Sussex County Council) now a very proud GN bloke

Some day's I've got quite a lot of time to be honest Maw (others none at all) It's quite lonely sitting here all on my own, waiting for the phone to ring or an email enquiry to pop through. All accounts up to date, office cleaned and tidy, dishes washed etc. I can't leave so basically that's it, I'm lonely.

See my reply to merlot , gillybob.

How much time do some people have to spend on GN anyway?

I agree that there "are worse things happen at sea" than the royals wasting masses of money on private jets...... which is probably true about many thread subjects on Gransnet.

Should we only talk about deadly serious matters then? I'm too.

So if you want to talk about the refugees being refused by Malta and Italy (a very worthy subject) why not start a thread on it?