The queen's decor

Princess Anne also has a London residence, in St James' Palace. I ask again, why the royal domestic arrangements cause some posters so many problems. Half (at least) of what is published about members of the royal family is incorrect, some of it malicious. Where individuals have a state office, the expenses of that office are paid by government. How rich or poor they are as individuals is irrelevant. That isn't difficult to understand, surely?

I couldn't agree more about Andrew and his daughters. It was always a tradition that the male members would go into the armed forces and the women performed royal 'duties' and did charitable work - like the Duchess of Kent and Princess Alexandra. Traditionally they were given grace and favour homes and there were plenty to go round.

Princess Anne threw all that out the window when she had the foresight to realise that her children would thrive by standing on their own two feet even though their royal connections must come in handy from time to time Gatcombe was a present from the Queen and they all live on the estate which earns them a great deal of respect.

Prince Andrew's daughters have had a good education and every advantage thrown their way. There is no reason why they should be living in St. James' Palace as they perform no official duties thanks to the slimming down of the Royal Family. I was under the impresson that Eugenie has a job in the USA so why isn't she living there?

I wonder what will happen with Edward's children when the Duke of Edinburgh dies and he inherits the title? Will they be elevated to HRHs?
Hopefully Edward will take a leaf out of Anne's book and not Edward's

Lilygran, we own their apartments , social housing really, it's the 21st century , why should two women both healthy not work and pay their own way. It is morally wrong that people in social housing have to cope with the bedroom tax but not these two women. I dislike the pretence that the royals have moved with the times, they have not. If the queen put the lot in her own homes then fine, but we are housing her granddaughters, children, cousins and this costs the country. A country where the number of homeless young people is rising , where a mother who has just buried her disabled daughter is told to pay more rent for the dead child's bedroom or move. Can you give a reason why these two women can't buy their own homes ? I also object to the costs the country for Camilla's family home, good grief she has Clarence House, Highgrove, Burkhall, and the welsh farm house yet she needs yet another house for a bolt hole where she can relax , I dislike greed and this family are swamped in greed . All the cut backs on the way and the queen want's over 6% pay increase , little wonder when she has to support her lazy second son and his two lazy daughters . At least Anne's children are not slinging off the country. The windsors are public servants , Andrews daughters are very minor royals , problem is they think differently

Why do you object so strongly, Anniebach, to Prince Andrew's daughters living rent free? You aren't paying the rent!

Not for me either, Abbiebach

I don't think they'd let me take the chickens.

So sorry Merlotgran . £20,000 a month rent and those two sisters live there rent free . I would hate to live there, every day I can look at my beloved mountains , watch the colours change with seasons and weather. Am curled up on sofa now and can look at them , well not quite true, this morning I can look at the mist which is shrouding them

There was a link, Anniebach

Next door to whom Merlotgran? No windsors live in Wales but where I live we are use to them flying in and out of the area to visit friends and in laws , not forgetting the holiday complex Charles bought under false pretences and which is guarded by the police and army

Fancy moving in next door Anniebach?

I just do not understand the defence of the money paid out for the Windsors, when the late QM was rushed into hospital when in Scotland a whole hospital floor was closed for security purposes , who can justify this?

All the houses in Windsor castle grounds are grace and favour homes.

William has a 57 roomed apartment , Harry, the both Kent couples, the Gloucesters, have apartments in Kensington Palace but William, Kate and Harry have their offices in St James.

Princess Alexander, Andrews daughters have apartments in St James

Andrew and Edward have their London residences in buck house . Andrew also has a house in Windsor.

Why can they not do as everyone else , either get a mortgage or rent their own houses .

This is not envy, it is my views on a very large family who are very wealthy yet we have to house and pay security for

Running a bath is for common people.

The Queen has servants to draw her a bath.

Lots of points made. I don't think the late mother was a monarch - only a consort. And, allegedly, the daughter of a maid - or was it a pantry assistant. Has anyone else noticed the guesswork about monies they pay or bequest? I thought the late mother was bankrupt and in debt! I wish I could afford a creative accountant(s), but then you need money/property, etc, etc. to keep them employed. I would also like the team of doctors that could keep me fit and healthy for years even with life threatening diseases. I would like housekeepers and gardeners, and having my bath ready for me (without having to consider water meter use). I suppose I am lucky that I have somewhere to live and can still earn minimum wage. I don't know why I ended up reading about Turning the Table and speaking to the person on my left at dinner. Very important protocol and weighs heavily on the royal mind apparently. Lots of german relatives visit regularly according to latest news and stay at public owned historic residences. I wonder who pays for these visits. And yet... German people do not want a monarchy.

vampirequeen Sorry – crossed posts.

I don't think you can criticise the queen for having someone else to run her bath. Apart from the long-standing tradition of those with servants having their baths run by servants, the example of Princess Margaret's dreadfully scalded legs when she stepped into an almost boiling bath must still be in her mind.

I want my 56p/70p/76p or any other amount I pay for their upkeep back.

Have it your own way, merlot.

Sorry it's a link, but this was only last year!

news.sky.com/story/1289418/royal-family-costs-taxpayer-56p-per-person

I'm sure it was something like 76p per head a year or so ago Ana so maybe we've clawed some back....Result!!

No, the 56p doesn't include security.

But as 56p is all it costs for the main outlay (which must be quite substantial) perhaps another 10p a year might cover it...

Let's round it up to 70p a year just to be on the safe side!

We are still paying for T. Blair's security which includes police at all his houses, here and abroad, and air fares and hotel bills when he goes on one of his very frequent trips abroad. And for all the previous PMs and various other ministers. That's what happens when someone's role puts them at risk.

I didn't have a choice any more than you did, dj but I was only in it for two years then I lived in the middle East until secondary school age.

Your continuous complaining about anything and everything does get a bit tedious though.

We're not that badly off, all things considered.

Sandringham belongs to the Queen and is a private estate not a royal residence like Buckingham Palace.

I don't think I have ever seen exactly what this 56p per head covers. I bet it doesn't include security for the whole clan.

Incidentally, inheritance tax is not paid on a deceased monarch's estate. It wasn't paid on the late Queen Mother's estate either.

Did you know that Royal wills are sealed? Everyone else's are public records. This started in 1910 when Prince Francis of Teck (Queen Mary's brother) left the prized family jewels to his mistress. Queen Mary persuaded a judge to seal the will so that a scandal could be averted. Since then all royal wills have been sealed so we can never find out what they owned and how it's shared out. That means we can't find out how much inheritance tax they're avoiding paying. The Queen Mother is thought to have left around £70 million to her daughter. Of course we can't be sure because her will is sealed. But what is certain is that the Queen didn't pay inheritance tax.

Why is saying we do not have a choice about the country we are born into bitter? I was just being honest. It's the truth.
Loopy said we ought to move country if we do not like it here. I was just responding to that.
Did you have a choice about where you were born, merlot?

I need my 56p more than they do.

Royal residences are good for their local economy. The gardens at Sandringham are hugely popular and the farm estate obviously offers job opportunities. Who cares if the Queen only visits a few times a year?

There are many times I shout, 'How much?'or 'Why should we pay for that? but I know deep down we are better of with the monarchy which has served us well.

I think Prince Charles will continue to be a safe pair of hands but I'm not so sure about William