The queen's decor

They can have my 56p. Bargain!!

The monarchy costs each UK citizen around 56p a year. Do all those who want to do away with it really think that the treasury would suddenly be awash with money if Liz & Co. were despatched to the Royal Knackers Yard?

Dream on.

How do they calculate the number of visitors to Buckinham Palace - most of them just stay outside and watch the changing of the guards etc and that is a free spectacle and 365 days a year.

Envy etc has nothing to do with this, who on earth would be envious of them? I have not said I would choose an elected head of state , I think the Windsors should move into the 21st century , they cost the country far too much money. As for the tourists they are suppose to bring in, France has more tourists than England does. The most visited place in London is the tower, buck house is fifth on the list of tourist attractions and that is only open to the public two months of the year . Perhaps some countries admire the royal family but don't want one in their country. Australia will proberly vote to opt out as will Canada . The people of other countries see the royals as celebrities, they do not have to pay for their extravagant life style . I have nothing against Charles and Camilla getting their bottoms on the throne , I do have a problem with having to pay for the security for Camilla's family home because she needs a bolt hole. We paid for a building to be erected on her estate to house the security team, this is so wrong. And I assure those who accuse me of envy you are so wrong. Perhaps you will explain why you think Andrews daughters should have apartments in St James when they afford to buy their own. So not envy, I just dislike people struggling on low wages paying tax and this very large family grabbing every penny they can

I don't want to be pedantic (yes of course I do!) but it's envy, not jealousy. She's the Head of State, vq, that's why!

Why are people who criticise Liz et al always accused of jealousy? I'm not jealous of anyone. I just don't see why I have to help to pay for the upkeep of someone who has more than enough money to look after herself.

We do not have a choice about the country we are born into.

Some of your posts sound really bitter, dj. If this country is so awful why are so many people desperate to live here?

Why assume we are jealous.

We do not have a choice about the country we are born into. Never had enough money to emigrate and haven't now.

Nice, CelticRose. You forgot about all the football stadiums and teams.

I'm with Lilygran on this.
The Royal family bring millions of pounds to the economy, and some of these threads smack of prejudice and jealousy.

I'm tempted to say that if you'd prefer an alternative then perhaps you're living in the wrong country.

Many, many people abroad admire our Royal family too, and they can't all be wrong too.

But why should the re-furb also inconvenience Anne, Andrew, Charles, Edward and all of their offspring? They have other premises - don't they? Kensington Palace, Sandringham (where Phllip is said to reside mostly these days - must be the clean air), Anmer, Royal Lodge Windsor, Bagshot Park, St James Palace, Clarence House, Highgrove, Gatcombe, etc, etc, etc. I also thought the refurb at Windsor after the Great Fire was for the monarch to be able to move in to permanently due to incessant Heathrow traffic pollution and invasion of privacy in the back garden. Of course foreign visitors contribute to the economy - Qatar, UAE, Russians, etc, etc, etc. Aren't the Qataris re-furbing the Castle of Mey, too, as well as UAE nationals buying up swathes of Scotland? Thinking about it - we can re-name this country UKAE.

Anyone who didn't know that hasn't been paying much attention. I'd like for every time it was mentioned last year with all the WW1 commemorations.

I'm not worried by people queuing in the rain or otherwise to see members of the royal family, film-stars, pop-stars, sports stars or even real stars. I've never done it myself and don't think I'll start now. I'm quite happy to debate republic versus constitutional monarchy or any other forms of government. Complaints about the sovereign being privileged don't constitute debate. Mindless prejudice!

For heaven's sake!

As I said earler, Lilygran, Buck House can still be a building of national importance. Just without the Windsors in it.
Has anybody mentioned that the name was adopted because they did not want to be forever associated with their German forebears?

True Lilygran I have experienced it over years with people who genuinely adore the windsors , make gifts, stand for hours to see one pass , there is nothing rational in this behaviour so cannot expect a rational argument

It is a very true saying, that you cannot change by rational argument an opinion which was not reached by a rational process.

And it's all volentary Jen, she only started to pay tax in 1993 because Charles had enough of a brain to listen to the anger of people that she wasn't paying a penny, neither did her father. Just a couple of years ago the financial chaps for Charles were called to appear before a select comittee in the house, at one point they declined to answer some questions, declined to answer. 2006 Charles decided to buy a home in Wales - big fanfare , a place to stay when he visits Wales . Jobs for the locals in the village etc. He passed the planning stage with a list of so many advantages to the local community . He does not stay there , he rents the farm house and converted barns as holiday homes to those he knows , it's great for fishing and he got fishing rights with the farm. The place is guarded 365 days of the year,staff were brought in from London , sister of Camilla was appointed interior designer no matter applications were made by Welsh designers . He stays with the Legg Bourkes on their estate and when he visits the North he stays in Powys castle. The police and the army guard the farmhouse so the visitors get privacy , how many homes do this family own and run as a business whilst we pay for security , grrrrr

Thanks, Annie. I assumed that wanting to pay tax meant she wanted to be treated like the rest of us.
You mean she pays the same rate as me? That's ridiculous.

What percentage of her income does she pay?

www.royal.gov.uk/TheRoyalHousehold/Royalfinances/Taxation.aspx says:

In 1992, The Queen volunteered to pay income tax and capital gains tax, and since 1993 her personal income has been taxable as for any other taxpayer.

The Queen has always been subject to Value Added Tax and pays local rates on a voluntary basis.

Does this mean she pays the Council Tax on each of her houses (not the one's we own obviously because she pays nothing for them)?

Are we to be grateful she pays VAT? Even the poorest of us have to pay that.

durhamjen, she doesn't pay 40% tax

Lilygran, I do not have a problem with the queen, don't know her, never met her never will . For me the only benefit is she saves me from another damn election which a president would bring. The queen didn't start paying tax untill 1993 and only pays the basic rate , that was forty years on the throne storing up all that money . She is so wealthy it isn't possible for a true assessment of her wealth to be given. Her art collection, massive jewellery hoard, stud farms, privately owned homes, even her stamp collection is considered priceless as is her Faberge egg collection. She has a brilliant PR machine , they all do. Yes she has never failed in her duty but it's the tosh we are fed about their concern for the people of this country which gets to me. Yes she turns up for events which must be soooo boring, but with at least five months holiday a year I am sure it's bearable. Yes she does well for a woman her age, who wouldn't when they have never depended on the NHS, never had to choose the cheap cuts of meat or even wondered if she can afford a holiday for her children. She has allowed her children to be a lazy money grabbers and now some of her grandchildren are following . I am really angry that those two lazy grandaughters are given apartments in a palace , why can't they get a job and a mortgage . We have to pay for security for at least fourteen homes for her and her family but are not told the true costs. William gets a 57 roomed London home, yet so many have suffered under the bedroom tax . That Kensington palace apartment is a council house , 57 rooms for a family of four !

If a herring and a half cost three ha'pence . . .

My grandson's maths lessons all next week, vampire.
He doesn't use a calculator.

Blimey! This is like one of those brain teasers you get at the end of a pub quiz.

Haven't a clue.