The queen's decor

Fancy moving in next door 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

There was a link, Anniebach

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

Not for me either, Abbiebach

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

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

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

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

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?

Lilygran, difference between understand why people do things and agreeing with their action.

Why with fifty seven rooms are William and Kate so short of space they need their office in a separate building.

Anne does work which is more than be said for her two brothers and nieces
.may I suggest you read of the agreement set up for Andrew to live in Royal Lodge, Windsor ?
I can't agree that half written about the windsors is malicious , I think most is good press because they have a first class PR team

Merlotgran,if the queens sons and grandchildren did a quarter of public duties that Alexander and Katherine Kent did I would understand them being given apartments in a palace . Be it a party or the balcony we can be sure of seeing the two sisters

My feeling is, so what? I don't mind the Queen of England being privileged in some ways. Heaven knows, she has had enough restrictions on her life a few diamonds and having someone draw her bath (thanks, merlotgran, common as muck,me. Never got the hang of 'U and non-U') hardly enough recompense!

I admire the Queen and don't give a monkey's about her privileges but I don't wear a set of blinkers where the rest of the Royals are concerned.

When the Queen dies, monarchists (and I am one) will be living in interesting times.

I won't be manning the barricades though.

My feelings too, Lilgygran. No point being all bitter and twisted about things which really are out of our hands - unless some of you are hoping for a Revolution!

BTW she's not just the Queen of England...

I'm not bitter or twisted. I just don't want to pay towards the upkeep of an immensely rich family who can well afford to pay their own way.

Please explain what restrictions the Queen has had on her life? She is well housed, fed, clothed and has travelled extensively. She never has to consider what to have for tea or whether she can afford to buy the food she needs. Someone else does her cooking, cleaning and laundry. She has a fleet of cars, a private train and the Royal Flight. Up to a few years ago she also had a yacht. She never has to pack or unpack a suitcase or deal with the washing/ironing post trip.

She is feted wherever she goes and all she has to do is smile, wave and make the odd speech.

She has been in a kind of prison: career determined from when she was a little girl, required to carry out endless ceremonial visits and functions....yes, she is fed and housed and also required to travel or entertain at the drop of a hat, dressed to the nines and listening to endless speeches. If you don't recognise the restrictions you are very limited in your outlook. If you don't think we need someone to do all the things the Queen and other members of the royal family do, that's a defensible attitude. Endless carping about privilege is another. I repeat: people who undertake state duties don't do it at their own expense! Ambassadors, ministers of state, civil servants, MPs, NHS doctors and many others. Even if they could afford to do so, the state pays. Pay attention!

I have been trying to understand this thread for the last few days.

Some people fail to see the big picture.

The big picture is that, in effect, The Royal Family are a brand, which rake in lots of cash for GB. Yes, they cost, but overall, they make GB a lot of money.

But some people only see the smaller picture, of posh people in big houses with lots of spare rooms etc.

I have realised, since being on gransnet, that on here and in real life, some people are only able to literally see the smaller picture.
And nothing that is said, is going to change that.
That is who they are. about this particular issue.

I think that we are all like that on some issues, and not on other issues.

I get the picture, soontobe

We're having a discussion and don't need a lecture.

I have been paying attention Lilygran. Ambassadors, ministers of state, civil servants, MPs, NHS doctors and many others are employees and therefore earn a wage.

The Royal Family are not employees. They have not been employed my me or by the state on my behalf therefore I have no wish to pay towards their upkeep.

If she doesn't want to carry out her ceremonial functions then she can abdicate and live on her own resources in her own residences. No one can force her to remain queen.

And then you would have someone else doing what she does, and you would complain just as much! I would argue that the royal family are, in a sense, employed by the state. In the same way as a President is.

I agree, Lilygran and the Queen does it better than anyone.

A president is elected.

How do you know the queen does it better than anyone, merlotgran? We have no experience of anyone else doing it.

Thank the Lord for that. I have this image in my head of Tony Blair riding side-saddle down the mall.

Now if you want to talk about greed and exploitation.......!

The Queen of England ? Now I understand, the windsors bring money in for England but Scotland, Wales and N Ireland must pay for this queen of England and her extended family

Go, Grans, go!! Brilliant discussions.