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The family firm.

(493 Posts)
GabriellaG54 Thu 05-Sept-19 13:09:23

Photos of Princess Charlotte's first day at school with her brother Prince George, show us how well their mother, Catherine, has fitted into The Firm.
Delightfully normal and without any pretentious, she and her husband simply get on with life, neither courting nor studiously avoiding the publicity that goes with the job.
She looks wonderful in the pictures taken by the DM and the family is a fitting continuation of our monarchy.

Anniebach Tue 10-Sept-19 15:22:51

The Princes Trust. This charity does much good,

Prince William is patron of Centrepoint , this gives the charity much publicity.

I won’t list all

maddyone Tue 10-Sept-19 15:49:14

Bridgeit, lovely post 14.39.

And GrannyGravy, good post.

Bridgeit Tue 10-Sept-19 15:54:32

Thank you Maddyone.

GrannyGravy13 Tue 10-Sept-19 16:02:05

Thank you maddyone

trisher Tue 10-Sept-19 17:33:03

You don't have to be royal to work for charity and if they really wanted to make a difference they could donate a few hundred acres or a castle or even leave money in trust. Others have. In Newcastle we have the James Knott Trust. Sir James Knott made his money in shipping, in his lifetime paid for 3 libraries and a church. Left his one surviving son and second wife well provided for but put all the rest of his cash into the Trust. He died in 1934 and it is still helping others
Find me a royal who has done that.

oldgimmer1 Tue 10-Sept-19 17:50:23

The only one I've got any time for is Albert, Victoria's consort.

Innovative, clever and a massive support to Old Vic. I think he was practically running the country for her. No wonder she mourned him!

Anniebach Tue 10-Sept-19 17:51:17

they never disclose what or if they give to charity

Donate a castle ? Windsor Castle perhaps, if it was theirs to give.

Bridgeit Wed 11-Sept-19 10:12:52

Prince Charles Youth Charity
Provides, Jobs, Education & Training,

trisher Wed 11-Sept-19 10:31:45

But Bridgeit it doesn't impinge on the personal wealth of the RF or indeed of Charles himself. That's all tied up in supporting the lifestyles of the growing numbers of the family. They may donate but they rarely actually give much away and they do own a substantial amount of property.

Bridgeit Wed 11-Sept-19 10:39:43

Who does give everything away, & what would it achieve if they did, the person who gives all away would then be in need themselves
Communism doesn’t work either,
I don’t know the answers, but knocking those who endeavour to use their position & wealth to do something doesn’t help at all.
There are plenty of well off people who do t give a S - - T
Why knock those who do?

Anniebach Wed 11-Sept-19 10:44:11

Yes Bridgeit The Princes Trust has helped thousands of young people

Bridgeit Wed 11-Sept-19 10:51:17

Thanks Annibach,
I am not a fervent Royalist, but I think given that we are a sovereign country, the present family in the main do try to contribute,which I think should be acknowledged.
It amazes me that as humans we are quick to criticise without checking out the facts, which is why I like to look beyond the inflammatory reports.
One thing I don’t understand is the cost of outfits worn by The Royal Family , Actresses , Models etc etc

trisher Wed 11-Sept-19 11:04:29

Bridgeit I've posted about the James Knott Trust if you want to check www.knott-trust.co.uk
One man who came from nothing made his money and left a legacy that still helps over 70 years after his death.
He could have just left everything to his family, he didn't . He provided for them and left a legacy. The RF could do something similar instead they prefer to accumulate and inherit. And there are more and more of them.

Bridgeit Wed 11-Sept-19 11:14:10

Thanks Trisher, I will read later
Yes there are so many people who are generous,
I just don’t get having to knock those who do help ( because of, or despite who they are)
Perhaps it is time we didn’t have a Royal family, but the alternatives are not very attractive.
So I am just making the point that despite of or because of that they do actually contribute in many ways that are not seen, not reported, they don’t talk about etc
They are here born into their circumstances just like the rest of us, I know who I would rather be, & it wouldn’t be them.

Anniebach Wed 11-Sept-19 11:16:52

Bridgeit I am not a fervent royalist , Have never stood on a pavement to wave to them. I agree they do contribute and charities benefit from their patronage.

The clothes they wear are from British designers .

Charities do benefit from their patronage and this matters, think what Diana did when fear of AIDS was gripping the country . Kate and William are bringing mental health to the fore .

janipat Wed 11-Sept-19 11:23:38

It must be so sad for countries that do not have a Royal Family as they really miss out on tourism hmm I've been to Stratford upon Avon many times, visited all the buildings associated with Will Shakespeare, but missed seeing the old boy himself. Amazingly it has been thronged with tourists even in the depths of winter!
At the very least the RF should be trimmed down to the monarch and his/her direct heir. We do not need all the useless hangers-on. If Royal Patronage is such a boost for a charity, surely they should ensure that all charities receive such patronage, otherwise they severely disadvantage the ones they don't personally care about.

Anniebach Wed 11-Sept-19 11:58:08

Who are the useless hangers on ?

merlotgran Wed 11-Sept-19 12:17:49

The clothes they wear are from British designers .

Meghan favours designers from South America, France, New Zealand et al. Stella McCartney and Victoria Beckham get a look in now and again.

paddyann Wed 11-Sept-19 12:23:20

they are ALL useless hangers on...

janipat Wed 11-Sept-19 12:38:10

Anniebach well to start with Andrew and his daughters. Why do we need this ever widening circle of family members? The monarch and his/her heir is more than enough for a figurehead. Even if they restrict themselves to 2 children every family member will be responsible for bringing 3 more people into the family fold. It's endless!

Anniebach Wed 11-Sept-19 12:43:39

janipat you mean sterilise a family? Andrews daughters do not carry out royal duties, the press choose to write about them if they didn’t we wouldn’t know anything about them

paddyann Wed 11-Sept-19 12:48:31

we know we pay for security for them ,we know Andrew gets cash from the civil list therefor it trickles down to them .I dont wish these women any harm BUT maybe they should be making their own living and living within their means like most women their age do .

janipat Wed 11-Sept-19 12:55:26

Anniebach for goodness sake where did I suggest sterilising a family? I pointed out that their numbers increase exponentially (as with most families) so there will be more and more of them in each generation.
Andrew's daughter was married at Windsor Castle, involving a good deal of security costs. If she does not carry out Royal duties why should we, the public, fund her extra security? Wants to live like a royal but not do the work, doesn't sound very honourable.

eazybee Wed 11-Sept-19 13:06:38

I believe that Beatrice and Eugenie do not get an allowance or any particular role as part of the Royal Family although Andrew thinks they should. They will disappear from public view as do all the descendants of the Kents, Gloucesters, Snowdens, Harewoods and many more, who all earn their own livings. They turn up for weddings , funerals, occasions because they are part of the family, nor because they are fulfilling a role.
I do not consider them to be useless hangers-on; my opinion.
I could share my opinion with you about commercial photographers, but I choose not to offend.

Anniebach Wed 11-Sept-19 13:29:20

janipat Andrew’s daughter was married in St.Georges Chapel , yes there was security, the Queen was there . No matter where she married there would have to be security or
should the queen not have attended her granddaughters wedding ?

Andrews daughters do not carry out royal duties, Charles stopped security for them.

Zara Phillips there were security costs for Zara Phillips wedding in Scotland, the queen attended.

Paddyanne people make money from the royals too