The family firm.

Beckett what a wonderful principled man your husband is.

He was GG13 unfortunately I lost him to cancer several years ago.

Beckett so sorry.

Bekett your husband was a man who didn’t leave his principles at the door for a price, Truly a man of principles

Beckett, So sad for you, but hoping that your memories of a honourable man & husband are of some comfort to you.best wishes

Thank you all for your kind words. I only posted to make the point that money shouldn't come before deeply held principles.

I only posted to make the point that money shouldn't come before deeply held principles.

I agree with that. I don't think anyone should be forced to provide a service or product for someone who compromises their beliefs or principles. However, in the world we live in now you can be accused of bigotry or discrimination if you refuse a customer.

Many of us from working class backgrounds can remember as youngsters being happy for the Royal Family when there was an 'event' in their lives.

However, Labour back then was very different from the Labour Party of today. Those of us who started out poor took our opportunities (against all the odds) to make something of ourselves. Those principles probably still apply to those disadvantaged in the UK of today. Being poor in the 50s when we had few rights, no advocates, no help and also felt much shame and discrimination meant that we had an uphill struggle, always.

Now we tend to see the politics of envy, the hatred of the wealthy, the anarchic (Marxist) desire to break the system and a Labour Party comprised of middle class wealthy people and supported by right-on wealthy people who haven't a clue what hardship is about. The Labour Party under Corbyn is not a monarchist one. As someone who has always striven to do my best and get by on my own efforts, I feel the Conservative party, not Labour, is more attuned to the needs of most, including the worse off. If you have aspirations of any sort, even modest ones, and earn money, (most of us?) beware Labour. A levelling down would be on the cards and the likes of Labour MP (Lady) Emily Thornberry, who sneers at the working man and his way of life makes me highly suspicious of 2019 style socialism.

Supporting the royal family is not a crime. If one accepts they are 'different' and always have been. They are a bit of a a distraction and a peep show involving, pomp, ceremony and pageantry for us mere mortals.

I do object to the size of the family the public is expected to support (I see Harry and Meghan as surplus to requirements now, for example) but not knowing the figures and which funds pay for what, I cannot be outraged by their existence. I suspect Charles may trim The Firm to immediate heirs/future monarchs when his time comes. I'd welcome that.

I know that a lot of people like the royal family but was the level of personal criticism levelled at Paddyann really warranted just because she doesn't agree?

The level of criticism from her against the royals AND against posters on this thread surely wasn’t going to mean she’d get off scot free was it?

I can understand why people dislike the royals. I also understand that the royal family are a bit of an anachronism in this day and age.

Paddyann's opinions are just as valid as others.

The expensive refurbishment and renovation of Frogmore House made my blood boil. Harry is a very wealthy young man able to provide for himself and his family. His wife has millions in the bank too. No idea why the taxpayer should fund their expensive lifestyle in any way and why he doesn't have a job.

Great post Day6, & Pantglas1

Day6 the 15:38 post Not the subsequent one

It is difficult to understand why paddyann made money from people she calls degenerates and parasites

Day6 My working class roots are probably as strong as yours but I have the grace to recognise that I grew up in a socialist country where support was given "from the cradle to the grave". That my health was protected by an NHS which was not only free but provided support as well as medical treatment. That my free education began at the age of 3 in a state run nursery and continued through my life. That my family were accommodated in council housing which was not only affordable but met certain standards. That my family benefitted from the working conditions hard won by my grandfather and his union work. It is a source of disappointment and shame to me that those of my generation who benefitted from the actions of a Labour government and Labour activists have failed to hand those benefits down to succeeding generations. It is not envy but the politics of radicalism which have their roots in the terrible treatment meted out in the past to ordinary people by those who regard power as something to be inherited and not earned.
There have incidently always been wealthy middle class people who supported the Labour party. There have always been radical people who have money but also principles. Just as there have always been working class Tories who are willing to take the benefits won by activists but not to acknowledge them.

Hear hear Day6 great post?

Ach Annie give it a rest,as a business owner who got the company through a recession AND didn't pay off any staff difficult decisions had to be made .Any one who has been in the same position will understand that principles take a back seat when people s livliehoods are at stake .Taking pictures of Lizzie for a long time client didn't make me a traitor to my cause .It made the client keep giving the business his work and the staff get paid .NOT that I should justify myself to you BUT Mrs Socialist of the year ...not. MY workforce were important to me and their security came first .Now back off and sort out your own issues .

And your profit paddyann and your profit

Using my DGS’s class of 32 children as an example (aside from the fact that they did not have a proper teacher for the entire year last year) and assuming the teacher spent as little as 2 minutes greeting each child individually, shaking hands , making eye contact etc . That teacher would have needed over an hour to get all the children in ! How ridiculous would that be? Meanwhile ( if you are lucky) there might be a TA looking after up to 31 other children . Sounds mad doesn’t it? And it is mad which is why in your normal everyday primary it would never happen .

Of course I accept that the royal children are not your average children, who attend the average primary are they ? With their money, privilege and status, comes very special attention . Very special indeed .

get a life ..

Paddyann, I can understand perfectly why you took a commission from the RF to help you over hard times , but I think its you referring to them as parasites that doesn't sit well with some people especially as their money helped you in your time of need! How fortunate they had the (parasitic) means to employ you at that difficult time!!

Having run a business during the recession in the nineties and having a responsibility to our staff, not to mention the bank manager, I can only say that unless you've been in that position - I'm talking first name terms with the bailiffs, you simply cannot form critical opinions or jump to conclusions.

We worked hard and not only survived but came out the other end with our profits intact.

For seven years we took on any functions and bookings that came our way and chased those that might not. If we hadn't, the work would have gone to our rivals and we might never have got the business back. It's dog eat dog in hard times!

Some of our customers were not the kind of people we would have chosen to deal with. We would never have entertained anyone with a criminal reputation and we also drew the line at the travelling fraternity who would torch any place if they had an axe to grind.

Anyone who turns down work during difficult financial times only has themselves to blame if their situation gets worse and their staff won't thank them for it.

I do agree with jabberwok's comments about parasites though.

It's a very ugly word merlotgran and not one I would use when describing anyone! Freeloader, maybe under dire circumstances!!!