Uh Uh Harry ?

Grany read your comments with interest. I wonder if you would be so kind as to give your source for the ‘millions so far’ that have been spent on the Old Stables, their new home at Kensington Palace. I didn’t realise that having moved there in 2019 the renovations are still ongoing in addition to the £400,000 that was spent originally on rewriting etc etc as it was in a state of some disrepair when they agreed to move from their larger apartment to give the Duke and Duchess of Sussex a larger home. I understood that this arrangement was convenient for them as their adult children had now left home, but if such a small property warrants ongoing millions in expenditure, it is indeed worrying. The photographs of them there working with their respective charities show a very comfortable home, with no sign of builders. I understand their old apartment is now used as offices as it was rejected by M & H.

In complete agreement Grany.

I think the whole Royal Family spends public money as if it's their own there needs to be a discussion about their finances more transparency

Graham Smith from Republic is calling on the Sovereign Grant to be scrapped. The total cost [of the monarchy] has been estimated to be two to three times the grant. If they do want to come clean, there should be an open discussion on that." calling for more transparency about the royal finances.

Million so far spent of public money renovating a new home for the Gloucesters

"I think the Crown Estate has questions to answer about allowing the royals to use the property in this way, and why they are not more open about the financial transactions that go on in relation to the houses they let the royals have."

"What we have is a family taking advantage of their position (in relation) to public property. They're working out their own finances, doing their own books and then reporting their own finances - there needs to be independent scrutiny.

While most public spending is cut...

"All major expenditure areas have increased, from payroll (up £1.2m to £24.4m), to travel (up £700,000 to £5.3m), and housekeeping and hospitality (up £300,000 to £2.6m)."

A 15% increase in travel costs when hospitals can't deliver the very best care to every person in need, when teachers are struggling to pay for the necessary books and equipment and the police are stretched to breaking point is scandalous."

And they’re all at it Thousands of pounds spent on junkets for Anne and Andrew, so they can attend sporting events. This is not public service, it’s daylight robbery.”

However, the Sovereign Grant is just one part of the total cost of the monarchy. The royal family's security bill is picked up by the metropolitan police, for example, while the costs of royal visits are borne by local councils.

Meanwhile, income from the Duchy of Lancaster and the Duchy of Cornwall – despite belonging to the nation - goes directly to the Queen and Prince Charles respectively, depriving the treasury of tens of millions of pounds every year.

Workshy is good, Ellan. I think I'd go with pathetic.

Workshy is how I'd describe them.

I don't care for British celebrities actors and actresses telling me how to vote in a British election, but they seem to think we will take notice
Or do they just like the sound of their own voice?

Talking of books, what is Horrible Histories going to look like in years to come? 2020 the year of Brexit, the pandemic and the traitors Harry and Megan!!

biba70

Are you sure? I thought it was much before they came on the scene?

It came out in 1992 so William would have been 10 and Harry about 7?

Anniebach

Harry has lived in America for a few months and is telling
Americans to vote .

I wouldn’t want an American husband of a British tv actress
telling me to vote.

Neither would I Annie.

I am quite surprised at how pleased I was to hear that Eugenie and her husband are expecting a baby, and also by a photograph of Beatrice looking very pretty, despite the face mask, standing beside the case displaying her (second-hand !) wedding dress.
Things are getting back to normal.

Are you sure? I thought it was much before they came on the scene?

?I remember in the book William and Harry running wild and having a great time ( particularly Harry.)

Yes, lemon, I do (doh) - that was Sue's take on it - and I think she was probably right about Anne and Queen Mum adjusting well.

Summerlove

Exactly
He might feel betrayed by how people turned on him. He would have expected the support he always had to continue

Then he would be a total dimwit.
He’s the one vanishing off into the night because he and Meghan found things too difficult, i.e. they couldn’t have or do anything that took their fancy, be Royal but have no responsibilities at the same time.

biba70

According to Sue (sadly died of complications of Diabetes quite some years back) - Queen Mum did very well and became best friend with the West Indian lady next door- they had a hoot.

.....you do realise it was a work of fiction??

The huge apartment H&M turned down at KP which cost millions to refurbish is now offices!

To make way for them the Duke of Gloucester had downsized to the 'Old Stables' which had to be completely refurbished to the cost of £1million.

Meanwhile a lovely residence in Windsor stands empty!

OK they payed back the £2.4million and are allegedly paying rent for Frogmore Cottage but something about it all makes me

Exactly
He might feel betrayed by how people turned on him. He would have expected the support he always had to continue

I agree he was well loved but that was before he let himself, his family and some may feel his country down, with his selfish and underhanded behaviour.

Why wouldn’t he?
He was well loved until recently

Why on earth would he have expected his country to support him?

Jaberwok

The real sadness is that Prince Harry looks so unhappy and beaten down! bit like those awful hauted pictures of IS hostages. We don't mind a Prince relocating to another country/life if it makes him happy and contented, after all we've got plenty of other Princes, but to see him parroting words clearly put into his mouth that he barely seems to understand and see his downcast demeanour compared to the Harry we once knew and loved is nothing short of tragic.

Maybe because he expected his country to support him. He was sorely mistaken

Ellianne

trisher

If Meghan follows her dream into politics they're going to need some seriously rich and influential friends.
Oh but wouldn't it be great if she became President! The problems it would cause if they made a state visit to the UK in say 10 years time. Who goes first? Harry because he's the President's other half or William because he is heir to the throne???

trisher, and maybe Meghan would barge ahead of Charles like Trump did with Her Majesty!

I'd forgotten that Ellianne!

Still there's many a slip twixt cup and lip.

Funny to speculate though

trisher

^If Meghan follows her dream into politics they're going to need some seriously rich and influential friends.^
Oh but wouldn't it be great if she became President! The problems it would cause if they made a state visit to the UK in say 10 years time. Who goes first? Harry because he's the President's other half or William because he is heir to the throne???

Or if William is King?

POTUS in all her Meghaness versus the Queen of England?

I do hope I'm around to enjoy it.

I don't think Meghan could ever be presidential material. If she had to ever make a decision about going to war against another country, it would all be about upset it made her!

Assuming the queen is dead in say 10 years time and there was
a state visit by President Markle,

Charles as king and President Markle

Camilla as Queen consort and President Markle’s other half

If Charles wasn’t alive in 10 years time then

William as King and President Markle

Kate queen consort and President Markle’s other half

No it wouldn’t be great, nothing great about the divide between two brothers who were once so close.