Keeping Royal Secrets

It wasn't me that asked....

However I'm on board with the "no real value" thing...

Alegrias1

Any answers from anyone to Lucca's question about the purpose of the Royal Family?

Why does everything or everybody need a purpose *Alegrias1? Sometimes things or people simply exist, because they do. Sometimes they cost money and are of no real value, but maybe sometimes they give something in return. My 200 spring bulbs I planted have no real purpose, other than to look colourful and pretty. (As do certain members of the RF!)

Aye, this democracy thing's not all its cracked up to be...

Yes, thinking of elected party leaders, some who became prime
ministers, an elected president ? No

Any answers from anyone to Lucca's question about the purpose of the Royal Family?

I'm quite interested in a ruling class that think that the Freedom of Information Act doesn't apply to them and that they can control what we know.

I am not interested in anyone’s sexual preferences

I've still got that the wrong way round..

It's the Herald on Sunday, not the Sunday Herald.

As if it matters

The newspaper in question is the Sunday Herald, not the Herald on Sunday which ceased publication several years ago. My fault for not being clear about that.

It's a serious paper, not a gossip sheet. Besmirchment can work both ways.

What do we think of the Telegraph.
www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2021/11/14/keep-lord-mountbattens-diaries-private-protect-queens-dignity/

Or the Express? www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1521420/queen-news-lord-mountbatten-diaries-dignity-warning-royal-family

Anyway, the crux of this is the Cabinet Office position on the diaries, not how it's reported.

Anniebach

Never heard of The Sunday Herald so just googled it, explains
much.

What does it explain ?

Never heard of The Sunday Herald so just googled it, explains
much.

Galaxy

The main purpose of having a royal family is voyeurism and gossip.

That is certainly true on GN?.

Galaxy

The main purpose of having a royal family is voyeurism and gossip.

It just struck me, not in a republican anti monarchy contentious way, what is the purpose of a royal family ? Serious question? I’m not talking about how the queen has done what she’s done for so long etc, I’m not being anti Charles pro Diana or anti Harry po William etc
For those who are pro monarchy what is the reason ?

Mountbatten would have destroyed these diaries if he didn't want posterity to paw over them. They have been sold so they should all now be available to historians or who ever needs access. It seems pretty clear cut to me.

The main purpose of having a royal family is voyeurism and gossip.

Whitewavemark2

Mountbatten was Viceroy of India, he is part of our history. His diaries are part of our historical records. It isn’t about tittle tattle but about using primary resource.

For whom, academics yes. Red tops and tittle tattlers, anti monarchists , their reason would only be for vouyerism , possible homophobia , and to sell their rags.
Even now the vultures are gathering to besmirch a murdered Royal.

Chestnut

Well my parents' wills are sitting here with me, so they are not public property. I imagine many millions of other wills are not public property either.

My uncle had my grandmother's will but he couldn't stop me getting a copy of it. Once probate is granted a will is a public document.

The uncle concerned was the only executor of the will and he fully intended to be the only beneficiary too. The fact that wills are made public meant that we could easily stop him.

Well now you've got me thinking - what could possibly be in those documents that would be so damning, that we would change our view of certain members of the RF and possibly think them unfit to do their job? The mind boggles!

poshpaws I agree with Alegrias too.

Alegrias1

This is not about them having secrets, as such. Its about them keeping things hidden and using the government and courts to do it, when us knowing those things might make us question whether they are up to the job.

Absolutely agree.

No wills in the families of anyone here will be on the front pages of every newspaper with headlines- he left more to x than to y, followed by opinions from royal experts as to why
x got more than y .

eazybee

I am perfectly content with their public image and role and have little interest in their private lives. I don't idolise them.

That applies to my view of most people in the public eye, royal or not.

Fair enough, eazybee

No-one should be above the law but I do think they are subject to too much scrutiny.

If someone does their job properly and their private life does not impinge on their work, should it matter?

I don't know Calistemon, it's just going to be difficult for them, with more and more scrutiny. More than the Queen and DofE ever had.

Chestnut

Well my parents' wills are sitting here with me, so they are not public property. I imagine many millions of other wills are not public property either.

They may be at some time in the future.
Wills are on sites such as Ancestry (brilliant for family historians).

Namsnanny I hope for their sake, William and Kate are squeaky clean.?
No-one's squeaky clean, surely?! They wouldn't be normal would they?

I hope for their sake, William and Kate are squeaky clean.?