Eugenie and Beatrice

.Tuliptree you speak of the Royal Family, you mean cousins, uncles, aunts, parents, siblings etc of the Monarch?

Rosie51

What a ridiculous and insulting post Tuliptree. I can't believe for one minute TheSunRisesInTheEast means that, and I don't believe you really do think so. It's the every little detail of their lives that doesn't need examining. We're constantly reminded of tampongate with regards to King Charles. That was a private conversation disgustingly hacked and is repeated completely inaccurately time after time. We don't need to know such details, I'd assume there are aspects of your life and conversations you like to be kept private, but maybe you're a completely open book happy to tell us all everything about yourself, your family and friends. Just because they're supported in part by the public purse does not mean they're not entitled to personal privacy at all.

I’ve never mentioned the ridiculous tampon conversation. What I was challenging was a pretty blanket post that seemed to plead for wholesale privacy for RF with no caveats. And bringing in how I’d like my privacy to be treated is just plain silly. I haven’t had police protection officers on duty paid for by the public.purse whilst I wined, dined and god knows what else in the house of a convicted paedophile. If I had, then I would say I’d forfeited all rights to privacy.

Wow, Tuliptree, I thought I was back on MN for a minute there. Your stinging reply to my comments came out of nowhere. Thank you, Rosie51 for understanding what I meant. The paedophilia scandal is something else, and of course it should be investigated and those guilty brought to justice, but we don't need to know about all the other goings on that they get up to.

TheSunRisesInTheEast

What goes on with The Royal Family should stay with The Royal Family. Regardless of 'us' funding their lifestyle, it just has to be accepted that they are only human and they've got up to all sorts of shenanigans through the years. One can only imagine the high jinks and debauchery that went on when Princess Margaret hosted her parties on Mustique. It's always been an 'us' and 'them' situation, it doesn't bother me, I accept it, I wouldn't want to swap my anonymous life for theirs for all the tea in Buckingham Palace 😂.

I’ll say again that this sounds like a pretty blanket unnuanced argument for complete privacy regardless of what they get up to.

Tuliptree

Mollygo

I hope she gets a deal. It will give GN’s something else to go on about.

Well it would certainly finish off the RF - so let’s hope she does 😂😂

Why?

She's not a member of the Royal family.

Honestly, those who wish for the demise of the Roual Family (Demise?? you sound as if you'd send them to the guillotine, Tuliptree!) really want a President?

Looking at some of the others involved with Epstein - really?
Andrew M-W is of no consequence. If he goes to prison, so be it.

Rosie51

What a ridiculous and insulting post Tuliptree. I can't believe for one minute TheSunRisesInTheEast means that, and I don't believe you really do think so. It's the every little detail of their lives that doesn't need examining. We're constantly reminded of tampongate with regards to King Charles. That was a private conversation disgustingly hacked and is repeated completely inaccurately time after time. We don't need to know such details, I'd assume there are aspects of your life and conversations you like to be kept private, but maybe you're a completely open book happy to tell us all everything about yourself, your family and friends. Just because they're supported in part by the public purse does not mean they're not entitled to personal privacy at all.

Well said, Rosue51

Of course, if any member of the Royal Family commits a crime then they should be held to account and if necessary prosecuted and dealt with by the CJS but we do not need to know all the intimate and personal details about them. As long as they do the job well that we expect and pay for, that is all we need to know.

Anniebach

.Tuliptree you speak of the Royal Family, you mean cousins, uncles, aunts, parents, siblings etc of the Monarch?

We're probably all cousins of royalty somewhere in the family tree 👸

Allira

Tuliptree
Mollygo
I hope she gets a deal. It will give GN’s something else to go on about.
Well it would certainly finish off the RF - so let’s hope she does 😂😂
Why?

She's not a member of the Royal family.

Honestly, those who wish for the demise of the Roual Family (Demise?? you sound as if you'd send them to the guillotine, Tuliptree!) really want a President?

Looking at some of the others involved with Epstein - really?
Andrew M-W is of no consequence. If he goes to prison, so be it.

If ( and I’d be amazed if it happened) she did get a book deal, the revelations she could make would imo be dynamite. Mainly in revealing what senior royals knew years ago about AMW and JE and allowed to be covered up and £12m given to buy silence ( that worked).They knew for example that A lied on national TV but let it go. And guillotine’s a silly comment. What I think we should have is a much much slimmed down RF and for the monarch to pay taxes under the same rules as we do, for them to contribute much more to their running costs and have a much simpler lifestyle eg less houses, Their wills should be published as ours are, the revenue from the duchies should revert to the country as should the money from their intestate estates. All bowing/curtseying to stop, titles to be really thinned down and simplified and no more giving out of meaningless awards and honours to each other. All royal accounts to be published and subject to parliamentary scrutiny. Parliament to be allowed to raise issues pertaining to RF ( banned atm). Right that’ll do for starters and not a guillotine in sight.

"We're probably all cousins of royalty somewhere in the family tree"

With that in mind, Allira, may I once again draw your attention to Danny Dyer who as you know from WDYTYA has a direct line back to William The Conqueror Although I've brought this up with you before and I've detected a strong air of cynicism Am I alone in thinking he should have some sort of title no don't answer that conferred upon his royal personage

Tuliptree

demise
/dɪˈmʌɪz/
noun
1. a person's death.

I stand by my opinion.

TerriBull

"We're probably all cousins of royalty somewhere in the family tree"

With that in mind, Allira, may I once again draw your attention to Danny Dyer who as you know from WDYTYA has a direct line back to William The Conqueror Although I've brought this up with you before and I've detected a strong air of cynicism Am I alone in thinking he should have some sort of title no don't answer that conferred upon his royal personage

Yes, I remember.
My cousins are descended from Royalty too, but on their great-grandmother's side, not ours.
We're the common ones who married in 😁

Tuliptree

Mollygo

I hope she gets a deal. It will give GN’s something else to go on about.

Well it would certainly finish off the RF - so let’s hope she does 😂😂

Naughty!

Allira

Tuliptree

demise
/dɪˈmʌɪz/
noun
1. a person's death.

I stand by my opinion.

😂😂😂😂

Well, I must say that I've never encountered someone hoping for someone else's death to be so funny before on Gransnet.

But I suppose new posters with different views arrive all the time.

Allira the name for TT’s comment is sick humour.

But let’s satisfy the mob shrieking for a presidency or head of state.

Apart from Trump they’re all so virtuous, clean living etc. 🤣🤣🤣
e.g.
Nicolas Sarkozy (France, 2007–2012): Known as the "Bling-Bling President," Sarkozy has been involved in at least 11 investigations. In 2021, he was convicted for illegal campaign financing and sentenced to prison (often served via house arrest). Charges against him have included corruption, influence-peddling, and accepting illicit funds from the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Jacques Chirac (France, 1995–2007): In 2011, former President Chirac was given a two-year suspended sentence for misusing public funds and breach of trust during his time as mayor of Paris.

Rolandas Paksas (Lithuania, 2003–2004): He was the first European head of state to be removed from office by impeachment (6 April 2004) after the Constitutional Court found him guilty of violating his oath and the constitution.

Eva Kaili (European Parliament Vice President): In late 2022, she was arrested and charged with corruption and money laundering as part of the "Qatargate" scandal, involving allegations of bribery by a Gulf state (widely reported as Qatar) to influence EU decisions.

Silvio Berlusconi (Italy, Prime Minister): Although a prime minister, his case is a prominent example of Italian political scandals. He faced numerous charges, including bribery of judges, tax fraud, and embezzlement, and was involved in cases where he claimed judicial persecution.

Emmanuel Macron (France, 2017–present): While his personal life has not faced the same scandals as predecessors, his presidency saw the "Benalla affair," where his former security adviser, Alexandre Benalla, was involved in violent misconduct, causing a significant political scandal.

Helmut Kohl (Germany, Chancellor): Following his term, he was embroiled in a "black money affair" (Schwarzgeldaffäre) involving illegal campaign donations, slush funds, and influence-peddling.

Liviu Dragnea (Romania): While not president, he was the leader of the ruling party and was convicted of electoral fraud, preventing him from becoming prime minister, but he effectively ran the government, causing tension with Brussels over judicial integrity.

And that’s before we start investigating their family and friends misdemeanours.

In the UK we haven’t even been that successful in electing a PM or a First Minister with a squeaky clean reputation who doesn’t have wrongdoings appearing in the media (including GN) on a daily basis.

Mollygo

Thank you for the list

Not to mention Nicolae Ceaușescu, Mugabe, Idi Amin, etc.

We have tried a Republic in the past but it doesn't really suit our way of life in this country - too dictatorial.
A Constitutional Monarchy is more benign.

I think you may find " our way of life " is not as it was in 1660.

sixandahalf

I think you may find " our way of life " is not as it was in 1660.

😂

But the British still have that dislike of being told what to do.

But the British still have that dislike of being told what to do.

Absolutely! Covid gave some great examples of that.

Maybe the British are starting to see very large cracks appearing in The Firm.

I don’t think so. William and Kate will save the day, people love them.

William and Kate are skilled operators and I mean that positively. My impression is the understand the roles they’re paid to undertake and that they do it well.
IMO Kathryn is the best thing to happen to the royal family in a very long time.
Yes a privileged upbringing but within what seems to be a loving, stable family.
She’s great with the public, of whatever age. Seen with her own chikdren, the impression is of a hands on, loving mum who sets boundaries in a warm, loving way.
William is liked because he’s seen as a good family man, a man who survived a difficult chikdhood and recognised a Good Thing in Kathryn

sixandahalf

Maybe the British are starting to see very large cracks appearing in The Firm.

There are always a few cracks.
The Monarchy survives despite that.

A M-W is not the heir-apparent.
He is irrelevant and needs to face the music.

Iam64

William and Kate are skilled operators and I mean that positively. My impression is the understand the roles they’re paid to undertake and that they do it well.
IMO Kathryn is the best thing to happen to the royal family in a very long time.
Yes a privileged upbringing but within what seems to be a loving, stable family.
She’s great with the public, of whatever age. Seen with her own chikdren, the impression is of a hands on, loving mum who sets boundaries in a warm, loving way.
William is liked because he’s seen as a good family man, a man who survived a difficult chikdhood and recognised a Good Thing in Kathryn

Exactly 👏👏👏

I think William is a royal of integrity, guided very much by his down to earth wife. I do hope they have a bit more time to carefully forge out their future rôles before they fully take over the reigns. It would be nice for them to see their children having reached early adulthood first. 🤞