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Charities

Royal Wedding perfect gifts

(45 Posts)
Caledonai14 Mon 09-Apr-18 14:59:23

Prince Harry and Meghan have asked for donations to charity instead of wedding gifts. Such a good idea in the circumstances, where neither of them is going to need the kind of start that wedding gifts are aimed at. Their list of seven charities is quite varied too. Fits with a more humane mood of the country at the moment and gives hope for the future. What do others think?

M0nica Mon 09-Apr-18 15:02:47

I think they are following a trend among couples who have already formed a home some time before the wedding. It is what DS and DDiL did 15 years ago and many others have done similarly.

Ilovecheese Mon 09-Apr-18 15:17:41

I bet they still get sent lots of things that they don't want.

paddyann Mon 09-Apr-18 15:22:41

Where is this "humane mood" in the country...is that the same country that complains about the sick and disabled being paid benefits ..or who want homeless people fined and moved off the streets for that wedding?

Anniebach Mon 09-Apr-18 15:26:38

Wonder if the jewels from Saudi Arabia will be forwarded to charities

Caledonai14 Mon 09-Apr-18 15:35:59

Perhaps I live in a different part of the country. Here I have sensed a growing disquiet about cuts to benefits and the treatment of sick people when they need help most. I didn't see any support for the idea to move homeless people out of sight of the Royal Wedding. Most commentators thought it was a silly or bad idea and I think the person who suggested it probably now wishes he hadn't. We, too, suggested charity donations for our own wedding, but still got some presents. It's just a good idea and - remembering some of the money wasted on previous Royal Wedding gifts - I thought I would post the thread.

Anniebach Mon 09-Apr-18 15:43:54

It is a problem, if people have their sleeping bags etc on the pavements it reduces space for visitors to stand to watch plus the number of homeless in Windsor has increased since the wedding was announced. Surely they can find an area where the homeless can have their sleeping bags and other possessions and keep the areas free for those who travel to see the wedding. There are many around the country who travel for all royal events

M0nica Mon 09-Apr-18 15:48:42

paddyann it is a very small proportion who want what you say and no matter how humane the country there will always be some who think otherwise.

Cherrytree59 Mon 09-Apr-18 15:56:39

Caledonai14
I think whatever the couple do they will receive an amount of criticism.

The bottom line is ....
The chosen charities will receive some much needed money.
Which will hopefully filter down the line to where it most needed.

grannyactivist Mon 09-Apr-18 16:55:04

I am personally delighted that one of the charities is Scotty's Little Soldiers. My grandson has been helped by this charity that is really quite small, but punches above its weight. I know that Nikki, the founder, will be thrilled that her charity is one of the seven chosen ones.

NanaandGrampy Mon 09-Apr-18 16:59:37

I'm with you Grannyactivist , that's a local charity to me and dear to my heart .

I think its a lovely and sensible thing for the young couple to do.

Caledonai14 Mon 09-Apr-18 17:04:22

Thanks for the link Grannyactivist. I'd never heard of that charity, but I think it's a really worthy one as part of the seven.

Jalima1108 Mon 09-Apr-18 20:01:33

Caledonai I didn't see any support for the idea to move homeless people out of sight of the Royal Wedding. Most commentators thought it was a silly or bad idea and I think the person who suggested it probably now wishes he hadn't.
I didn't see any support for it here or anywhere either.

It's an excellent idea; however, when we were first married we were broke and grateful for every mis-matched casserole dish, towels etc.

Jalima1108 Mon 09-Apr-18 20:04:19

I have just checked the list and they all sound like extremely worthwhile smaller charities with diverse aims.
A good choice.

However, there will always be naysayers who can never find anything good to say about any good idea.

Mapleleaf Tue 10-Apr-18 12:59:57

Very true Jalima1108

jeanie99 Wed 11-Apr-18 09:04:08

I think it is an excellent idea and is long reaching in that it will be benefiting others.

Anniebach Wed 11-Apr-18 09:15:37

Bet the staff in St.James Palace post room are thankful

gillybob Wed 11-Apr-18 09:46:15

I’m guessing that despite requests for donations to charity the couple will still receive mountains of gifts and cards (that they will probably never see, never mind use/ display) from those least able to afford them . I wonder what happens to these ?

Humbertbear Wed 11-Apr-18 10:06:51

Harry and Meghan are only following our example. It’s our 50th wedding anniversary this week and we have set up a just giving page and asked for donations to the local hospice.

Caledonai14 Wed 11-Apr-18 10:14:47

Good point Gillybob. I know a little girl who has always asked for donations to a Diabetes Research charity instead of gifts for her birthday. Until people got the hang of it, some still gave presents and I have a feeling these were raffled - but they were well warned that would happen.

It has me thinking now. though, because many flowers presented to the Royal Family by well-wishers used to end up in old people's homes and hospitals. The homes and hospitals I've been in recently don't seem to allow flowers, so I wonder what happens to all those posies?

Panache Wed 11-Apr-18 11:29:38

It is always pleasant to see that the young couple are truly thinking about others and by choosing charities less known which then receive less monies is brilliant.

We ourselves requested donations for our then only thought of Cancer centre in place of gifts for our Ruby Wedding anniversary a long while ago now........and we were deeply touched to find £50 in some envelopes given by pensioners and disabled...........showing their trust in what we were proposing for the future.
Pleased to add that same Cancer centre was opened in 1991 and although since has had to downsize its beautiful detached double fronted Victorian home (a donation by an extremely kind patient with terminal cancer) it has proved a God send and a real "Home from home" a sanctuary for many sufferers and their families during a most difficult time.

Hopefully this feeling of goodwill and reaching out to those most in need of a helping hand continues,well done Harry & Megan for the lovely thought
Wishing you both every future happiness.

maddyone Wed 11-Apr-18 11:43:00

I didn’t know any of the charities that they’ve chosen until today, but thank you for the link grannyactivist, I think Scottie’s Little Soldiers sounds like a wonderful charity, and of course it will be close to Harry’s heart as a charity for bereaved children of forces personnel. Therefore it seems to me that they have probably tried to choose charities that have personal resonance with themselves. As to any jewels from places such as Soudi Arabia, well they could auction them, but since Meghan is unlikely to own any jewels, despite being a very rich woman in her own right, I wouldn’t have any problem with them keeping them, as she will undoubtedly need some spectacular jewellery for certain state events. I know she could borrow from the queen, but it would be nice to own the odd thing. Frankly, if the Soudi king decided to me jewels, I wouldn’t have anywhere to go where I could wear them grin .

maddyone Wed 11-Apr-18 11:44:40

The Soudi king decided to GIVE me.....I should be so lucky!

Sheilasue Wed 11-Apr-18 11:47:09

Think that is a lovely idea good luck to them both too.

sarahellenwhitney Wed 11-Apr-18 11:56:31

My' local' has the big screen and will be showing the cup final and for a small sum there is a buffet where the proceeds of this will go towards a charity for the homeless.