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Prince Charles and the Duchy of Cornwall.

(139 Posts)
merlotgran Fri 25-Oct-19 10:35:11

I really enjoyed watching this documentary. It made me realise that we are so used to Charles being the heir to the throne that once he's King he'll no longer be directly involved with the Duchy which is so obviously close to his heart.

They'll miss him and I wouldn't mind betting he'll miss them.

Pantglas2 Sat 26-Oct-19 08:13:39

I’d be interested to know your definition of a true day’s work Newquay? I know I wouldn’t want to be doing any kind of work at the age of 71 let alone 93 which Prince Charles and the Queen are doing.

Anniebach Sat 26-Oct-19 08:40:24

Wonder how many who claim they are scroungers who never work would want their lives

annep1 Sat 26-Oct-19 08:51:04

I wonder how many of the RF would want our lives.

Anniebach Sat 26-Oct-19 08:55:45

would you want your life mapped out for you from birth
annepl ?

Bridgeit Sat 26-Oct-19 09:02:16

None of us choose who or what we are.
So no point knocking each other , why not give credit where credit is due.
It is a fact that most if not all of the RF do use their position ( for want of a better word ) to benefit others via ,jobs , training , fund raising , charities etc.
We in this country are rich beyond compare to 3rd world countries.

Anniebach Sat 26-Oct-19 09:06:42

I agree Bridgeit

GrannyGravy13 Sat 26-Oct-19 09:16:47

I agree Bridgeit

Bridgeit Sat 26-Oct-19 09:29:30

Thank you , GG & Annie.

Gonegirl Sat 26-Oct-19 09:37:14

I was amazed at how much land the Duchy covers. Is he buying up Britain?

And they say the monarchy has no real power.

Callistemon Sat 26-Oct-19 09:45:27

annep as you know, the Duchy was established to provide an income for the Duke of Cornwall and heir to the throne it means the heir does not receive any taxpayers' money directly.

The present Duke uses much of the income to help fund charitable work as well as provide for his familyand I imagine this will continue with the next heir.

I can understand that a Republican may find this difficult to accept but I am a pragmatic Monarchist (although preferring a slimmed down monarchy).
Where does one draw the line with inheritance? Everything to be owned by the state?
How many people were encouraged to buy rental property to provide themselves with an income during the years of recession?
How many look after their tenants as the Duchy does or do they leave them to live in squalor?

There is a lot to ponder.

Callistemon Sat 26-Oct-19 09:46:59

Is the Duchy buying up more land, Gonegirl?
I wasn't aware of that.

There are other landowners whose estates are much larger, I believe.

Luckygirl Sat 26-Oct-19 09:48:58

Fascinating thread here when you compare it with the Harry and Meghan thread!

Charley Boy can do no wrong and the young couple can do nothing right! Weird!

Let us not forget his dishonest marriage which destroyed a young woman's life by forcing her to spend her life in the media spotlight whilst at the same time knowing her husband had no love for her and was having an affair from Day One.

I do not think that any mistakes by H and M can hold a candle to that!

Callistemon Sat 26-Oct-19 09:51:28

The Duchy (not the Duke - note the difference) is by no means the largest landowner in Britain.
In fact, a Danish magnate owns more, mainly in Scotland, as do other foreigners.
Do you feel relaxed about that?

I cannot do the link, sorry, but easily googled.

Eloethan Sat 26-Oct-19 09:52:53

They are quite at liberty to give up their positions if they are finding it all too onerous. With the amount of money and assets they have amassed, they have far more choices than their so-called subjects who have to work in order to live sometimes the most basic of lives.

It is worth remembering that this sort of royal hero worship goes back through the ages, even when kings and queens were carrying out monstrous acts and grabbing all the money while the peasants starved. Things only changed when some started to question why a few ordinary people should be held in such high esteem and should have the power to go to wars in an effort to grab even more assets -and to levy taxes on the poor to pay for it.

In this day and age, I find it surprising that anyone can justify the continuance of such an archaic and exploitative system, with very disreputable origins - but I think younger people are no longer as forelock tugging as the older generation and one day things will change.

Documentaries of this sort are just part of the PR machine.

Callistemon Sat 26-Oct-19 09:53:12

Under pressure, Luckygirl

I cannot imagine how it must feel being forced into an arranged marriage when your heart lies elsewhere.

Anniebach Sat 26-Oct-19 09:54:35

Forcing Diana ?

Callistemon Sat 26-Oct-19 09:57:15

I don't know, Eloethan but perhaps you could ask some of the young people who have been helped on the road to success by eg the Prince's Trust when all their efforts seemed to be in vain.

Is that exploitative?

Ask someone who works for The Prince's Trust how and who they help.

Better that than the magnates who employ people on exploitative wages then steal their pensions to fund a life of luxury overseas.

It may be paternalistic but

Callistemon Sat 26-Oct-19 09:59:34

but more people are helped to get on in life.

No-one has to live on the Duchy Estate - they could seek a life elsewhere and there will always be a queue of people waiting to take their place.

Anniebach Sat 26-Oct-19 10:03:49

When did the queen go to war ?

Gonegirl Sat 26-Oct-19 10:05:59

Oh no! I don't know Callistemon. It's just that there is far more of the Duchy than I imagined. I thought it was all down in Cornwall! Just one big estate.

I know nothing As usual.

Gonegirl Sat 26-Oct-19 10:07:07

I like Charles. And the Queen. But I imagine they could be hard taskmasters.

Anniebach Sat 26-Oct-19 10:08:11

Charles doesn’t own the Duchy,

Callistemon Sat 26-Oct-19 10:15:05

Who said they found it onerous?

I doubt many nonogenarians (sp?) carry out the number of duties that HM undertakes, nor many 70 year olds such as PC.

OK, they don't have to do their own cleaning, washing, ironing etc.but I wouldn't swap my life for their lives of public duty and all in the goldfish bowl.

Funny, isn't it, that our Royal Family (with some exceptions) are loved the world over except by some at home.

Callistemon Sat 26-Oct-19 10:16:28

12th on the list of landowners in GB, I think, Gonegirl

NT and RSPB are near the top.

merlotgran Sat 26-Oct-19 10:28:51

Tenant farmers all have a landlord. The Church of England owns a lot of farms which are let to tenants. During the eighties many family farms were bought by insurance companies and the like for 'lease back' in order to release capital to the farmer.

The Duchy is offering opportunities for young people to get on the farming ladder as well as supporting their existing tenants.

Adam Henson of Countryfile fame doesn't own a square inch of his farm.

I didn't hear any complaints.