You have to earn trust & respect…
So this is the bloke who’s the new patron of the Canal & River Trust. It’s emerged in the Queen’s accounts today that the Royal family cost us, the tax payer, £32.3 million last year…
For those people who say “the royal family are worth it because of the revenue they bring in” so be it. But let’s take a look at how wisely they spend our money…
Focusing on Prince Charlie because he’s the “Boaters connection” here’s a few facts & figures on his annual spending 2011 - 2012:
- His public funding increased by 11.8% in the past year.
- The cost of travel by air and rail for the prince & Duchess of Cornwall to attend official engagements was £1,318,000, up from just over £1 million in 2010.
- A royal train journey for Prince Charles lasting 2 days = £38,000.
- His son William, daughter-in-law Kate (& 7 staff) – flight back from Los Angeles = £51,410.
- Prince Charles & Camilla have 134 staff costing £6.7m per year employed to “support” Clarence House, up from 124 staff in 2010.
- His funding from grants-in-aid and government departments rose from £1,962,000 to £2,194,000.
- His contribution to Prince William's wedding is not itemised in the report, but is part of a “non-official” expenditure totalling £2,609,000.
- Figures for the wedding also do not include the cost of policing & security. A modest estimate is around £10 million, paid for directly by the tax payer. When a request was made to the Met Office (under the Freedom of information Act) as to the exact figures, the request was denied.
- Revenue from the Duchy of Cornwall does not go to the Treasury, & there have been calls on the “House of Commons Public Accounts Committee” to launch an inquiry into Prince Charles's funding.
Transparency? Not all figures have been published. Yet “greater transparency” headed a full paragraph in the Queens speech to parliament.
Do we need them working for us? Probably yes, simply because it’s cheaper than a different “Head of State” of one kind or another. “They do a lot for this country” people say, but they stuff us all in the process.
Do we need them working (wasting) our money in such a lavish way? Definitely not.
Do they work efficiently using our money in a financial sense? Definitely not.
So why are taxpayers continuing to fund this lavish lifestyle when public services are being cut?
In any other sector, manipulation to the point of squandering tax payers money in this way (these ways), would be a sackable offence, if not a criminal one.
The monarchy sit themselves so far above the average tax paying pleb in the street, it’s absurd. Might sound anti-monarchy, maybe it is. But with the economic downturn & the financial squeeze on the rest of us, it’s outrageous.
And last but not least, according to the figures, taxpayers are spending five times as much on each member of the Royal Family than on a front-line soldier in Afghanistan. Three of whom were killed & one wounded in Afghanistan as we hear today.
When Prince Charles wears his dress uniform full of medals for any occasion, please note that one of them was given to him as a birth-right. The rest have been presented from various commonwealth countries simply because he visited them.
The one good thing out of all this is that he might provide some funding for CART in the name of tax evasion…
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An amendment & addition to this original blog post: This was my reply to Dave’s comment further down on here about the armed forces & how they admire the queen. I’ve added this because it deserves recognition, & it might not get noticed otherwise:
We respect the fact that she (the queen) is our son’s “ultimate boss” as does he – regardless of anything else.We're proud of all the military. Past & present. VERY. They are the important ones. They are the ones who earn respect..
They are the ones who earn their medals.
They are the ones who earn their place in our hearts.
And they are the ones who don't get paid enough for what they do...
We both also have utmost respect for Wills & Harry…
Royal finances don’t touch that…
10 comments:
I understand your frustration but the ENTIRE Royal family costs us 0.52 pence per person per year - is that too high a price to pay? That's the thing with statistics; you can choose the ones you want, regards Jill
Hi Jill,
Yes it's a small price to pay per person, but cost effectiveness is more important.
I don't see how you can talk about Cost Effectiveness as you, like the rest of us have no idea how much revive they bring into the country. For all I know it may be very little, but then again it may be quite a lot.
The transport costs have risen because the government have asked them to travel to more events in the last 2 years. The same would be true if we had a President and vice President. As a major country in the world our Head of Satate Function won't come cheap. Would be interested to see how much it costs the French and Germans. This years years costs will be through the roff but a majority of the UK population will say it was money well spent. Republicans can closest 20 years ago to persuading folk to ending the monarchy. Currently they are on a high in popularity. If the Queen stood for President she would win no question. Not a good time for Republicans. Even in Southern Ireland the Queen is now popular. Charlie as King may be a different story!
Hi DC,
Well, it's all in the Queens annual accounts published today.
Bankers of the realm by inheritance / default.
It'd be nice to think otherwise, like if they were all squeaky clean as they're supposed to be. But how can anyone rack up an air fare of £51,000 for 9 people. Or a 2 day train journey of £38,000?
It's unjustifiable when people are struggling to pay train fares to work!!
H
Hi Gordon,
Yes, the alternatives aren't great at all, that's why one wasn't mentioned. Probably be financially corrupt anyway these days!
Cynical or what?!
H
I m an Ex Servicemen ask the Service men if they want a monarch and their answer will be a resounding YES
A president would cost us a dammsite
more And Charles Will make a great King.
Fair comment. Overall the Queen has been a good Head of State in my view mainly because she has stopped others from the post and that includes Charles, Margaret and Tony. If and when we have an unpopular Monarch will be the real test.
Hi Dave,
Views about finances & worth have nothing to do with the military side. Well for me it doesn't, we don't have to believe everything that royalty does (or doesn't do is right). However:
Our son's a soldier. And because of that we respect the fact that she's his ultimate "boss." As does he.
We're proud of all the military. Past & present. VERY. They are the important ones. They are the ones who earn respect..
They are the ones who earn their medals.
They are the ones who earn their place in our hearts.
And they are the ones who don't get paid enough for what they do..
H
Hi Gordon,
Overall? Yes.
BTW I have utmost respect for Wills & Harry & what they do..
H
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