Prince Andrew, Duke of York current events 5: February-September 2008

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by goldeye

Ah please don't go all bossy with me i'm only an illiterate vagabond on the quiet
I'm not getting personal i promise - i never do its just IMO as you put it and besides when it comes to Grammar etc i'm well out of my depth i can tell you.

I hope not if you were an ex PLC Business Manager!

NOT * gobbledegook * to those that understand i assure you i'm just getting my TWO Penneth in.

As you were apparently replying to me, perhaps you would care to explain the, IMO, gobbledegook.

I have to disagree with your assumptions of who should pay the bill regarding the Security of any Parents Children when traveling around the world on behalf of their Country - i don't care who they are. If the man is not there to look after them himself then the Country should pick up the tab.

But we pay out whether he is in the country or not. We pay when these girls take holidays with their mother, when they go to nightclubs, parties etc. Their guards from the protection unit are there whether Andrew is playing on a golf course or tucked up in bed. The risk to these two has been assessed and found to be very, very low. Using your reasoning, that "when traveling around the world on behalf of their Country - i don't care who they are. If the man is not there to look after them himself then the Country should pick up the tab", then we should be paying for protection for every single serviceman/womans daughter, right?

When it comes to who should be doing what i don't see how we can ONLY refer to one single member of an International Team of people obtaining Inward Investment on behalf of Great Britain.

But we are talking about the massive payment (for expenses) that Andrew picks up. The figures do not include the salaries of the civil servants that accompany him. As I said, his remit is to sell UK businesses to international investors and to sell UK products to foreign countries. Imagine him as an ordinary salesman. If someone working as a sales manager came back from an all expenses paid trip to the Bahamas and said, 'I didn't manage to sell them any products, but they agreed to sponsor a race at the school sportsday, he would be dismissed'. (Well he would if he worked for me). So no, Andrews job does not involve looking for sponsorship deals as far as I can tell.

I can promise you i imagine most of us have been guilty of Playing ARound when we should be working me included, when i was there i liked to Play a round or three in Kent i'd putt my balls on the green then Mark'am with my pennies all in works time i might add

No, I can't say I have ever played around when I was supposed to be working, but as I am not in paid employment, my hours and days are mine to do what I want with. It is a pity you had to resort to pennies (old or new), when the proper golf ball markers are not that expensive, you can even get them in 22ct now!

Hope you have a nice day

Oh, I already have!

[iceflower]

Prince Andrew, Duke of York, walks with the Els and Romero group
along the 16th during the third round of the 137th Open Championship
on July 19, 2008 at Royal Birkdale Golf Club, Southport, England

** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 **

[rmay286]

Originally Posted by Skydragon

We pay when these girls take holidays with their mother, when they go to nightclubs, parties etc. Their guards from the protection unit are there whether Andrew is playing on a golf course or tucked up in bed.

I remembered reading about the low risk to Beatrice and Eugenie too and I thought they might as well not have guards. Actually I still think they don't "really" need guards. But Andrew's perspective is different from mine, he's their father. Parents can be overprotective. I'm sure from Andrew's point of view even a very very low risk that his girls could be harmed is a risk he wouldn't want to take. I'm not even joking when I say that if I were famous, knowing the way my mom worries (and I'm a few years older than Beatrice and Eugenie) she probably would want the country to pay for me to have bodyguards 24-7!

[Skydragon]

Self defence lessons are the way to go, at any age. All parents worry about their children, that's part of being a parent, but the cost of protecting them should not fall to the UK taxpayer.

[muriel]

Andrew may have picked up the Air-Miles Andy monicker in the late 1990s, but in recent years he does seem to have buttoned down and got on with the Trade job. He seems to be doing a good job in promoting British trade overseas, and has won praise from people who have worked with him. I understand he recently engaged the professional services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers to evaluate ways in which his effectiveness in the role could be further improved, and evaluated. Results of PwCs work are awaited. It is unfortunate that Andrew at a trade show or a leading a trade delegation is hardly good copy for the UK Press and as a result his work often does not get publicity - unfortunately, every time he steps onto a golf course or goes on holiday he is photographed. This is no different from the treatment of Charles in the 1990s, or Anne, in the 1970s and 1980s - both recovered their public image through continuing their hard work, and one would hope Andrew continues to as well.

That said, he could probably display a bit more judgement in the women he associates himself with, eg: the lady from Kazhakhstan that he took to the royal enclosure at Ascot last year!

[Bella]

Sky ~ I appreciate you holding back on the comments I just know you are dying to make

Muriel ~ I totally agree!

[pinkie40]

Actually, from my remote vantage point, I believe the B&E issue has been handled with supreme finesse. They are visible, yet not too visible and the "Fergie problem" seems to be not a tricky "problem" whatsoever. Now that the first decade, the tributes and that nasty inquest of the late Princess of Wales is over, the "born" royals can go about with their projects and causes.

Everything will change so dramatically the instant when Prince Willam slips a bit of Welsh Gold onto Katherine's finger and the registry is signed.

I see the girls living a very nice life having no shortage of invitations to glorious events for the rest of their lives. Perhaps even one day becoming godparents to William's and Harry's children.

All involved in the lives of these girls should be proud of how graceful things have worked out to be. Really and truly a "happy every after".....for the most part.

Oh, and I must add, that children (especially young adult children!) and grandchildren of the wealthy and the powerful have "shadows". I totally understand and accept Prince Andrew's concern. It is a necessity in this crazy world.

[rmay286]

Originally Posted by muriel

It is unfortunate that Andrew at a trade show or a leading a trade delegation is hardly good copy for the UK Press and as a result his work often does not get publicity - unfortunately, every time he steps onto a golf course or goes on holiday he is photographed. This is no different from the treatment of Charles in the 1990s, or Anne, in the 1970s and 1980s - both recovered their public image through continuing their hard work, and one would hope Andrew continues to as well.

That said, he could probably display a bit more judgement in the women he associates himself with, eg: the lady from Kazhakhstan that he took to the royal enclosure at Ascot last year!

That's a good point that holds true for all royals. If you're someone who never seems to do anything gossip-worthy for recreation, like Princess Anne, all the media can cover about you is your work. On the other hand, if a royal spends even 10% of his time golfing/hanging around with beautiful women and 90% working, the golf is going to get 90% of the coverage. Because who wants to read about economics in a tabloid?

[Bella]

Originally Posted by rmay286

That's a good point that holds true for all royals. If you're someone who never seems to do anything gossip-worthy for recreation, like Princess Anne, all the media can cover about you is your work. On the other hand, if a royal spends even 10% of his time golfing/hanging around with beautiful women and 90% working, the golf is going to get 90% of the coverage. Because who wants to read about economics in a tabloid?

Absolutely! Well put.

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by rmay286

...On the other hand, if a royal spends even 10% of his time golfing/hanging around with beautiful women and 90% working, the golf is going to get 90% of the coverage. Because who wants to read about economics in a tabloid?

Or of course, if you ensure any 'work' involves a round or two of golf.

[Al_bina]

Well... I find this news rather interesting... Kazakh rich people can buy property from English Royalty...
Prince Andrew, his £15m home and the Kazakhstan connection - Times Online

[auntie]

I am sorry for interrupting a discussion about The Yorks and their expendetures, but I remember having read somewhere, that however much the British Royals cost us, they help the Economy earn much more, as millions of pounds are earned through royal related events, and tourism to the UK wouldn't be as high if it wouldn't be for the Windsors. The main problem is that they were born royal and not us

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by auntie

I am sorry for interrupting a discussion about The Yorks and their expendetures, but I remember having read somewhere, that however much the British Royals cost us, they help the Economy earn much more, as millions of pounds are earned through royal related events, and tourism to the UK wouldn't be as high if it wouldn't be for the Windsors. The main problem is that they were born royal and not us

Whereas, I read that when they asked tourists the prime reason for visiting the UK, it was the heritage sites, castles and the like, not the royals themselves. After all they are not guaranteed a sight of the the RF.

[auntie]

Originally Posted by Skydragon

Whereas, I read that when they asked tourists the prime reason for visiting the UK, it was the heritage sites, castles and the like, not the royals themselves. After all they are not guaranteed a sight of the the RF.

Yes, but having a real queen with tiaras and regelia does add much more apeal to us then just say...Germany, who has just as much heritage sights and castles. Believe me in my years of work abroad anyone knowing I am British had what to say about the Queen and her handbags. If you ask a tourist who has 3 days to be in England they go and do the round of the royals, Buckingham palace, changing of the gaurds, London Bridge, Tower hill, Windsor Castle and a whole bunch of souveniers with the Union Jack and The Queen on them. I, being a native of GB, whilst a long weeekend will take my kids to see the needles in the Ile of whight, hever castle in Kent etc.

[Skydragon]

But auntie, they could see the changing of the guard without the Royal Family and all the sites you mention would still be there.
----------------------
The former home of Prince Andrew could be demolished after its secretive foreign buyers left the property to fall into disrepair, it was reported today.
Sunninghill Park, which was sold for £3million more than the asking price, was a wedding gift to Andrew from the Queen and was dubbed 'SouthYork' after it was compared to Southfork house in the television soap Dallas

Prince Andrew's former £15million mansion 'left to rot and could be demolished' | Mail Online

[auntie]

Skydragon, I see we won't see eye to eye on this, so lets agree to disagree!

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by auntie

Skydragon, I see we won't see eye to eye on this, so lets agree to disagree!

[Bella]

Originally Posted by Al_bina

Well... I find this news rather interesting...