Sarah, Duchess of York, Current Events 6: December 2006 - February 2007

[Zonk]

Andrew is on the Civil List. The Queen (out of her own funds) pays for the Gloucesters, the Kents (Duke and Princess Alexandra). She may subsidize some of her children's expenses...but didn't he get money from the Queen Mother.And has that house, Sunninghill been sold yet?

[Skydragon]

I was out by a few thousand!

"Even Andrew's official job, as Britain's "Special Representative for International Trade and Investment," prompts criticism. Cynics moan that it requires the taxpayer to finance his leisurely lifestyle to the tune of £355,992 a year.
Noting that the Queen donates another £249,000 in pocket money to her second son each year, they raise eyebrows at the frequency with which Andrew's overseas visits coincide with sporting events, or short trips to top golf courses".
http://news.independent.co.uk/people...cle2060042.ece

His travel is picked up by the taxpayer out of the monies paid to the royals, in the civil list.

2004
2005

Didn't Sarah decide to move in with Andrew to save the £6000 per week, it was costing her to rent a 6 bedroomed mansion?

[Elspeth]

Originally Posted by Zonk

Andrew is on the Civil List. The Queen (out of her own funds) pays for the Gloucesters, the Kents (Duke and Princess Alexandra). She may subsidize some of her children's expenses...but didn't he get money from the Queen Mother.And has that house, Sunninghill been sold yet?

Andrew isn't on the Civil List any more; nor are Edward and Anne. Only the Queen and Prince Philip are on the Civil List these days - the Queen Mother was on it, but since her death there are no recipients other than the Queen and Prince Philip. Prince Andrew gets an allowance, but the Queen repays it, so his expenses are met by her.

http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page4968.asp

[Zonk]

Thanks Elspeth.

When did this change happen? I know its not that recent but I do seem to recall a time when she did pay for just the junior royals.

[ysbel]

I think it happened after Windsor Castle burned down and the Queen started paying taxes (around 1992?)

[ysbel]

Originally Posted by Skydragon

I was out by a few thousand!

"Even Andrew's official job, as Britain's "Special Representative for International Trade and Investment," prompts criticism. Cynics moan that it requires the taxpayer to finance his leisurely lifestyle to the tune of £355,992 a year

The Independent is a republican paper so it would be critical of any expenditures for the royals.

Is this figure for his travel and lodging expenses or is there a salary involved?

I think I'll spare Andrew my indignation at his timing his business trips to coincide with sporting events and trips to golf courses since I am timing my big business trip this winter to coincide with the big ski season in Colorado this winter. Plus in my office all the portfolio managers suddenly had to go to Germany this past summer to research the major companies of the German stock market (coincidentally all of these companies were headquartered in cities where a major World Cup match was scheduled. )

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by ysbel

The Independent is a republican paper so it would be critical of any expenditures for the royals.

Is this figure for his travel and lodging expenses or is there a salary involved?

I think I'll spare Andrew my indignation at his timing his business trips to coincide with sporting events and trips to golf courses since I am timing my big business trip this winter to coincide with the big ski season in Colorado this winter. Plus in my office all the portfolio managers suddenly had to go to Germany this past summer to research the major companies of the German stock market (coincidentally all of these companies were headquartered in cities where a major World Cup match was scheduled. )

That seems to cover just his salary, his travel is still met out of the royal expenses. The same or similar articles are in the Guardian, Mirror, Mail, the Age, etc.

Ohhh ysbel, you naughty, naughty girl!

[ysbel]

Originally Posted by Skydragon

Ohhh ysbel, you naughty, naughty girl!

I know...

Its not exactly golf in the Philipines but I'll take it.

I don't understand why Andrew would be getting a salary for his work, that should be covered from his expenses from the Queen.

I think they made the whole expenditures more confusing when the Queen starting paying for the minor royals. I would have preferred that she had made a stronger case that they were valuable to the government and deserved their civil list payments.

[angela]

My last post was back a bit but the C of E's official website says that a Christian marraige is valid for life so they are still married in the eyes of the Church. Also it says that only in EXCEPTIONAL circumstances can a couple be married again in Church so it's not commonplace.

[Bella]

I tend to wonder if Andrew were not a royal prince if Sarah would be as involved with him as she is now. If he were just 'Average Joe Businessman', albeit with a comfortable lifestyle, would she be "living" with him whenever she was in town or would she have gone off more independently on her own, as most divorced women do, and really only see/deal with him in matters regarding their children? I guess we'll never know, but it does make me wonder.

[ysbel]

I think if Andrew were not a prince, Sarah and Andrew would still be married. They seem to have a remarkable compatibility but Sarah doesn't have a compatibility with the royal life.

This is a problem with any woman interested in Andrew.

[Zonk]

Originally Posted by ysbel

I think if Andrew were not a prince, Sarah and Andrew would still be married. They seem to have a remarkable compatibility but Sarah doesn't have a compatibility with the royal life.

This is a problem with any woman interested in Andrew.

I totally agree with that Ysbel. Sarah loves Andrew the man who happens to be Prince not Prince Andrew. Sure she does love the lifestyle (wasn't she a Sloane Ranger back in the 80's) but it wasn't new to her. She was aware of it and lived on the fringes back in the day as well.

While I agree that Sarah does not deal well with the Royal restrictions..I am willing to bet if she had been allowed to live with Andrew when they first got married. Things might have turned out a little differently. At least for a while...it might have still ended but they might have been married a little longer.

And he does tend to date women who are not right for Royal life. I would say about 85% of his women are like this.

[sesa]

I agree with the above post. I think they would still be married. They seemed to have made a good couple when they were married as they do now as friends.
oh and by the way, Sarah is on the cover of the brand new W.W. magazine wearing a red and white polka dot dress. she looks o.k., but not great. She also looks as if she has put on some weight, but it just could be the dress. I would post the picture, but we do not have a scanner at work.

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by angela

My last post was back a bit but the C of E's official website says that a Christian marraige is valid for life so they are still married in the eyes of the Church. Also it says that only in EXCEPTIONAL circumstances can a couple be married again in Church so it's not commonplace.

Very many couples having divorced can and do marry within the CoE religion, while it may not be a doctrine they want to be seen to preach, it is fairly commonplace and has been, IME, for many years.
Friends of ours had to have a civil ceremony (to each other) and a recommitment ceremony, otherwise they could not be seen as a married couple and their children could not attend the CoE school.

Originally Posted by Zonk

I am willing to bet if she had been allowed to live with Andrew when they first got married. Things might have turned out a little differently.

Many couples marry, new husband or wife goes off on service and they rely on letters to stay in touch. Quite a few of them are happy to wait for their spouse, either at home on or off base or at their parents. Very many service spouses know that this is what life is going to be like for them, it is not rocket science.

It has always been like this in the British navy, so to blame the fact that Andrew went off, doing his duty (a job he was paid for) and it was all too much for Sarah to handle, is rather insulting to all the other forces wives and husbands.

You seem to be painting a picture of someone who was incredibly thick. She didn't know and couldn't imagine what the confines of the royal family would be. She didn't know and couldn't imagine what life married to a naval officer and royal prince was going to be like.
Circumstances beyond her control?

[ysbel]

Originally Posted by Skydragon

Many couples marry, new husband or wife goes off on service and they rely on letters to stay in touch. Quite a few of them are happy to wait for their spouse, either at home on or off base or at their parents. Very many service spouses know that this is what life is going to be like for them, it is not rocket science.

It has always been like this in the British navy, so to blame the fact that Andrew went off, doing his duty (a job he was paid for) and it was all too much for Sarah to handle, is rather insulting to all the other forces wives and husbands.

Hi skydragon, I agree with you to a point. With Sarah's father in the military, I never understood how clueless she was.

However, the difference between Sarah and an ordinary military wife was that she was a public figure and married into the Royal Family who were never easy in-laws to get along with in the best of times; all while the main reason for her accepting this life was thousands of miles away for months at a time. I think it was somewhat realistic for Sarah to believe that she and Andrew would be allowed to live together during some parts of his assignments. She probably underestimated how difficult life as a Royal would be for her.

[Zonk]

Well since this thread is about Sarah and not about the wives and officers of other forces, I am not talking about them. So please don't assume what I say about her is applicable to others. Its apples and oranges. And while there are wives who are willing to toe the line so to speak, there are other wives, like Sarah who can't handle the distance and the separation. And their marriages pay the price as a result.So let's not act like she is the first wife of a Naval officer who couldn't handle the stress. Being aware of a situation and actually living a certain situation are two totally different things.

And from what post of mine are you using to paint the picture of Sarah being thick? Sarah is not and has stated quite clear that she was not suited for Royal life. The statement above "Being of a situation and actually living a certain situation are two totally different things." is also applicable for Sarah's role when she was on the fringes of royal life and being an actual part of the Royal family.

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by ysbel

Hi skydragon, I agree with you to a point. With Sarah's father in the military, I never understood how clueless she was.

However, the difference between Sarah and an ordinary military wife was that she was a public figure and married into the Royal Family who were never easy in-laws to get along with in the best of times; all while the main reason for her accepting this life was thousands of miles away for months at a time. I think it was somewhat realistic for Sarah to believe that she and Andrew would be allowed to live together during some parts of his assignments. She probably underestimated how difficult life as a Royal would be for her.

There you have probably hit the nail on the head. Her father was army, never away on long tours and able as an officer, to 'pop' home for most weekends. With the RF, I would imagine, it is like the club you want to belong to, without really knowing what is involved.

Many spouses get a shock when they realise what life as a servicemans spouse involves, Sarah never struck me as being that naive.