rmay I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU. Start "shrinking" the monarchy, demoting HRH's to Mr/Miss/Mrs and what do you have??
I am all for a cutback on ostentation in times of economic hardship, but let's face it...either you want a ROYAL family or a Republic.
It's a slipperly slope to start trying to have it both ways, imo.
BTW...I like and admire the Prince of Wales but his desire for "cutbacks" only seem to apply to other members of the family and not ever himself. Just like the late Queen Mother, he leads an extremely luxurious lifestyle and stubbornly refuses to give up any of his perks.
He reportedly wanted the Earl of Wessex to move out of Bagshot Park because the estate is so huge and costly...but meanwhile he himself only travels by Rolls Royce and throws glittering dinner parties at Highgrove and Clarence House with no cost spared.
I don't get it.