Prince Andrew, Duke of York Current Events 7: February 2015

[sophie25]

Originally Posted by Denville

what exactly are you accusing the queen of?

Hypocrisy, of the highest order.

[Denville]

Originally Posted by sophie25

Hypocrisy, of the highest order.

well most people are hypocritcal to some degree, but I can't quite see what you are accusing the queen of doing that is particularly hypocritical.

[SLV]

Originally Posted by Mbruno

That is actually one of the reasons why, at least in America, there was sympathy for the Sussexes' quest "for financial independence".

I don't know if Andrew would have made it on his own, but, in practice, joining the armed forces was the only career he was realistically allowed to pursue as the second in line to the throne at the time and, in the UK, as in many other countries, being a Navy officer is not exactly a particularly profitable career. It will give you a comfortable middle-class life and (probably) a guaranteed pension, but that's it.

I think it was Prince Laurent of Belgium who said it, when the Belgian Parliament cut his stipend, but there is a valid argument in saying that "spares" who are supposed to be working royals are not allowed in practice to have a career in the private sector that would make them independent and, yet, when they grow older, move down the line of succession, and become "expendable" so to speak, they get a lot of criticism for expecting their brother or father/mother to support them. I don't blame Harry and Meghan for example for not wanting to be in the same situation.

I know some royals, even in the old system, managed to find loopholes to circumvent those problems. The Princess Royal, I think, has her horse business, although I don't know how much she can rely on that for a living. But maybe Andrew was never that resourceful and the business connections he tried to have after leaving the Navy appear to have been shady.

I really don't understand that situation.
Why can't second, third etc children get a job, except for the militairy and have to be financed?
The Dutch King Willem-Alexanders two younger brothers were expected to get an education and jobs. And they have (had in case of Friso). The same will be expected of Amalia's two sisters.
Why couldn't the same be the case in the UK and Belgium?

[Denville]

Originally Posted by SLV

I really don't understand that situation.
Why can't second, third etc children get a job, except for the militairy and have to be financed?
The Dutch King Willem-Alexanders two younger brothers were expected to get an education and jobs. And they have (had in case of Friso). The same will be expected of Amalia's two sisters.
Why couldn't the same be the case in the UK and Belgium?

Because at the time when the queen's children were growing up, the only career was the military. But times have changed..
and in hte UK, at the time the queens children were young, there was a large bunch of royals working and it was expected that after some years in the military, they would retire and go into royal duties.

[sophie25]

Originally Posted by Denville

well most people are hypocritcal to some degree, but I can't quite see what you are accusing the queen of doing that is particularly hypocritical.

Well when you are someone who is the head of a Christian church and who speaks about Christ's message at least once a year (invariably on Christmas Day) who then proceeds to dodge paying taxes that would make a huge difference to the lives of those less fortunate then I think that does take hypocrisy to another level.

[Denville]

Originally Posted by sophie25

Well when you are someone who is the head of a Christian church and who speaks about Christ's message at least once a year (invariably on Christmas Day) who then proceeds to dodge paying taxes that would make a huge difference to the lives of those less fortunate then I think that does take hypocrisy to another level.

what evidence is there that the queen was dodging taxes?

[sophie25]

Originally Posted by Denville

what evidence is there that the queen was dodging taxes?

I'm referring to reports that she left her fortune direct to Charles as cash passing from Monarch to Monarch isn't taxed.

[Denville]

Originally Posted by sophie25

I'm referring to reports that she left her fortune direct to Charles as cash passing from Monarch to Monarch isn't taxed.

All monarchs do that, so that the family fortune remains intact. She paid taxes on her income, and so do the rest of the family. A lot of the wealth is not hers to sell.

[Granada]

Agreed Sophie25, I think that there is going to be different Public "feeling-sentiment" towards the vast sums of money available to, and lifestyles of The Royals Family now that the Queen is dead. Charles doesn't have the respect or love that People felt for this grand woman.
The disgraceful and sordid antics, along with the greed of Andrew and Harry have done The Institution, as well as the Family no favors.
Especially in these increasingly difficult Economic times.

Palatial Royal Lodge Estate for controversial, creepy and entitled Andrew and Sarah ? Perhaps that should be rethought.

The days of dissipated and corrupt extravagant lifestyles being condoned surreptitiously by The Family are over. They knew about nefarious Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell association with Andrew in the early 2000's and did nothing to stop it.

All I'm saying going forward The Family, under Charles and Camilla as Monarch, are going to have to tread lightly. Luckily William and Kate seem popular and steady hands, but I think the media coverage of the wealth of The Windsors in today's papers could cause backlash and be problematic.

Andrew's whining from his 30 rooms, 21 acre estate, complete with Staff, separate Cottages, fancy Gardens, EVEN its own Church ! His expensive cars and love of riding the creme de la creme of Horses in Windsor, accompanied by Grooms, as People struggle with heating and electricity bills ? Yeah, great look.

It isn't going to go over well and adverse attention might be directed at OTHER members of the Family too......

[Denville]

Originally Posted by Granada

AAll I'm saying going forward The Family, under

Andrew's whining from his 30 rooms, 21 acre estate, complete with separate Cottages, gardens, EVEN its own Church !

It isn't going to go over well and adverse attention might be directed at OTHER members of the Family too......

it IS Andrew's house. He paid for a long lease on it and if he can pay the expenses and maintain the house he has a right to keep it.

[sophie25]

Originally Posted by Denville

All monarchs do that, so that the family fortune remains intact. She paid taxes on her income, and so do the rest of the family. A lot of the wealth is not hers to sell.

I'm sorry but this family is hugely wealthy and they still would be even if they paid the taxes they try to avoid. It's just pure greed and I'm not suggesting they are the only ones who do it but not everyone in that position preaches to us about Christianity with the Bible laid out in front of them on TV every year. So yes, massive hypocrisy, and no doubt our new Supreme Governor of the Church will be exactly the same.

[Denville]

Originally Posted by sophie25

I'm sorry but this family is hugely wealthy and they still would be even if they paid the taxes they try to avoid. It's just pure greed and I'm not suggesting they are the only ones who do it but not everyone in that position preaches to us about Christianity with the Bible laid out in front of them on TV every year. So yes, massive hypocrisy, and no doubt our new Supreme Governor of the Church will be exactly the same.

Most people try and avoid inheritance tax because it is a heavy tax. I dont know what Charles will do, but so far he hasn't tried to avoid it, we' shall see when he dies. But if you are going to lash out at everyone who tries to avoid paying a lot of tax, the RF are not the only ones who do it. So clearly you want a socialist state, adn it woudl be better to work for one.
I thought that these posts were about Charles, who has by and large spent his income sensibly, paid taxes, as the queen has done, and tried to use his money adn his social position to help others.

[Zonk]

Let's stay on topic...Andrew's Current Events....this is all speculative as information regarding the Queen's will has NOT been made public.

[Meee]

Originally Posted by Denville

it IS Andrew's house. He paid for a long lease on it and if he can pay the expenses and maintain the house he has a right to keep it.

I agree. Had he not looked after Royal Lodge or failed to carry out the refurbishments that were required as part of the lease, it would be a different story, but there’s no suggestion Andrew has breached the agreement in any way.

Even Prince Philip must have realised that it was Andrew’s house - I doubt he was at all OK with Sarah moving in there, but until the lease is up, it being crown property is irrelevant.

Who would Charles want to move in there anyway? Surely William and Catherine wouldn’t, it would go against them after they were seen as responsible and in touch with the general public for not moving somewhere massively bigger than they needed. It just seems an odd thing to do, his popularity seems to have grown since he became King so he doesn’t need to ‘impress’ a section of the public by shuffling his brother out.

[Denville]

Originally Posted by Meee

I agree. Had he not looked after Royal Lodge or failed to carry out the refurbishments that were required as part of the lease, it would be a different story, but there’s no suggestion Andrew has breached the agreement in any way.

Even Prince Philip must have realised that it was Andrew’s house - I doubt he was at all OK with Sarah moving in there, but until the lease is up, it being crown property is irrelevant.

Who would Charles want to move in there anyway? Surely William and Catherine wouldn’t, it would go against them after they were seen as responsible and in touch with the general public for not moving somewhere massively bigger than they needed. It just seems an odd thing to do, his popularity seems to have grown since he became King so he doesn’t need to ‘impress’ a section of the public by shuffling his brother out.

He might be helping Andrew wiht expenses and does not want to continue to pay for him indefinitely in a big house Like RL. He could rent the house out for a commerical rent, in due course.