Prince Andrew, Duke of York Current Events 4: September 2008-October 2009

[Skydragon]

Prince Andrew last night launched an astonishing defence of bankers' bonuses and declared them 'minute'.
The Duke of York, whose globe-trotting across 23 countries last year cost the taxpayer £140,000, made the extraordinary claim in a frank interview. He spoke of his shock at the scale of the recession but warned against victimising bankers

Read more: Prince Andrew defends bankers' bonuses even as economy stays mired in recession | Mail Online

He excused his own expense calling himself an ' asset' with a genetic right to be an ambassador for Britain. Britain’s special representative for trade and investment said the cost of funding his own travels was an 'investment'.

What a stupid thing to say, he should perhaps have said the only reason I have the job is because they didn't know what else to do with me. Does he deserve it, is he up to it - 46% of companies he was supposed to help say not according to the Telegraph article posted a few days ago!
- - - - -
It gets worse -

Prince Andrew has been criticised for meddling in party politics after urging the Government to preserve a controversial loophole that allows Britain’s wealthiest residents to avoid paying millions of pounds in tax each year.
Gordon Brown has pledged to axe rules allowing wealthy ‘non-domiciled’ foreigners living in Britain to escape UK tax on foreign earnings which they keep abroad.

Read more: Anger as Prince Andrew urges PM to keep tax loophole for super-rich 'non-doms' | Mail Online

[Marsel]

Andrew is either very naive or plain stupid.
Making comments like that during the times of economical recession isn't going to win him, or the Royal Family, any friends.

[Lumutqueen]

Andrew just drops himself in it the majority of the time. He should learn to be more tactful especially at this present time.
I'm sorry "a genetic right to be an ambassador for Britain" why?
Yes he is a member of the royal family, but that is a privelge in itself, that doesn't mean he is automatically more british than the rest of us, quite the opposite actually.

[Jacknch]

It seems that most male members of the Royal Family are genetically inclined to make comments that are unpopular and lacking much forethought, and so it really does come as no surprise to me that Prince Andrew has said these things. In my opinion, he is perfectly entitled to say what he likes, but I would rather he have his royal status removed so as not to cause any further embarrassment to the institution of the monarchy, which relies on the people of this country having faith in those most closely associated with it.

[Skydragon]

Prince Andrew yesterday came under heavy fire after controversially attacking government tax reforms and intervening in the debate over City bonuses.
The Royal was accused of being ‘completely and utterly out of touch’ after he backed the interests of ultra-wealthy ‘non-domiciled’ foreigners and claimed bank bonuses are ‘minute’.

Read more: Prince Andrew rebuked by Treasury for attacking Government clampdown on non-dom tax loophole | Mail Online

[Jacknch]

Just to clarify my earlier comment about wanting the Duke of York to have his royal status removed, I meant to say that this ought to be the case if he wishes to make comments that will be unpopular with the British public or are of a political nature. Having said that, I'm all for the Monarch her/himself to have more political influence.

[JessRulz]

Prince Andrew met with Qatari Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor al-Thani on Tuesday during a dinner at the Intercontinental hosted by the Qatar Businessmen Association and the Qatar British Business Forum.
Gulf Times – Qatar’s top-selling English daily newspaper - Qatar

[dazzling]

Apparently Prince Andrew is in Dubai, UAE. He visited the Dubai metro.
Caught a small clip on the news this evening.

[thedittybopper]

In Doha ,The Emir of Qatar received the Duke of York.

Le duc d’York au Qatar | Noblesse & Royautés

[Russophile]

And in the picture behind them you'll see a falcon. Wonder if it's related to the one PA received recently.

[Zonk]

Time for a new thread, which can be found here http://www.theroyalforums.com/forums...ml#post1013082 .

Thanks to all who posted!