Harry and Meghan to repay £2.4m for refurbishment of

[Major Sinic]

he can keep his sword sheathed

Perhaps if he had kept his sword sheathed the RF wouldn't be facing some of the present problems!

[Major Sinic]

Ok Major I bow to your personal knowledge.



I've met Charlie let's say I wont be getting an OBE any time soon and I'm bloody well not turning up to collect any knighthood he offers, he can keep his sword sheathed



As I have  said, we need a monarch to prevent a certain sector of this society giving us a president.



And I really, really think we ought to be following the Netherlands lead ...



We put my mother in the crematorium this time last year, aged 86  and she was in no fit state nor had she been for ages to do anything remotely work like.



And surely you have to agree with me philip, from the last pic of him, is on his last legs and both deserve a bit of quiet time together out of it...

Other than your view of Camilla, we are are singing off the same hymn sheet.



The one point you make which I had not previously thought about was the idea of retirement. You are so right. HM is 93, and if still functioning effectively, is doing so from sheer cussedness, knowing that Noddy's friend, her son, could lose the Monarchy to a Republic.



I completely agree that she should have retired at a time when Charles was not himself way past any normal retirement age. Again I agree that Charles should sacrifice the Crown in favour of his son William, who shows every sign of being a fine King and his wife, although a commoner, a fine Queen. I fear however, that having waited this long and believing as I am sure he does that it is his Destiny, he will not.



As you might gather I would heartily approve of Camilla as Consort (not Queen which is the next probable mistake) and I feel she would mitigate many of his cock-ups but I do think he would give excess ammunition to the republicans on a regular basis.

[papasmurf]

Oh come, come. They're like rats in a bucket. If it's TRUE and even if it isnt halfvthe time, some scurrilous scumbag WILL publish it.

People in glass houses.

[johnofgwent]

Actually I don't need stand in the freezing cold and rain the collect the evidence, the problem would be getting a newspaper to publish it.

Oh come, come. They're like rats in a bucket. If it's TRUE and even if it isnt halfvthe time, some scurrilous scumbag WILL publish it.

[papasmurf]

Fine. You go stand inbtbe freezing cold and rain collecting the evidence. Yes I agree but I really cant be arsed to do it

Actually I don't need stand in the freezing cold and rain the collect the evidence, the problem would be getting a newspaper to publish it.

[johnofgwent]

Just a word of defence of Camilla. She is not remotely an odious bitch. I met and spoke to this lady informally on the hunting field and at various informal social functions and you could not have wished to meet a more friendly, warm and pleasant person, with no airs and graces. She had time for anyone and treated everyone as an equal. Just because Charles, a man of dubious morality like his brothers, used the age old Royal recourse of marrying a breeder to provide an heir while continuing to devote his true affections to the woman he loved, but who was not 'acceptable' as his wife is far more a measure of Charles than Camilla. Incidentally Andrew Parker-Bowles didn't enjoy a reputation for fidelity when he was married to Camilla either.



Otherwise I broadly agree with your sentiments, if not always with your use of language in making them. As far as I am concerned only the direct line of succession should be involved in the 'family business'. I admire HRH Princess Anne for rejecting the notion of titles and privilege for both of her husbands and of her children, Philip and Zara. This is the way it should be and frankly Eugenie and Beatrice would have been far better off being treated in the same way, as would Harry.

Ok Major I bow to your personal knowledge.



I've met Charlie let's say I wont be getting an OBE any time soon and I'm bloody well not turning up to collect any knighthood he offers, he can keep his sword sheathed



As I have  said, we need a monarch to prevent a certain sector of this society giving us a president.



And I really, really think we ought to be following the Netherlands lead ...



We put my mother in the crematorium this time last year, aged 86  and she was in no fit state nor had she been for ages to do anything remotely work like.



And surely you have to agree with me philip, from the last pic of him, is on his last legs and both deserve a bit of quiet time together out of it...

[johnofgwent]

I think the press/editors/journalists who harass the royal family should have their own private lives subjected to the same public scrutiny.

Fine. You go stand inbtbe freezing cold and rain collecting the evidence. Yes I agree but I really cant be arsed to do it

[Major Sinic]

Have you so quickly forgotten how BOTH his parents were superb manipulators of the press to put their own agenda.



Like I said in every other post, this country should see the abdcation of queen elizabeth on age grounds n very, very short order and this should have been done years, no decades ago. FFS her husband looks like he's ready to join the undead if he has not already.



Charlie should equally piss off and take the odious bitch he was shagging behind diana's back with him and hand the job to william who should be told in the strongest possible terms to hand the job on as soon as his eldest reaches the point he himself now is.



My rationale for this is the simple fact that the job of constitutional head of state of this country is a job for a YOUNG king or queen who can be seen by the public as ready for the job. Hanging round waiting for your mum or dad to pop their clogs is no way to run a country.



As to Harry, well, i blame Liz and Phil for their utterly disastrous experiment in widening the membership of the working senior royals. Had they not proceeded to hand public duties and public money for them to the contingent they have, her children other than Charles, and their children and various minor relatives could have enjoyed splendid anonymity apart from appearances at charitable and sporting events.  If this whole business triggers a return to that condition, then I am grateful for his instigating this.

Just a word of defence of Camilla. She is not remotely an odious bitch. I met and spoke to this lady informally on the hunting field and at various informal social functions and you could not have wished to meet a more friendly, warm and pleasant person, with no airs and graces. She had time for anyone and treated everyone as an equal. Just because Charles, a man of dubious morality like his brothers, used the age old Royal recourse of marrying a breeder to provide an heir while continuing to devote his true affections to the woman he loved, but who was not 'acceptable' as his wife is far more a measure of Charles than Camilla. Incidentally Andrew Parker-Bowles didn't enjoy a reputation for fidelity when he was married to Camilla either.



Otherwise I broadly agree with your sentiments, if not always with your use of language in making them. As far as I am concerned only the direct line of succession should be involved in the 'family business'. I admire HRH Princess Anne for rejecting the notion of titles and privilege for both of her husbands and of her children, Philip and Zara. This is the way it should be and frankly Eugenie and Beatrice would have been far better off being treated in the same way, as would Harry.

[T00ts]

Really ? You think we should work geriatrics to death then...



I said the job was a job for a much younger person.  I said the job should be given to that person when it is obvious they are ready for it.



We have a situation where a man a few years older than me has been waiting his entire adult life for his mother to fall of her perch and has sod all else to do. His son now faces the same situation.



This is bloody barking mad. The Netherlands have seen three monarchs in the space of our one,  and working a ninety odd year old to death is no way to run a country.



Yes, the queen should abdicate and hand the job to William  not Charles. Then the press can spend their time digging round to find who HEs been shagging behind his wife's back ...

The Queen made a promise though on her 21st at a time when promises meant something. I don't expect for a minute that she thought she would live so long, but I would imagine that a promise is still a promise to her. I don't know much about the Netherland monarchy but is their position the same constitutionally as ours? Perhaps it isn't. Wouldn't we need a change in the law/constitution to change 'until death' monarchs? If so perhaps William will be the first to instigate a change.

[papasmurf]

 Then the press can spend their time digging round to find who HEs been shagging behind his wife's back ...

I think the press/editors/journalists who harass the royal family should have their own private lives subjected to the same public scrutiny.

[johnofgwent]

Not your finest post John. I'd have thought a man of your education should be able to construct a better argument than that. ' The Queen should bugger off causes she is owd.

Really ? You think we should work geriatrics to death then...



I said the job was a job for a much younger person.  I said the job should be given to that person when it is obvious they are ready for it.



We have a situation where a man a few years older than me has been waiting his entire adult life for his mother to fall of her perch and has sod all else to do. His son now faces the same situation.



This is bloody barking mad. The Netherlands have seen three monarchs in the space of our one,  and working a ninety odd year old to death is no way to run a country.



Yes, the queen should abdicate and hand the job to William  not Charles. Then the press can spend their time digging round to find who HEs been shagging behind his wife's back ...

[Nick]

Have you so quickly forgotten how BOTH his parents were superb manipulators of the press to put their own agenda.



Like I said in every other post, this country should see the abdcation of queen elizabeth on age grounds n very, very short order and this should have been done years, no decades ago. FFS her husband looks like he's ready to join the undead if he has not already.



Charlie should equally piss off and take the odious bitch he was shagging behind diana's back with him and hand the job to william who should be told in the strongest possible terms to hand the job on as soon as his eldest reaches the point he himself now is.



My rationale for this is the simple fact that the job of constitutional head of state of this country is a job for a YOUNG king or queen who can be seen by the public as ready for the job. Hanging round waiting for your mum or dad to pop their clogs is no way to run a country.



As to Harry, well, i blame Liz and Phil for their utterly disastrous experiment in widening the membership of the working senior royals. Had they not proceeded to hand public duties and public money for them to the contingent they have, her children other than Charles, and their children and various minor relatives could have enjoyed splendid anonymity apart from appearances at charitable and sporting events.  If this whole business triggers a return to that condition, then I am grateful for his instigating this.

Not your finest post John. I'd have thought a man of your education should be able to construct a better argument than that. ' The Queen should bugger off causes she is owd.

[Baron von Lotsov]

I don't suppose they will repay it. I suspect the Queen will. They are supposed to pay rent in future since they will have Frogmore as their UK  home. With Megan eyeing up £21m houses their cash won't go so far. I also suspect that the RF will simply wait and give them enough rope initially just to see how they behave. I am fairly sure the screws will be tightened if they try to commercialise them. Surely they can't retain Sussex Royal.



I don't think for a minute that this will be the end. Poor Harry is on self destruct. He will be right out of his depth poor lad. They will be careful to be able to pick up the pieces when Megan gets bored of him.

Was Harry the one who got caught by those tabloids of ours partying it up a bit too much over in America with rich Hollywood star types? I recall one of the royals did this, and even partook in some of the underground London raves that were going on. It could be that he has married a wrong'un. It's sounding like the trouble his father had all over again. They called Diana a loose cannon back at the palace. It's a shame since the queen is the complete opposite and is entirely dedicated to the job. She hardly had a youth period in her life because she had to start work early.

[Barry]

Why don't they just shut up?

 :roll:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EOrakIxXsAAASX6?format=jpg&name=small">

[johnofgwent]

Seriously though age isn't always a barrier to doing a good job and in a hereditary one you can unforunately get stuck with someone like big ears.

I am a republican at heart but couldn't stomach a president Bliar Major or any of the clapped out tossers that would love the job.

well, maybe there is a case for one law for them (piss off, your son is 35 married and wants your chair) and one for us but that comes down to the incredible pension scheme they have !



Again being serious, take a look at the Netherlands.



Wilhelmina took the throne age TEN under her mother's regency when her father died. She abdicated in 1948 in favour of her daughter Juliana, who ruled until 1980 when she abdicated in favour of Beatrix but lived another 24 years. Beatrix abdicated in favour of her eldest, Willem-Alexander who until his taking the throne was chairman of the UN advisory board on water and sewage.



Frankly, I think they got a better deal, and a king who knows shit is always an advantage...