Prince William

[tinkie]

I have just seen the news that Prince William doesn't want to live at his base, but is renting a cottage to enable him to shack up with his girlfriend, at a tremendous cost to the tax payers, surely his family can pay for his security

[NoMercy]

Why don't we concentrate on what he IS doing for his country and stop moaning at what he ISN'T doing. ??

[B00]

I'm assuming that he's using money he's already got or getting anyway to pay the rent, so therefore no extra cost to you tinkle.

[B00]

*tinkie

[NoMercy]

At least he's not a grasping opportunistic playboy like his Uncle Andy.

[Sqad]

NoM exactly. Whether you like it or not, we have a monarchy and he is a prince, would I be in his situation, I would "shack" up with my girlfriend in a cottage.

[NoMercy]

Joking aside, his continued presence on base would pose a greater risk to each and every man and woman who also resided there. And like Sqad quite rightly said, he is a future monarch. A cottage is, therefore, hardly asking the earth.

[jno]

if the cost was to taxpayers, that would be a legitimate expense for protecting the royal family; if you have one, look after it or get rid of it.

However it seems the cost will in fact be borne by the ratepayers of north Wales. I can see why they might be a bit grumpy about this.
.

[jno]

B00, it's the cost of security that's upsetting people. They figure he'd be pretty well protected, along with his fellow servicemen, if he stayed on base. Living elsewhere means extra expense. I've no doubt he'll pay for the cottage - just not for the security.

[pastafreak]

I suspect that the rental of this cottage also serves to encourage and preserve a continuing stable relationship between William and Kate...it is difficult for any relationship to last if it is to be long distance.

[modeller]

As I understand the question it is going to cost the taxpayer far more for his security by living off base . If that is the case then he should pay the difference.
But to put it in perspective it costs the taxpayer a fortune paying for the security of
Tony Blair and family jazzing around the world with little benefit to the UK.
Millions of tourists have visited this country and when asked why they invariably mention the monarchy and all that goes with it.
Nobody comes here because of Tony Blair unless you include the immigrants and asylum seekers. They may think he's God.

[sp1814]

Hoorah!

I was worried that we wouldn't see immigration shoe-horned into this thread...but I was wrong.

[saxy_jag]

Many soldiers live off base. They (or their families, if they're lucky) usually provide their own housing and I see no reason for William not to be doing the same. It's going to cost the taxpayer for his security, whatever - not that I have a problem with that.

[modeller]

I'm glad you are pleased sp1814 that's why I introduced it . If it wasn't for the Muslim extremists in this country we would only need a fraction of the security that we now have.

[askyourgran]

I don't see a problem with that. He will have to live somewhere and he is a royal prince, therefore entitled to live apart from the 'mob' so to speak. I agree with saxy-jag and modeller about Tony Blair, why is he given the security does he pay for it?

sp1814, worried the immigrants would be missed out? tut.

[olddutch]

))))))The local force, North Wales Police, is spending an estimated - £1.4 million a year - on the security programme after the Prince decided to live off base at RAF Valley in Anglesey. As second in line to the throne, the prince is classified as the highest security risk and has round-the-clock armed protection.

The costs to the North Wales force of operating the 15-strong armed team will be in addition to those of Prince William's personal protection officers assigned by Scotland Yard. The disclosure comes as the costs of police protection for other members of the Royal Family are coming under increasing scrutiny.

Some commentators have questioned Prince William's decision to live off base during his helicopter pilot's course, arguing that no extra security would have been required if he had chosen to reside within its heavily-protected perimeter.((((((

Come On - this is another mega p*ss take by a “let them eat cake” elite who still believe in the Divine Right of Kings to plunder our Austerity Taxes - Shame on the Houses of Windsor and Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg and Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and Wales ! Cameron - Clegg need to make sure young Wills or his Dad cough up for his luxury living security !

[welshlibranr]

On the news it said that he's going to live in a country cottage! That'll be a large Country House then!...................

[askyourgran]

Old Dutch the 'right of kings' should take precedence. No-one is out to take the p*ss or having to eat cake. Prince William is heir to the throne, and as such is an asset to this country. Withdrawing security from other nonentities ie Blair and his cronies would make up for the cost of protection for the royals. It's a pity we can't rid ourselves of other costly burdens we have to pay for.Rather than give sp1814 apoplexic fit I won't mention them.

[andy-hughes]

I personally think that the Royal Family should finance its own security outside official occasionas - and this is a case in point.

If William chooses to live off-base, no problem, but it requires security over and above what is normallly allocated, and as such, the Prince of Wales should finance it.

[olddutch]

Gran

Wills is being very naughty with our money.

He and his very rich family should fork out for his indulgent country cottage living protection - if not, i vote we get rid of all of them and give you the job - as long as yr prepared to do it for £200 to £220 a week (negotiable) and proportionate extras inc security - Queen Gran 1 - sounds ok

[rov1200]

He didn't ask to be a royal and if truth were known would prefer to be a private individual. He is far too intelligent to spend the rest of his life shaking hands and opening bazaars. That is why I can't quite see him becoming head of the realm as King and therefore would abduct and go and live in Africa or somewhere else. Who could blame him?

They call it duty, but you owe yourself something richer.