Royalty

[johntheplamf]

I know a lot of people say they're good for the tourist trade and trade relations with other countries, but how many of these leeches do we really need?

[rojash]

Less than 1

[issie]

In what way are they leeching?

[silly moo]

Reigning monarch , spouse , children , grandchildren , siblings of monarch.

[kempie]

Certainly not the minor Royals such as Princess Michael of Kent with their Grace and Favour accomodation. Kensington Palace is just a glorified 'council estate' for Royals.

Having said that I wont have a word said against The Duchess of Kent - Gawd Bless ' Er.

[Andy008]

Technically, the Royals aren't leeches, although I understand they may be seen that way. They own vast amounts of prime real estate which provides the bulk of their income. We don't "need" any of them, most of them aren't even British, but that isn't their fault. You might want to think about whether you really envy their lifestyle. William, for example is an undeniably good-looking bloke. Most lads with his looks would be out sowing their oats in a major way. Can he do that? No he can't. Would you want to contend with a muppet brother like he does? No. Have your mother's death and funeral all over the world's media, aged 15? No.

We don't "need" any of them. The flip side of the coin is they don't "need" us.

[jake-the-peg]

"They own vast amounts of prime real estate"

Who did they buy them from?

[kempie]

Echoing jake-the-peg's question I would replace 'own' with 'possess', which has an obsolete meaning of 'to gain or seize'.

'They don't "need" us'

The French aristocracy thought that!

[jake-the-peg]

I suppose, to answer my own question we gave them these vast tracts of land when we decided we couldn't make it on our own and went "sobbing back to our comfort blanket" in 1660

Doh!!!! 

[Octavius]

need?

[Bangkok]

6, 4 to dig the road and 2 to direct traffic

[bernardo]

Anybody who falsely tries to pretend that the royals are somehow a burden on the taxpayer, or in some way parasitic or "leeching", is insane and should be cut in half.

[kempie]

Lengthways or side-to-side?

[gazzawazza]

Well said rojash.

[flaming]

Goodness me, I could go on and on..... I hope the monarchy is swept away at the end of this Queen's reign.  I think we've all done our bit in keeping them in Edwardian luxury.  So who thinks tourists won't come if they don't think royalty live here?   Very few tourists spot any royals, as thy are hardly ever around.  I am amazed when I see something like the crowds outside Clarence House, when it was reburb'd with taxpayers' money for Charles before he would live there.  Those people were clapping!  They must like the idea of giving money to the rich!  To those who say we'd spend more on a President.... we already are in all but name.  I'm sure the more politically-minded ABers could produce figures about the cost of Government, local and national, ending up with the private office at No.10 where UNELECTED 'advisers' enjoy whacking great salaries for helping the PM keep away from those other nasty representatives of the people.   Oh, and that's BEFORE we get on to all our VAT going to the UNACCOUNTABLE and largely UNELECTED Eu. Oh I forgot the tax breaks for aristos.  And the Lottery 'good causes'  money going to toys for the toffs.  Totted up the cost of security lately, not only for the top tier politicians - and every past PM.  No security is every day forever for many royals.  Who do you think pays for the police in those cases? I think the royals, the aristos and the politicos could all show leeches a thing or two.