King Charles III

[Shark27]

I apologise.

The Princes Trust no doubt does a lot of good work.

Where we probably differ in our perspectives is in the motivations for its creation.

The Monarchy is literally a family business, and the family business is the brand.

There is a huge expectation that members of the royal family will be seen to be doing "good" things, that justify its existence and generate good PR.

It is harder for members of the royal family to not do charitable activities than to do them, given the incredibly cost-effective publicity this provides, and the goodwill it buys the Royal Family.

I can't help but roll my eyes at the creation story of the princes trust. In reality advisors probably told him he should lend his name to a charity and gave him a few options. The way it is spun is that he selflessly gave his £7,400 Navy severance package to help start the charity. We're fed this line and are supposed to be so impressed by this size of a gift from a billionaire.

Prince Charles has done a good job of leveraging his name and brand appeal to create a well-funded organisation that does good, and deserves credit for that.

But let's be honest, the real credit goes to those putting in the hours to do the actual work of running the charity day to day. How many hours a week to you think he really spends in a week working for the charity getting his hands dirty? They do all that work, he gets all the credit.

His role is really lending his image to it. Much like David Beckham does when he allows a company to make underwear with his name on it.

To be fair, Charles has also used(abused?) his status to solicit donations from Russian bankers in exchange for access to the monarchy, or offering Saudi donors honourary titles such as a CBE in exchange for cash.

Lots of this donated money mysteriously disappears to middlemen too.

But still, it does a lot of good work, and it generates a lot of "good will" for the royal family which as we can see fulfils the function of shielding them from criticism to an extent.

But it’s a noteworthy cause.

If there was no Royal family, would the money used to set up this charity just disappear.

As we know quite a few politicians are trying to line their own pockets.

If the royals set up a noteworthy charity for the PR then surely it’s a good thing.

Your whole point could be used against the Queen as it is and always has been under similar circumstances yet she has gained your respect. This will probably be due to the amount of time she has had as Queen.

[mygiddypant]

Whilst I am by no means a royalist - I was after all brought up in the People's Republic of South Yorkshire, or the West Riding as it was known in those days (yes, I really am that old) - I cannot but admire the queen. She promised to serve the country to the best of her abilities no matter how long or short her life and she did. How many politicians could be judged by how well they kept their promises? I agree the monarchy is an outdated institution - why should they hold power and sway just because their ancestors clobbered mine in the year 900 and frozen to death? But the queen was a special individual whose selfless devotion to duty I can only respect. I doubt I shall have the same respect for any of the others and look forward to their abolition but respect to the queen and may she rest in peace.

I think I must be missing the Let's Not Question Royalty gene. Like you I have the utmost respect for the Queen in her role as Monarch; she earned it. But I have less respect for other aspects of her other life roles.

I can't summon the same enthusiasm for Charles just for assuming the role of king, regardless of how many finely-scripted speeches he makes about his mother.

Would add more but have lots of programmes about the Queen waiting to be watched.

[John2]

But it’s a noteworthy cause.

If there was no Royal family, would the money used to set up this charity just disappear.

As we know quite a few politicians are trying to line their own pockets.

If the royals set up a noteworthy charity for the PR then surely it’s a good thing.

Your whole point could be used against the Queen as it is and always has been under similar circumstances yet she has gained your respect. This will probably be due to the amount of time she has had as Queen.

I'm not saying it's not a good thing.

But there are many people who have started incredible charities and done incredible things and got their hands dirty (in the working hard sense, not accepting dodgy donations sense). I'm just saying I'd rather elect one of those people as my head of state and call them my king or queen rather than have the current ridiculous institution forced upon me.

[animallittle3]

There is certainly a lot of pressure on anyone born into the monarchy, and particularly the throne, and I think that is unfair and another reason to abolish it.

However, they are not without choice as Edward VIII and more recently Prince Harry have bravely shown us.

Aye one fled to France and the other to the US to escape the wrath .

Shame the other brother doesn't much fancy a trip to the US anytime soon .

Speaking of which you stay where you are John , we've currently got an unelected Head Of State , an unelected PM supposedly scrutinised by an unelected House Of Lords , Parliament is suspended for the foreseeable with a cost of living crisis the likes we've not seen since the 1930's .

To cap it all the escalators were closed today in Sheffield's M&S as a mark of respect I was told .

This really is a strange country .

[great_fire]

Aye one fled to France and the other to the US to escape the wrath .

Shame the other brother doesn't much fancy a trip to the US anytime soon .

Speaking of which you stay where you are John , we've currently got an unelected Head Of State , an unelected PM supposedly scrutinised by an unelected House Of Lords , Parliament is suspended for the foreseeable with a cost of living crisis the likes we've not seen since the 1930's .

To cap it all the escalators were closed today in Sheffield's M&S as a mark of respect I was told .

This really is a strange country .

We don't vote for PMs though, we vote for parties.

2 of Labour's 6 PMs weren't elected either.

[animallittle3]

We don't vote for PMs though, we vote for parties.

2 of Labour's 6 PMs weren't elected either.

Well if that's true how come the Tories keep changing em .

Take your point about Labour by the way .

You should have a look at the Members Of The Privy Council GF .

It's a real rogues gallery .

[Geetarman]

I'm not saying it's not a good thing.

But there are many people who have started incredible charities and done incredible things and got their hands dirty (in the working hard sense, not accepting dodgy donations sense). I'm just saying I'd rather elect one of those people as my head of state and call them my king or queen rather than have the current ridiculous institution forced upon me.

If you are so biter why not step it up. Just think, you could have a day out in London, chain yourself to Buckingham Palace's railings wearing a few obscenities in marker pen on a white tee shirt, get a couple of seconds on the BBC news. That would work. But, no, you sit behind the anonymity of a football message board being the big man. Pathetic.

[John2]

If you are so biter why not step it up. Just think, you could have a day out in London, chain yourself to Buckingham Palace's railings wearing a few obscenities in marker pen on a white tee shirt, get a couple of seconds on the BBC news. That would work. But, no, you sit behind the anonymity of a football message board being the big man. Pathetic.

Wow, the replies just get more bizarre.

So anyone who holds any opinion shoudn't express it through any manner other than chaining themselves to stuff?

Absolutely bonkers. A discussion forum seems far more reasonable of a place.

[crashbang]

If you are so biter why not step it up. Just think, you could have a day out in London, chain yourself to Buckingham Palace's railings wearing a few obscenities in marker pen on a white tee shirt, get a couple of seconds on the BBC news. That would work. But, no, you sit behind the anonymity of a football message board being the big man. Pathetic.

Since you keep picking up on spelling, what is a biter?

[Heliosphan]

Wow, the replies just get more bizarre.

So anyone who holds any opinion shoudn't express it through any manner other than chaining themselves to stuff?

Absolutely bonkers. A discussion forum seems far more reasonable of a place.

I think, like the vast majority of people on this forum, he probably just wants you to go away, but you won't.

You're like a turd that won't flush.