Is the monarchy worth the cost?

[metagirl]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/5123580.stm

�37.4 million or 62p per taxpayer. I think along with the BBC, they make the country stand out. Most of the royals are completely useless but it is impossible to imagine Britain without them.

[jake-the-peg]

They can stay but they need to relinquish the last main constituional power of any worth.

That of deciding who to ask to form a government. Not imprtant right now but it could be at a later date.

I'd imagine they'd be happy to give it up, can't see them wanting to get involved in a political row.

Oh and the oath of aliegence needs to be to the government and parliament of the United Kingdom.

Then they can stay as a tourist attraction

[Whickerman]

I'm Irish, and proud of the fact that I live in a republic. That said, from a foreigner looking at your country, the royals are a great symbol.
Now - a fact that even I know. The Royal Family give more in monetary terms to the UK from their estates etc than they will ever receive from the civil list. Are they worth the cost? They're a small investment and you get your money back several times over, not to mention the tourism pounds, so the answer must be yes.

[Toureman]

Whickerman is correct, the present Royal family have given more money and land to the country than they will ever get back.

Stop slagging them off until you get your facts straight.

As for Diana she was a typical sloan ranger who still acted like one when she joined the royal family!

[vehelpfulguy]

Other countries like Holland have a Royal family, but they are much more down to earth.

Our Royal Family still consider themselves way above the rest of us and I think we need to drop them down a peg or two.

They do not need Buckingham Palace AND Windsor AND Sandringham AND Balmoral AND Highgrove AND Clarence House etc etc.

I think if they gave up say Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle it would save the state millions and would then EARN millions from tourism.

The Queen and Royal Family are amongst the richest people women in the world and yet all their wealth and riches has been gained at the expense of us. They have not EARNED the money they have got, that have been given it by us to use to use as they wish.

(I am not saying the Queen does not work hard for the UK, but many other ordinairy people work as hard without getting the wealth she has).

The Royal Family have already done themselves a lot of harm by their antics in the last few years, and when the Queen goes we could well see a massive change.

[Grunty]

They would be wort every penny if all they had to do was listen to the Prime Minister's weekly audience. I wonder how many silly or plain wrong ideas have been stopped in their tracks because they have to be put into words and explained to the Monarch.

[beejaybee]

The palace & castles the Queen has "come with the job". Some of the minor Royals actualy work. I know that the Duchess of Kent works as a piano teacher & does a lot of voluntry work for homelessness. I woul not like their life whatsoever. Regardless of the wealth.

[mightyWBA]

Prince Charles paid �3.3 million pounds in income tax last year.
If anybody else in the answerbank contributed that much to the treasury feel free to criticise.
Its alright saying they have all this and that in property but they can't exactly sell it and blow the profits in Las Vegas can they,their wealth really belongs to the state .
Stop knocking them,how many 80 year old women still contribute positively to the economy.
God Save The Queen!

[bernardo]

62p per person per year is not enough!
It should be more like �62 per person per year.
Even that is a bargain, considering the delight I get every night thinking about Hunky Harry and Wonderful William and Peter the Magnificent.

[bazwillrun]

�37 million is literally peanuts when compared to the money the government wastes on all kinds of frivolous projects and consultants. Look at the billions we pay each year to the EEC, that kind of puts it in perspective really what do get from that ? so looked at in those terms the Royal family is Dirt cheap. Oh, and did i i mention the millions upon millions of � local councils waste each and every year. They pay out millions on frivolous injury/damage claims, millions on Politically Correct jobs that are a total waste of time and money
Look at all the companies that declare year in year out billions of � in profits, you could take �37 million from their accounts and it wouldnt even be noticed, I'm thinking names like BP, Shell. BT, HSBC Barclays etc etc
This country earns well over �37 million each and every year from the tourism that is a direct result of the Royal Family

[phaloides]

Get rid of them all root and branch. The old bat heads a extremely disfunctional family.,,
As for giving much back to the nation, it is only what their forebears confiscated in the past frequently by rigged trials and subsequent deaths of the accused .A typical member is Edward,six weeks in the Marines and not a Christmas at home.Lets rescue him, poor boy.
As for Diana,her of the big nose ( beautiful??). she was nothing but a nympho with her nose in the public trough,and I think Harry should have a DNA test if they haven't already done one. Such a normal lad could not have been fathered by old bat ears

[brionon]

The people of England will not grow up until they can live without grovelling to ''Their Betters' and to Religion.

[Callithrix]

It does seem a bit silly to have to bow or doff hats to these people, and call them majesty and highness in the 21st century, with their unmerited privilege, wealth, and deference from the "lower orders".
It would be nice to be able to elect a head of state. Someone who represents ordinary people and treats us as equals.

I loved how the US President sat down outside a restaurant and had a pint and shared a portion of chips, when he came to Birmingham for the 1998 G8 Summit. I couldn't believe my eyes; it was so refreshing.

[dhuk2002]

please lets not forget that prince charles has raised �110million for charities i think that's well worth the 62p that we pay. we should all pay �1

[anotheoldgit]

Why aren't Princes William and Harry in Iraq or Afghanistan I know Wlliam is still at Sandhurst but he could be sent when he passes out just like all our Troops are. Come to think about it if they brought back National Service Blair's Son could go as well.