Harry and Meghan

[RB Will]

Suppose being royal works in the same way as US presidents then. I think they still get Secret Service protection etc even when they have been superseded.

[cuprabob]

RB Will said:

Suppose being royal works in the same way as US presidents then. I think they still get Secret Service protection etc even when they have been superseded.

As do ex Prime Ministers

[Harry H]

We're all allowed opinions so here's mine on the security bill.

Harry's an ex servant of the UK that happens to also be a security risk. Like any other major public figure we are responsible for his safety whether he's still in the job or not. No different to any ex PM really.

However through his choice not ours he has chosen to live aboard and that comes with considerable extra costs. We should therefore contribute costs towards security that assumes he is still resident in the UK. Any additional costs for overseas travel or trips where he is not acting as a servant for the UK should be borne by him personally.

Expecting us to cough up circa £20m as reported because he wants to live abroad and swan around the world on freelance trips is quite frankly taking the piss. But that's what'll happen anyway.

[anonymous-user]

RB Will said:

Suppose being royal works in the same way as US presidents then. I think they still get Secret Service protection etc even when they have been superseded.

No they don’t.
They get Royal Protection Officers.
Murcans get Secret Service dudes.

[smack]

Estimated £20m for security - 55k per day? How!?!?!?

[anonymous-user]

smack said:

Estimated £20m for security - 55k per day? How!?!?!?

I imagine it racks up pretty quick bearing in mind that despite “stepping back” (yeah, right) they’ll still have household and domestic staff who will also, to a degree, need enhanced security.
Add to the mix the additional cost of having to have about three or four vehicles everywhere you go, plus drivers/close protection.
I’m guessing private armed security doesn’t come easy and therefore not cheap.

[easytiger123]

Crossflow Kid said:

I imagine it racks up pretty quick bearing in mind that despite “stepping back” (yeah, right) they’ll still have household and domestic staff who will also, to a degree, need enhanced security.
Add to the mix the additional cost of having to have about three or four vehicles everywhere you go, plus drivers/close protection.
I’m guessing private armed security doesn’t come easy and therefore not cheap.

Rubbish. Try watching the documentaries 'Taken' or 'Man on Fire'. One well-trained man with special skills is enough to protect them.

[zygalski]

Crossflow Kid said:

smack said:

Estimated £20m for security - 55k per day? How!?!?!?

I imagine it racks up pretty quick bearing in mind that despite “stepping back” (yeah, right) they’ll still have household and domestic staff who will also, to a degree, need enhanced security.
Add to the mix the additional cost of having to have about three or four vehicles everywhere you go, plus drivers/close protection.
I’m guessing private armed security doesn’t come easy and therefore not cheap.

From the vitriol expressed in here, I'd say at least some security was 100% warranted.

[Mort7]

Welshbeef said:

Leave the lad alone.
He wants to go it alone - no problem (but you don’t benefit off the Royal /crown title)
He has served his country in the military and also as part of the Royal family.

Yeah, but - he (they) haven't given up his (their) title(s), they've just agreed not to use them for now. Neither has he (they) given up much of anything else - except all their royal duties, of course. Now it looks for all the world like they intend to become a gold-plated version of the Kardashians, but with the UK taxpayer footing their £20 million security bill because they are of "Royal blood". bks!

How many ex-service personnel with physical and mental health issues would benefit from £20 million? How many who have ended up living rough could benefit from a roof over their heads in a safe and secure environment? 1000? More?

If they want to walk away and do their own thing then fine. I'll wish them luck. Unless, that is they expect to keep and live off their titles / royal heritage and expect the taxpayer to foot any part of the bill.

I used to be ambivalent about the Royal family, but the sheer hypocrisy and sense of entitlement is fast turning me into a Republican. As far as I'm concerned, once HMQ is no longer with us the rest of the sorry bunch can FRO.

[RB Will]

Crossflow Kid said:

RB Will said:

Suppose being royal works in the same way as US presidents then. I think they still get Secret Service protection etc even when they have been superseded.

No they don’t.
They get Royal Protection Officers.
Murcans get Secret Service dudes.

I didn't mean it would be the same people taking care of them just the general situation

[aeropilot]

smack said:

Estimated £20m for security - 55k per day? How!?!?!?

Well, given he wants to spend most of his time abroad, they are going to have to keep flying RPO's to and from there on a regular basis. He won't be able to have the same allocated officer living abroad with them. They will have to a have team on rotation duties, and so will be clocking up the air miles and expenses going to and from Canada and/or LaLaLand. Plus costs associated with being in another countries jurisdiction etc.

I'm surprised its 'only' an extra £20m tbh.

[Richard-390a0]

Mort7 said:

If they want to walk away and do their own thing then fine. I'll wish them luck. Unless, that is they expect to keep and live off their titles / royal heritage and expect the taxpayer to foot any part of the bill.

I used to be ambivalent about the Royal family, but the sheer hypocrisy and sense of entitlement is fast turning me into a Republican. As far as I'm concerned, once HMQ is no longer with us the rest of the sorry bunch can FRO.

This is my view too ^^^

[easytiger123]

Richard-390a0 said:

Mort7 said:

If they want to walk away and do their own thing then fine. I'll wish them luck. Unless, that is they expect to keep and live off their titles / royal heritage and expect the taxpayer to foot any part of the bill.

I used to be ambivalent about the Royal family, but the sheer hypocrisy and sense of entitlement is fast turning me into a Republican. As far as I'm concerned, once HMQ is no longer with us the rest of the sorry bunch can FRO.

This is my view too ^^^

And me. It's worrying for the future because we're closing in on a tipping point where millions lining The Mall waving flags and cheering as HM goes past in her carriage or Charles and Diana get married, turns to seething resentment at a bunch of entitled thickos squabbling with each other and lecturing us on st they know next to nothing about. I think that would be a shame but at this rate they've only got themselves to blame if we get there.

[Halb]

easytiger123 said:

Rubbish. Try watching the documentaries 'Taken' or 'Man on Fire'. One well-trained man with special skills is enough to protect them.

Or the Equaliser, just get any 60 year old with a pistol collection

[Ayahuasca]

If Harry chooses to live outside the royal family, he needs to accept all the consequences, including losing taxpayer funded protection.

But, he needs protection because high profile and military service. Tough, should have thought of that before.

[SpeckledJim]

Halb said:

easytiger123 said:

Rubbish. Try watching the documentaries 'Taken' or 'Man on Fire'. One well-trained man with special skills is enough to protect them.

Or the Equaliser, just get any 60 year old with a pistol collection

Ewar Woowar


(sorry, sticky key on the keyboar)

[aeropilot]

Ayahuasca said:

Tough, should have thought of that before.

Yep, but I bet he didn't, because I suspect he wasn't banking on granny throwing the baby out with the bath water.

[anonymous-user]

easytiger123 said:

And me. It's worrying for the future because we're closing in on a tipping point where millions lining The Mall waving flags and cheering as HM goes past in her carriage or Charles and Diana get married, turns to seething resentment at a bunch of entitled thickos squabbling with each other and lecturing us on st they know next to nothing about. I think that would be a shame but at this rate they've only got themselves to blame if we get there.

I’d go so far as to suggest we’re as good as back at the point we were just after Diana died, but this time everyone is on HMQ’s side and Harry is seen as the problem.
Ironic really. Nearly 25 years after she died and Diana is still causing hassle for the HoW

[Seight_Returns]

Imagine the scenario where we left them unprotected and they ended up on Al Jazeera Prime Time wearing orange pyjamas.

The Government of the day would have no choice but to put numerous service men and women in harms way to try to rescue them regardless of the risk or chances of success.

We have no choice but to provide them with protection whether we like it or not.

[Pat H]

easytiger123 said:

Richard-390a0 said:

Mort7 said:

If they want to walk away and do their own thing then fine. I'll wish them luck. Unless, that is they expect to keep and live off their titles / royal heritage and expect the taxpayer to foot any part of the bill.

I used to be ambivalent about the Royal family, but the sheer hypocrisy and sense of entitlement is fast turning me into a Republican. As far as I'm concerned, once HMQ is no longer with us the rest of the sorry bunch can FRO.

This is my view too ^^^

And me.

Me too.

Got a lot of time for HMQ. She's been fantastic. And that Greek chap has been very entertaining.

But that's all, folks.