We Need To Talk About Charles

Author
Discussion

irc

Original Poster:

7,166 posts

135 months

Sunday 26th June 2022
quotequote all
After "inadvertently" leaking his views on the Rwanda issue the latest news is that a few years ago he accepted several suitcases of million quid cash donations from the former prime minister of Qatar. The cash being given to his charitible fund which bankrolls among other things his Scottish Country estate. To me that looks awfully like a personal benefit if it is paying the running costs of his estate.

In any case in this day and age I question the advisibility of anyone taking huge cash donations. What is wrong with bank transfers if the cash is legal?

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/jun/25/pr...


My parents were of that 1920s generation who accepted the monarchy without question. I have long believed that the current Queen has been a near perfect head of state. Hasn't put a foot wrong in 70 years. Given there can be issues with elected heads of state I thought our monarchy was possibly a least worse option.

I'm starting to have my doubts. The Queen was genuinely neutral. Other than the fact she liked horse racing and corgis I'd struggle to guess her opinions on many matters. And that is the point. It would be a guess.

Charles is too much of an advocate for his pet projects and too quick to criticise things he disagrees with. For the first time in my life I'm starting to think if we ever had a UK referendum on retaining the monarchy I might vote no.



Edited by irc on Sunday 26th June 13:34

valiant

10,064 posts

159 months

Sunday 26th June 2022
quotequote all
People say the Royals bring in a lot of money into the UK but I didn’t think they meant it literally!

bloomen

6,845 posts

158 months

Sunday 26th June 2022
quotequote all
I think Charles will be somewhat make or break for the monarchy's reputation.

If I were him I'd send it straight to William who's shaping up to be a champ and concentrate on shagging the wife and having fun.

Jasandjules

69,825 posts

228 months

Sunday 26th June 2022
quotequote all
Hypocrite. That is all I need to know not to like him.


14

2,084 posts

160 months

Sunday 26th June 2022
quotequote all
Prince Charles let’s his views be heard because he’s allowed to. He won’t do it when he’s King, as he accepts that it isn’t right for him to do do whilst he’s the King. We also have to understand that no one else has set the role of Prince of Wales before, so it’s uncharted territory for everyone.

cuprabob

14,414 posts

213 months

Sunday 26th June 2022
quotequote all
Fortnum & Mason carrier bags. To be fair it wasn't going to Aldi ones, was it smile

loafer123

15,404 posts

214 months

Sunday 26th June 2022
quotequote all

I get that it all sounds highly exciting, but fundamentally, wasn’t this just a donation to the Princes Foundation, and it was just unusual because it was in cash. The article says there was nothing illegal about it.

The PF does a lot of good work, notably around helping Commonwealth nations to get head of the curve of urbanisation by designing in infrastructure, parks and better quality housing.

ClaphamGT3

11,269 posts

242 months

Sunday 26th June 2022
quotequote all
The Prince of Wales was opinionated, controversial, was constantly criticised for the dubious company he kept and the role of that company in funding his lavish lifestyle.

He was an object of ridicule and contempt for the press and politicians alike.

His adulterous relationships vandalised society and made his future role as Supreme Governor of the Church of England an absurdity

It was universally held that, after his mother's long and distinguished reign, he would bring dishonour and, perhaps dissolution on the Monarchy.

In the end, he confounded all to be a much loved and highly effective King.

Not the current Queen and Prince of Wales but Queen Victoria and Edward VII

Evanivitch

19,802 posts

121 months

Sunday 26th June 2022
quotequote all
loafer123 said:
I get that it all sounds highly exciting, but fundamentally, wasn’t this just a donation to the Princes Foundation, and it was just unusual because it was in cash. The article says there was nothing illegal about it.

The PF does a lot of good work, notably around helping Commonwealth nations to get head of the curve of urbanisation by designing in infrastructure, parks and better quality housing.
I don't see what influence it would have bought with Prince Charles in this case. Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber al-Thani has an estimated wealth of £2Bn...

irc

Original Poster:

7,166 posts

135 months

Sunday 26th June 2022
quotequote all
loafer123 said:
I get that it all sounds highly exciting, but fundamentally, wasn’t this just a donation to the Princes Foundation, and it was just unusual because it was in cash. The article says there was nothing illegal about it.
.
It may be legal but I don't think taking foreign donations to, in part, run your private estate in the highlands is appropriate.

As for the he is vocal now but will shut up once he is king line? The problem with that is firstly his views on many matters will have been broadcast so making future neutrality harder.

Secondly with the best will in the world the Queen can only have a few years left. Maybe time to start acting neutral is now especially as he has started doing head of state functions like reading the speech when parliament opens etc.

But opinions differ. And we all have one.

anonymous-user

53 months

Sunday 26th June 2022
quotequote all
irc said:
The cash being given to his charitible fund which bankrolls among other things his Scottish Country estate. To me that looks awfully like a personal benefit if it is paying the running costs of his estate.
Birkhall is his Scottish Estate, which he owns. As far as I know that is maintained either by him or by the Duchy of Cornwall.

Dumfries House is owned by the Prince’s Foundation, which undertakes charitable work.

The article you linked to stated that there is no suggestion the payments were illegal.

What’s your basis for claiming that this money was used to bankroll the running of Birkhall? Or have you confused Birkhall and Dumfries House?

Evanivitch

19,802 posts

121 months

Sunday 26th June 2022
quotequote all
irc said:
It may be legal but I don't think taking foreign donations to, in part, run your private estate in the highlands is appropriate. .
Can you elaborate? Surely that raises wider questions about the charity.

irc

Original Poster:

7,166 posts

135 months

Sunday 26th June 2022
quotequote all
BlackWidow13 said:
Birkhall is his Scottish Estate, which he owns. As far as I know that is maintained either by him or by the Duchy of Cornwall.

Dumfries House is owned by the Prince’s Foundation, which undertakes charitable work.

The article you linked to stated that there is no suggestion the payments were illegal.

What’s your basis for claiming that this money was used to bankroll the running of Birkhall? Or have you confused Birkhall and Dumfries House?
My mistake. I posted a Guardian link as it wasn't paywalled.

The paper version of The Times states the cash went to his charitable fund

"which bankrolls the Prince's pet projects and his country estate in Scotland"

This story. But I am quoting from the paper. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/charles-accepte...

Edit. As I can find nothing that suggests the PWCF funds any estate other than Dumfries House

https://www.pwcf.org.uk/projects/dumfries-house

I will withdraw my suggestion that there was anything wrong with using donations to fund this.

Edited by irc on Sunday 26th June 14:56

anonymous-user

53 months

Sunday 26th June 2022
quotequote all
:thumbsup:

That is some stty reporting by The Times though. Either poorly researched or just wilfully misleading. I wouldn’t be surprised if they get a letter from some lawyers off the back of that.

Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 26th June 16:32

sociopath

3,433 posts

65 months

Sunday 26th June 2022
quotequote all
Funny The Times is leading with this when they're trying to distract everyone from Boris and his 150k tree house.

That will be the same newspaper that removed the story about Boris trying to get Carrie a job as chief of staff after no 10 had a word with them


Biggy Stardust

6,796 posts

43 months

Sunday 26th June 2022
quotequote all
irc said:
My mistake. I posted a Guardian link as it wasn't paywalled.

The paper version of The Times states the cash went to his charitable fund

"which bankrolls the Prince's pet projects and his country estate in Scotland"

This story. But I am quoting from the paper. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/charles-accepte...

Edit. As I can find nothing that suggests the PWCF funds any estate other than Dumfries House

https://www.pwcf.org.uk/projects/dumfries-house

I will withdraw my suggestion that there was anything wrong with using donations to fund this.
Kudos for admitting the mistake. A problem, however, is that once mud is thrown it tends to stick.

MEC

2,604 posts

272 months

Monday 27th June 2022
quotequote all
If you or I paid £1M cash into our bank accounts I wouldn't like to guess how long it would take to have all your accounts unfrozen!!

eharding

13,595 posts

283 months

Monday 27th June 2022
quotequote all
ClaphamGT3 said:
The Prince of Wales was opinionated, controversial, was constantly criticised for the dubious company he kept and the role of that company in funding his lavish lifestyle.

He was an object of ridicule and contempt for the press and politicians alike.

His adulterous relationships vandalised society and made his future role as Supreme Governor of the Church of England an absurdity

It was universally held that, after his mother's long and distinguished reign, he would bring dishonour and, perhaps dissolution on the Monarchy.

In the end, he confounded all to be a much loved and highly effective King.

Not the current Queen and Prince of Wales but Queen Victoria and Edward VII
Topically, from Tiverton....





Ouroboros

2,371 posts

38 months

Monday 27th June 2022
quotequote all
Not a fan of the king or queen staying out of politics.

It is great Charles can't keep his mouth shut and takes back handers, might win a few contracts in middle East/ Africa etc.

I imagine him as king will do wonders for this country, like a Royal Boris on crack.

A Winner Is You

24,942 posts

226 months

Monday 27th June 2022
quotequote all
Jasandjules said:
Hypocrite. That is all I need to know not to like him.
His dangerous promotion of quack medicine is another one, especially given his influence.