General Chat

Now I really must say something about the State Banquet for 1000 people ? have I got that right .King of Spain in attendance. him & his wife really did look very smart .but our Royals were wearing quite a lot of opulent jewellery .I love the Queen she is a great ambassador for our Country ..but how much must it have cost to entertain all the guest .one diamond would pay for brand new accommodation for the people who lost their homes in the tragic fire in Grenfell Tower Block I might be getting old But so fed up of people struggling with poverty & grief .& we have so much wealth thrown in our faces .I know they bring Money in But surely a huge dinner for so many is obscene Barbra

Effective diplomacy has never been cheap.

Whilst totally understanding your comments, would it ever actually make any difference? Look at countries where similar things have happened...did it solve any of the issues permanently?

Her jewels aren't just 'bling', some are family heirlooms. Would you sell yours?

The cost of the royals is but a mere blip on the daily bill of defence, NHS, education etc...

I am not particularly a 'royalist' but reckon, in their more pared down format, they are good value considering the alternatives.

Well we all have our opinion good job really but still say we need to update & modernise our Royal family .

Just supposing the UK had elections for head of state. who do you think would win given a choice between Jez Corbyn, May, Bojo, Will Windsor, Farage, Sturgeon?

there you go

Contemplate all the things we take for granted. I'm pleased to still have the ability to see & read all about this noble & ancient institution.

Through working with various individuals over the years, I have befriended many who were materially poor but very rich in mind & body. Content with their lot too.

Most of the jewels go with the job and are not her's. If for instance there's £60,000,000 in jewels that go with the job selling them would give everyone in UK £1.00.

The queen is cheaper than a president and all the pomp and ceremony bring in the tourists.

I haven't said about no royal Family I agree they should be a Royal family But condense it down ..God Help us if we ever had a Donald Trump .okay Pat you say about the wealth but I am just saying do they have to flaunt it maybe they are paste & all the real stuff is in a huge vault .you never know ;-)

Interesting point about flaunting the jewels etc but then if they didn't wear them the argument would be they're just sitting there gathering dust. Over the last few years many hangers on have been pruned from the list but I agree maybe a closer look at some of the expenses like Air miles Andy I know they gave him a new title to justify the expenses but really come on should he be on the payroll like he is.

People visiting the UK as Heads of state or Presidents rather expect the pomp and ceremony and like it I rather suspect.

Nobody seems to complain about the air miles of Liam Fox as he goes about his imaginary job.

Yes Caroline you are right .Tradition .Prince Andrew must get a lot for his Role ? Princess Ann is every bit Royal as her Brother but her two Children don't have Royal tittles as does Andrews two Daughters . .& they seem to enjoy their life .without it .

Didn't she insist they didn't have any titles she knew they'd never be up in the high rankings...not to say having a mummy that's a princess hasn't helped but...

I think the figure of 1,000 guests is wrong, from what I can see it is more like 170.

The Queen....God bless her <3

I used to enjoy The Royle Family when they were on TV.

170 people, fairly simple menu, probably part sourced from their own estates?( salmon trout, Scottish beef).

"Guests at the Spanish state banquet gathered in the Buckingham Palace ballroom before dining on medallion of Scottish beef and truffles in a Madeira sauce.

To start, they also enjoyed poached salmon trout and fennel in a white whine veloute sauce - while a dark chocolate and raspberry ( tart) was served for dessert."

It's not like they all whipped out to Tiffany's for new jewellery, it's second/third/fourth hand lol.

Apparently " The UK is the number one destination for overseas Spanish investment, reaching an accumulated 82.5bn euros by the end of 2015."

The piece I read online about that banquet was really really confused .....

..... it jumped back and forth between talking about the State Banquet for the King and Queen of Spain with about 170 or so guests and the Annual Diplomatic Reception with around 1,000 attendees

The latter is when the Queen receives every senior diplomatic representative and their spouse to the UK from other countries at Buckingham Palace. If I remember correctly, it is not a State Banquet, or a banquet of any form or fashion, but a reception with nibbles being taken around.

The State Visit of the King and Queen of Spain is apparently an attempt to ensure that diplomatic relations remain good with Spain after Brexit .................. partly I presume because of financial concerns, but I wonder how much bad relations would affect all those Brits who have retired to Spain????

A State Banquet is a relatively rare event, and only given to the Head of a State.

Unfortunately, Trumpoid will have to be given one of he arrives in the UK next year while the Queen is in London.


Secondly, the jewels ............. if you read detailed descriptions of the tiaras and other jewels, some were wedding presents (the Queen's necklace from her father), some were bequests from people (eg, one was a bequest to the Queen Mother 70 or 80 years ago). The Queen's tiara goes back over a hundred years, etc etc etc


Third, be glad that you have the Royal Family as the major representative of what the UK stands for ................... think of Trumpoid being the major representative of the US. Would you like your views and values to be expressed to the world by someone like him?????

Imagine someone like Trumpoid's wife wearing one of the tiaras?


Living in Canada, I'm glad that we still have e Governor-General, and that many of my values are not expressed differently to the world as the Prime Minister changes. I'm also glad that there is a certain kind of dignity retained by the senior members of the Royal Family and by their representative in the old Commonwealth countries.


Before any one tells me that if other countries like having the Royal Family or representative then we should contribute to supporting them ....... we do!!

GGs are paid and housed by the country where they live.

The costs of every member of the Royal Family who goes on tour to another country, or certainly every Commonwealth country, are paid by that country while they are touring ........ costs that is except for their own personal staff and security they bring with them.

I've a feeling Charles would 'suggest' the food was local :-D :-D
If the queen is anything like her father - meals at home are simple 'plain' food - according to my late father in law, George VI's favourite meal was roast lamb followed by rice pudding - and the Royal family don't slip into Starbucks every day for an overpriced latte at our expense!
I know she keeps her cornflakes in Tupperware containers.

Don't forget, we pay for reduced prices at the House of Commons' restaurant and bar - MP's can eat food we wouldn't dream of, and get pished on the cheap at our expense :-|

I understand all formal meals try to use local seasonal food whenever possible.