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Don't let the Royals eat any more of our cake
One thing the Government has been clear about, in these fraught economic times, is the unacceptability of demands for above-average pay increases. Public service workers have been told firmly that the country can't afford big rises and they will just have to tighten their belts.
Many will be turning down the heating this autumn and spending more frugally on food; when the air is thick with phrases like "financial crisis" and "meltdown", it doesn't seem the right moment to ask for shed-loads of taxpayers' money. Amazingly, though, that is exactly what one group of public service workers has been doing.
The culprits belong to a single family, whose annual consumption of public funds has risen by £12m since 2002 to an astonishing £40m. If these people lived in a council house, they'd never be off the front page of the Daily Mail, where they'd be excoriated as the kind of scroungers who are ruining the country.
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According to Republic, the organisation which campaigns for an elected head of state, these hidden expenses take the true cost of the monarchy to nearer £150m a year. At the best of times, this would be an absurd amount of public money to hand over to one family; in present circumstances, it's obscene. Modern Britain needs a modern head of state, not a spendthrift family whose taste for luxury rivals that of Marie Antoinette. One thing the Government has been clear about, in these fraught economic times, is the unacceptability of demands for above-average pa... more -
The Queen buys world's biggest wind turbine
The Queen has just ordered the biggest wind turbine in the world. Standing 574 feet tall, the turbine is taller than Big Ben and has the wingspan of two football pitches. The 10-megawatt giant will generate almost 5 times more than typical giant wind turbines and will, when operational, generate enough juice to power up to 3,700 UK homes.
The article didn't say what her majesty hopes to use it for... The Queen has just ordered the biggest wind turbine in the world. Standing 574 feet tall, the turbine is taller than Big Ben and has ... more -
The Queen's off to see the boys at Google HQ
And apparently she's a 'big fan of the internet.'
It's been revealed she and the Duke of Edinburgh will visit Google's UK HQ in October, meeting with the staff that look after her Youtube channel.
The Royal Channel seems to be quite a popular channel for her Majesty, 15,000 people have watched a 3-min clip on, wait for it, a blackcurrant harvest on the Sandringham Estate.
It's truly riveting. You can check it out here:
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheRoyalChannel And apparently she's a 'big fan of the internet.' ... more -
Queen praises Olympic athletes
The Queen has recorded a personal message of congratulations to the extremely sucessful British Olympic team, which now has an amazing 19 gold medals at this year's games.
In a new twist, she delivered her message whilst participating out each sport in which Britain won a gold, such as boxing, cycling...okay only kidding, but wouldn't it be great? The Queen has recorded a personal message of congratulations to the extremely sucessful British Olympic team, which now has an amazing... more -
The Queen owns a McDonalds in Slough
The Queen owns a drive-through McDonald's burger restaurant, the Royal accounts have revealed. Among Her Majesty's most recent acquisitions was a retail park in Slough - which encompasses a drive-through McDonalds.
Bath Road Retail Park was purchased this month by the Crown Estate, which administers the monarch's property portfolio, for £92 million.
The site, which is visible from the Queen's State Apartments at Windsor Castle, is also home to a B&Q superstore, and branches of Comet, JJB Sports and Mothercare. The Queen owns a drive-through McDonald's burger restaurant, the Royal accounts have revealed. Among Her Majesty's most rece... more -
Queen shops for 'Heir Force One'
Despite a £32 million backlog of essential repairs because of a shortage of cash, Buckingham Palace is pressing ahead with plans for a small private jet for the Queen.
The proposal for an executive aircraft, which could be used by the Prime Minister and senior ministers, was proposed in the Gershon review into Government efficiency and spending.
The Gulfstream or Learjet, which would seat up to 12 people, would cost up to £10 million. It would be paid for by the Government. It has been dubbed Heir Force One by Republican critics of the monarchy. Despite a £32 million backlog of essential repairs because of a shortage of cash, Buckingham Palace is pressing ahead with plans for a... more -
Bush arrives in the UK
Would it be fair to say that he's hardly the most popular of men and yet he gets to sit down and talk with the Queen over dinner in Buckingham Palace. To save face maybe the Queen will talk about baseball or western films, I'm sure that bringing up the Iraq war would me improper and impolite.
He's also meeting Gordon Brown to hold talks about Iran's nuclear program and the global fuel crisis. Can you guess what sort of thing he will be saying? Would it be fair to say that he's hardly the most popular of men and yet he gets to sit down and talk with the Queen over dinner ... more -
Queen's Birthday Honours list 2008
It's the Queen's birthday again and she has decided to honour the likes of Des O'Connor, Victoria Wood and Paul O'Grady along with a policeman who had both his arms blown off in an IRA attack in 1981. It's the Queen's birthday again and she has decided to honour the likes of Des O'Connor, Victoria Wood and Paul O'... more
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Spend like there's no tomorrow?
As the British economy looks increasingly doomed, should we call time on our big-spending culture?
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Queen's offices 'swept for bugs'
The Queen's rooms were regularly checked for bugging devices, the inquest into the deaths of Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed has heard...might ONLY hear her snoring in there. The Queen's rooms were regularly checked for bugging devices, the inquest into the deaths of Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed has... more
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A Royally Great Smooch and Big Hats
"Great Smooch and Big Hats." Queen Elizabeth II has decided to impose a strict dress code at Britain's Ascot race course. The new rules include an insistence that ladies wear a hat or "substantial feather fascinator." This piece includes very humorous photographs presented in fine high-resolution, as well as music audio (God Save the Queen).
Please take a look and have yourself a good chuckle!! "Great Smooch and Big Hats." Queen Elizabeth II has decided to impose a strict dress code at Britain's Ascot race cour... more -
One'sTube: The Queen Goes Online
Radio is so 50 years ago. And so, the Queen has launched her own YouTube channel just in time to mark the 50th anniversary of the Queen's first televised festive address in 1957.
The Royal Channel will feature her Christmas Day message as well as recent and historical footage of the monarch and other members of the Royal Family. Radio is so 50 years ago. And so, the Queen has launched her own YouTube channel just in time to mark the 50th anniversary of the Quee... more -
Her Majesty the Queen to be Britain's Oldest Living Monarch
Assuming she lives through the afternoon, The Queen will overtake her great-great grandmother Queen Victoria to become the oldest monarch in the history of the nation.
Victoria died on Jan 22, 1901, aged 81 years, seven months, four weeks and one day. This afternoon the Queen, who will be 82 on April 21, will have outlived her.
Long live the Queen, indeed. Assuming she lives through the afternoon, The Queen will overtake her great-great grandmother Queen Victoria to become the oldest mona... more -
Then Iraq: March 20, 2003......Next Iran?
We are a culture of violence. I think Michael Moore might be on to why. If you haven't seen Bowling for Columbine, I highly recommend it and all of Michael Moore's movies.
P.S. Have you seen "Teen Sniper School" on TV Nation (Michael Moore's canceled TV show), it's funny, but in a bad way. We are a culture of violence. I think Michael Moore might be on to why. If you haven't seen Bowling for Columbine, I highly rec... more -
Suppression of Terroism Act
A Ruatoki elder has rejected the police response as to why their
settlement was the subject of heavy-handed terror raids.
"The police have ulterior motives and are testing out the Suppression
Terrorism Act on Tuhoe people," said Ruatoki executive committee
member Paki Nikora.
" Ka whawhai tonu matou ake ake ake " - Rewi Maniapoto 1864
" We will fight on forever, ever and ever"
"It is not only by shooting bullets in the battlefields that tyranny is
overthrown, but also by hurling ideas of redemption, words of freedom
and terrible anathemas against the hangmen that people bring down
dictators and empires " - Emiliano Zapata, Mexican revolutionary, 1914 A Ruatoki elder has rejected the police response as to why their settlement was the subject of heavy-handed terror raids. ... more
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The Queen
