CaptainWaggett

Every day? You should check out the rest of their engagements list. It's not exactly a 9-5 / 5 days a week job being a royal (unless you count playing polo as working). And meeting people and enquiring about their lives is no more tedious than working on a supermarket checkout or in a factory (or, dare I say it, in a library) and rather better paid. I'm sure we all have to pretend an interest in other people's lives in our work without the bonus of bunches of flowers and a freebie estate in Scotland and palace in Kensington.

As for the press recognising them all, when was the last time you read a newspaper story about the Duke of Gloucester or even Prince Andrew?

Would the country really grind to a halt if ribbons weren't cut and plaques unveiled by minor royals? Or even major royals?

BTW, did Phil really have an affair with Jean Kent? How did he fit it in with Pat Kirkwood?

Joenoir

Whatever side of the debate you support, I think most people would agree it is distasteful to spread unsubstantiated rumours.

Start every day with a smile and get it over with.

Steve Crook

People who work in different locations are allowed to include travelling time.
And think how much paid holiday she's accrued after 50+ years in the job

No, it's no more tedious than working on a supermarket checkout or in a factory. But would you want to do those jobs either?

When was the last time I read a newspaper?

Would the country really grind to a halt? Of course not. But ribbons have to be cut, plaques have to be unveiled, places have to be opened and people like a nice bit of ceremony to mark the event.

If you get rid of the Royals, who would you have do the ribbon cutting?

Steve

batman

Jordan and Peter Andre!

Happy Birthday Daddy .... I love you!



BAT QUIZ 16 HAS JUST BEEN POSTED IN THE COMPETITION THREAD - 06/01/09

CaptainWaggett

I always carry a Swiss Army knife with me so I'd be available for any emergency ribbon cutting.

ShirlGirl

She hasn't accrued it at all! - she takes several weeks every year, paid.

At least they are valid jobs - they ARE "work", and much more exhausting and boring than anything any of the royals do. I can vouch for that - when I couldn't get office work I worked 10-hour shifts on the Weet-Bix line at Sanitarium for several months, (other women were doing 12-hour shifts), then at Sara Lee forming croissants into shape for 8 hours a night. No perks.
I would gladly have changed places with any of the royals!

"Have to be" - that's debatable. "People like a nice bit of ceremony" - that's what it's all about really, isn't it - it's just a form of show-business.

Pollies of course!


P.S. You're just teasing about all this, aren't you Steve!

Dame Starry

I believe that the police classify that as "carrying an offensive weapon".

ShirlGirl

What you've said there is a pretty good description of the "job" - or a large part of the "job". And how valid is all that - really? It's all SO nugatory.

Let's face it, the royals don't have jobs, per se. Work is doing something constructive. What they do is carry out duties.

They have position, which comes with duties and responsibilities. And why shouldn't it, when it also comes with so many perks and privileges.

Steve Crook

Exactly. I don't think most people would claim anything else of a head of state.

As long as its not a politician doing it I don't care much who does it. But as you need to have someone do it, why not have someone who's been properly trained?

Steve

Fellwanderer

Because some of us cannot stand the fawning sycophancy that goes with it.

Dame Starry

Sycophancy indicates insincerity - I think that the majority of people who take the time to go out and meet the Royal family have a genuine love for them or they just wouldn't bother to queue or stand in the cold for hours on end.
Those who make idiots of themselves who actually DO fawn over them (take note Trevor McDonald!), make me want to vomit.

I love them and all the pomp and ceremony and I wouldn't want to live here without them.

DS x.

ShirlGirl

But they do! They claim the head of state "works hard"! Has an unenviable, difficult "job"!

I'm sure it sometimes can be a tiring position in terms of duties to be performed, but it doesn't take much brainpower to shake hands and accept posies from little girls and make small talk with dignitaries etc. And it's not constructivel, it's just mindless role-playing.

ShirlGirl

I love the pomp and ceremony, too. It's wonderful entertainment.

Fellwanderer

I'm sorry but that just isn't true.

Look at whoever one of the princes is going out with and you have a cast-iron guarantee that if they end up hitched, that girl will be "adored" by the public.

Why? [That's a rhetorical question!]

Steve Crook

Some might claim that, but most, the vast majority of most, wouldn't

There are lots of other people of whom you could also say that the way they earn their living isn't constructive. But at least they're not doing anything destructive.

But this is a forum all about people playing roles for our entertainment. She fits in perfectly and she plays the role better than anyone else could - although Helen Mirren and Prunella Scales have come close

Steve