Royal Baby Watch

[NoTrespassing]

The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

July 4, 1776

I never understood the fascination US citizens have with the British "royal" family. My ancestors fled Scotland for North America in the 1600's.

Kevin

 

[rekees4300]

The Royal Baby is now 7 days past due and counting. Rumors have been swirling about some "movement" occurring.

 

[Wagtail]

The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

July 4, 1776

I never understood the fascination US citizens have with the British "royal" family. My ancestors fled Scotland for North America in the 1600's.

Kevin

I'm not that sure of the reason for the facination either, Kev, but it's true. I know that there's a monument on the border between British Columbia & Washington State, called the Peace Arch, that's inscribed "Children of a common mother"... Perhaps that has something to do with it.

Also regarding your post (and please note that I am not having a go at you or being sarcastic in any way), I believe that things have changed quite a bit since 1776. If I remember my history correctly, it was the British Parliament at that time that was the source of the colony's aggrievments. King George III actually wanted to address the issues but he wasn't an absolute monarch. The same is true today as Queen Elizabeth II is the Head of State of around 17 different & independent 'constitutional monarchy' countries around the world. She is also the head of the Commonwealth of Nations, made up of all the former British Empire countries (except the USA).

I'd be happy to discuss this with you, off of this thread, if you'd like. I just don't want to 'thread-jack' this forum by going off-topic.

 

[rekees4300]

The Royal Baby is now 8 days past due and counting. That kid is going weigh 20 lbs. if it doesn't pop out soon.

 

[WilliamBos]

The Royal Baby is now 8 days past due and counting. That kid is going weigh 20 lbs. if it doesn't pop out soon.

Or it could of been born, and is being kept secret for a few days to give them alone time!?

 

[DT86]

Or it could of been born, and is being kept secret for a few days to give them alone time!?

I'm still wondering why anyone cares?

 

[WilliamBos]

I'm still wondering why anyone cares?

I dont. Just tossing in local media buzz...

 

[Pixguy]

I believe the media and a hand full of watchers who have no life are interested. No one else.

 

[zonta223]

I'm still wondering why anyone cares?

All the tax payers in the UK.......they have another free loader to pay for

 

[WilliamBos]

All the tax payers in the UK.......they have another free loader to pay for

A life time welfare candidate!!!

 

[Wagtail]

All the tax payers in the UK.......they have another free loader to pay for

"Queen Elizabeth II pays income tax. The Queen offered to pay it including capital gains tax in 1992 on voluntary basis. Her personal income started being taxed a year later same as every other UK taxpayer." (Ask.com)

Once again, "the smallest bit of investigation into the facts" would've told you otherwise. Mate, you're running out of appendages to shoot yourself in.

 

[Wagtail]

In the spirit of the OP of this thread... I've just turned my TV on for the evening news & "Breaking News" reports that the Duchess of Cambridge has been admitted to hospital in the early stages of labour.

I wish her, and her entire family, well. :thumbsup:

 

[zonta223]

"Queen Elizabeth II pays income tax. The Queen offered to pay it including capital gains tax in 1992 on voluntary basis. Her personal income started being taxed a year later same as every other UK taxpayer." (Ask.com)

And pray tell who supplies the millions of pounds that are paid to the royals and their hangers on to keep their family living in the lap of luxury. And you should know the story of why she first started to pay tax.She is one of the richest (if not the richest women in the world) and there was a public hue and cry about her taking so much money from the public purse and investing it to increase her wealth without paying tax (read all the newspaper reports at the time) so she "Volunteered" to pay tax before the government at the time introduced a law to force her to pay tax.

 

[rekees4300]

The Royal Baby is now 9 days past due but looks like today will be the day. Kate has been in labor for 8 hours so the Royal Baby could arrive any minute!

 

[rekees4300]

IT'S A BOY

Healthy
8 lbs. 6 ounces
4:24 p.m. London time

 

[farmgirl19]

I'm still wondering why anyone cares?

My sentiments, EXACTLY!

 

[burnieman]

IT'S A BOY

Healthy
8 lbs. 6 ounces
4:24 p.m. London time

Oh happy day!! Another royal pain in the ...........neck

 

[Wagtail]

And pray tell who supplies the millions of pounds that are paid to the royals and their hangers on to keep their family living in the lap of luxury. And you should know the story of why she first started to pay tax.She is one of the richest (if not the richest women in the world) and there was a public hue and cry about her taking so much money from the public purse and investing it to increase her wealth without paying tax (read all the newspaper reports at the time) so she "Volunteered" to pay tax before the government at the time introduced a law to force her to pay tax.

Once again Mate; Google is your friend. (But, truth be told I never expected you to actually look anything up)

The short story is that, since the reign of George III (yep, over 250 years ago) the funds of the Civil List has come from the Monarch Him/Herself. And they've been payed a fraction of what was paid into the Parliament controlled Treasury. That is/has changed this year:

"...from 2013, the Civil List will be scrapped and the monarchy will be financed by what’s been titled the Sovereign Support Grant - comprising a share of the profits made by the Crown Estate, a vast £6.6billion property empire where the profits go to the Treasury. Initially, that share of the Crown Estate’s profits was to be 15 per cent, but not surprisingly it’s now being negotiated down." Daily Telegraph, Dec 2010.

You see, she never has 'taken' money from the public purse. ALL of the profits from the Family's holding has gone INTO the public purse and She (and only Her... the others of the Family received their money from her) received a small (when compared to what the Treasury received) return of her own money to maintain.

And this is just the UK. Canada, Australia, New Zealand & all of the other 13 or so countries that have her as the "Crown" of their Constitutional Monarchies don't pay anything directly to Her.

You keep bowling them and I keep knocking you for 6.

In the meantime I'll simply wish the Duke, Duchess and their son all of the best. That's about it though, as I've got chores around the property to attend to.

 

[Mace Canute]

Cheeky bugger, eh! LiveLeak.com - Royal Baby Sky News Fail: "the news is it's a black boy"

 

[zonta223]

You keep bowling them and I keep knocking you for 6.

.

Sadly you are wrong again about the royal family having its nose in the public trough.
You are pushing Buck palaces PR line.

Note below
The Duchy of Cornwall was established in 1337 and is passed to the eldest living heir of the reigning British monarch. Up until April 2013, The Duchy of Cornwall could only be passed to a male heir and the monarch did not have a son, the estate was held by the Crown for the next generation. Prince Charles is the current Duke of Cornwall and when he becomes King, the Duchy passes to Prince William and in turn to William's eldest child when William is king. Thanks to April's "Succession of the Crown Act", if Kate Middleton has a girl, when William becomes king that child will be the first woman in history to inherit the Duchy. The Duchy is roughly the size of the city of Chicago and produces income mainly from apartment rentals, agriculture sales and natural resources. In 2012, the Duchy of Cornwall produced an income of $31.77 million for Charles. After $15.22 million worth of costs were removed Prince Charles was left with $16.55 million. He voluntarily pays a 40% tax rate on that income which equaled roughly $6.71 million last year. The total estimated value of the Duchy of Cornwall is $1.3 billion. Interestingly, though Charles volunteers to pay taxes, the Duchy itself does not. Think of the Duchy of Cornwall like a corporation that does not have to pay any taxes. For example, the Duchy owns the land that houses Dartmoor prison. Dartmoor pays $2 million in rent to the Duchy for the use of that land. No tax is paid on that $2 million. Many royal critics cry foul at this arrangement and would love to see the Duchy pay capital gains and corporate taxes like any other major business operation.

Another example of privileged treatment

I note there is supposed to be a review of her finances by the Government later this year and the push is to make the royal family pay the same taxes as normal people.....we can only hope it happens