London
Anti-monarchist groups have been criticizing Queen Elizabeth II and the rest of the royal members once again.
CEO of Republic, Graham Smith told the members of the family to “get their own homes” and give up royal properties that are being paid for through taxpayers’ money.
Smith told Express: “There are more than 20 royal residences and we pay for round the clock security for all of them, that needs to come to an end.”
“There is some question over who owns Balmoral and Sandringham, it is sufficiently recognised that they are private properties, but they bought them with our money,” he went on to say.
“Buckingham Palace could be a world-class tourist destination as an art gallery or museum if they opened up all the rooms and the gardens to tourists all year round,” he went on to say.
“It already houses one of the largest art collections in the world yet most of it is hidden away. The same with Windsor Castle, it could be run at a profit just like the Tower of London is and there is no reason why that should not happen,” he added.
“As for all the other homes around the country, we do not owe Princess Anne a house, she can go and buy her own house.”
“We do not owe Prince Andrew or Prince Edward a house, they can go and get their own homes. Yet we keep giving them these large extremely plush, luxurious residences in London and elsewhere at the taxpayers’ expense,” said Smith.
“They then require huge spending on security and there just is not any justification for that whatsoever,” he added.
Amid reports that the former head of the British Army has requested Prince Harry to return to the United Kingdom, Prince William is likely to replace his younger brother as head of the Royal Marines soon.
Prince Harry, who stepped down from his duties as senior royal, was appointed Captain General of the Royal Marines in 2017. He had replaced his grandfather, Prince Phillip, who resigned after holding the post for 67 years.
The move to make Prince William the head of the Royal Marines was confirmed by senior Royal Navy sources, reported the Daily Express.
The ceremony of change of command is expected to take place in June 2021, on the 260th anniversary of the Battle of Belle Île, an important date in the Corps’ calendar as it marks the first time Royal Marines carried out their first successful amphibious assault.
According to the report, Prince Harry, who is currently with wife Meghan Markle and son Archie in Los Angeles, in March had reportedly told Commandant General Royal Marines Matthew Holmes, that he was “devastated that I am having to step down,” adding: “I feel I’m letting people down, but I had no choice.”
The report further says that the decision to formally replace Prince Harry will come as a blow to him.—Agencies
