SHOULD THE SUSSEXES HAVE PAID THEIR RENOVATION BILL?
September 8, 2020
To pay or not to pay? That was the question that entertained and annoyed in equal parts the news media gutter residents and Sussex supporters alike. Everyone had a view and gave it like they had shares in the Sussex Trading Inc. The actual ‘victims’ though, felt they had had enough aggro and needed to put an end to that aspect of their life in the United Kingdom.
If the Royal Family had their back as any family would have done, all this would have stopped in early 2019. When the Sussexes decided not to parade their new-born child at the same hospital the others, including Diana Princess of Wales had done, the seeds of hatred and harassment were planted. Although spin and leaks against the Duchess began immediately after the Oceania Tour, the vitriol and vile intensified, when the Sussexes announced in January that they would be moving to Frogmore Cottage in the grounds of Windsor Castle. Some weeks later, they confirmed that they would not use the usual go-to hospital be known for Royal births. They did not confirm where the birth would be. That left the perverts and gossipers hanging and making wild guesses, where that would be.
I found it totally disgusting that the Duchess was held solely responsible for the decision not to parade her after birth pain and the baby on the steps of that hospital, looking like nothing had happened. The decision to do things differently was taken by both, but because she is the woman, who had given birth, she was singularly accused of not pawning herself and child to the world media. The Duke, I am quite certain, has seen films and pictures of him and his brother paraded in front of greedy smirking photographers by a reluctant Prince Charles and overawed Diana Princess of Wales. He had also seen his brother and sister in law go through that sickly modern ritual and decided that was not for him, irrespective of what the Duchess might have thought.
Anyone, who had gone through media vilifications and insults as the Duchess had done, would instinctively say no to any parade. She was not going to play ball by making people who had made her life in the United Kingdom so horrible use her, her husband, and child to make unearned money. Why would she? That decision not to kowtow to media manipulation whipped up calls for the couple to pay the renovation bill, which was conveniently published on the top of the list of maintenance the Sovereign Grant was committed to doing.
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The news media’s cry was, they pay the Sussex to enjoy their lifestyle and also funded the renovation of the dilapidated 100 years old house. The news media was totally wrong, however, as with everything they have had with the Sussexes. The cost of the renovation did not fall on the taxpayer, nor the lifestyle of the Sussexes, the problem of the taxpayer. The news media has hijacked the narration of tax and the Royal family to suit their respective agendas. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, the Royal family has not thought it necessary to correct that impression. The refunded £ 2.4 million, would go back to the Sovereign Grant, not to the British taxpayers, which their enemies have portrayed it to be. Only the Sussexes have been accused of taking taxpayers money when in reality they never did. In their time as a married couple in the United Kingdom, their office was financed by both the Queen through the Sovereign Grant and Prince Charles through his Duchy of Cornwall. Prince Charles also made allowance for his children and family for clothes and living. After all, these two sons until now were not allowed to work outside of the Firm, and they have to live like human beings somehow. The Duke of Sussex though does get a monthly pension from his years as an officer in the British Army. So does Prince William from the Royal Airforce.
The renovations on Prince William’s two homes cost four times more than Frogmore Cottage, even though the Cottage was in a terrible mess than the other two grander homes. The British media has never mentioned the two houses or the 36-bedroom house of Prince Andrew on the same Windsor Castle grounds. They never mention the free larger houses the other royals live in. It is only Frogmore Cottage where the Sussexes live, which has been discussed ad-nauseum by the scavengers across the globe.
The rattlesnakes have flung “taxpayer-funded renovation” in their faces since the decision in spring 2019 not to involve them in the outdooring of their child. The gossipers have had their way with the Royal family all these years and there was a couple determined to say no to their crude bullying. The news media cannot dictate their lives and would only do what is right. Their child was not a commodity for the newspapers to decide what to do with him. It is their decision that happens to him and no one else.
The decision therefore to pay the renovation bill to the Queen was to get rid of the last vestiges of a life in the UK that was subjected to abuse and vilification. The newspapers around the globe, as usual, has reported the refunding news to various degrees. The version London Times chucked out this morning, was crazy and stupidly disingenuous. Their editorial commented on the payment and wondered how the Sussexes can cope without the £ 2.4 million. Before Monday morning, no one knew the Sussexes had paid the money. Everyone was digesting the significance of the contract with Netflix and quoting various sizes of its worth. Some have been quick to link the payment of the renovation to the contract, which by itself, was naughtily silly and ill-informed. No one, but the Netflix Co-CEOs, their lawyer, the Sussexes, their lawyers, and the most senior staff member know its worth.
The Sussexes have quietly been building up to the launch of their non-profit organization and have an experienced Canadian lady at the helm. They have also set up a production company, which is already at work with productions for Netflix. Their staff and production people employed must be paid. So why would the London Times wonder how the Sussexes would cope without the £ 2.4 million? It is not that they care for their wellbeing. These are two experienced adults out to make a difference in the world and we have employees of a Murdoch owned newspaper wondering how they can cope. I have a great suggestion to the Times and Sunday editors; if the Sussexes send their begging bowl to their homes to beg for alms, they should pee in it.
We tend to forget that the Duke and Miss Oprah Winfrey have co-produced a mental health series for Apple TV, which should be out very soon. That was not done for the hell of it and has to be enumerated for the part he contributed.
In the final analysis, I think their decision to get rid of the renovation bill hanging over them, was a wise one. A line has been drawn in the Frogmore Cottage sand. Any more whimpering from the scavengers would be something else, which would be countered forcibly. It has already begun with Sunday Times and that Royal toady, who thinks she is a white English rose, Roya Nikka.
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