The whole premise of this @C4Dispatches ‘exposé’ is nonsense. The Duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster are *private assets* which generate an income for members of the Royal family, on which they pay full tax.
It’s as if Channel 4 were to ‘expose’ the Branson family for owning Virgin, outrageously fleecing people by charging them for their broadband. The Royal family owns stuff, like many families in this country. And?
In fact it’s good news that they do, because having a Royal family with means of their own is the reason why taxpayers don’t have to pay them.
The business of the monarchy, including staging state events and maintaining castles and collections on behalf of the nation, is funded out of the crown Estate, which isn’t a private asset (any longer), and which, after covering Royal expenditure, pays an effective rate of tax to the Exchequer of 85%.
It’s all rather neat, and the only people foaming at the mouth in response to this production are those grey souls who wish to extinguish from our national life anything and everything that doesn’t make ‘rational sense’, anything eccentric or traditional or colourful or bizarre, anything which marks out the ancient nation in which we all live. Thankfully these people are the minority.
👁️ It's National #EyeWeek & your #VisionMatters!
#Cataract surgery remains one of the most common self-funded procedures in the UK. If you or someone you know needs cataract surgery, read our easy guide on everything you should know about this procedure: https://t.co/n23idMfWui
With the @BritishBakeOff returning to our TV screens tonight (24 Sept), we’re delighted to be able to share former contestant Val Stone’s private healthcare story.
Val shot to fame when she appeared on the Great British Bake-Off in 2016, gaining the nickname ‘The Cake Whisperer’. Then hip pain blighted her new life. We share stories from people like Val to give you a better idea of what your experience might be like if you choose to go private and to help you ask relevant questions when discussing your healthcare options.
See Val’s story at: https://t.co/7v7H6UmUKu #GBBO #GBBO24 @PracticePlusGrp
We're having a bake sale to raise money for #BreastCancerAwareness! 🩷 Last year we raised just over £500 and we're aiming to double it!
🧁If you've got a sweet tooth & work around Oxford Circus in London, pop into the @TheKingsFund on 23 October & help raise money for @BreastCancer_UK
Can't join but would like to donate: https://t.co/mOcmgN5Blf
Bringing you this bonnie snap of #Scotland's newest #UNESCO World Heritage Site! 😍 This large area of peat bog covers much of Caithness and Sutherland in the Highlands and is known as @TheFlowCountry 💙
📍 @RSPBScotland Forsinard Flows Nature Reserve
📷 IG/wild.devs