My Review (5 stars out of 5)
In this unsentimental analysis of the British royal family, Norman Baker uncovers their excessive use of public money, an unerring ability to avoid the law, and a questionable history of bad behaviour in relation to pretty much everyone else on the planet.
Ex Lib Dem MP Baker holds nothing back in this in-depth look at the Royal Family’s expenses, revealing just how much money they have, and how often they grab huge wodges of cash they really aren’t entitled to – the Duchy’s of Cornwall and Lancaster being only a small part of their money-grabbing activities. Not being particularly anti-royal, I must admit to being swayed towards the down-with-the-monarchy brigade by this book. The sheer audacity of the ‘Firm’ and their outdated attitudes is unbelievable, not least their penchant for hiring private jets and helicopters for even the shortest of journeys, and for which they never pay. But it’s not all about money – written before the deaths of Liz and Phil, we learn how some members of the family rage about cruelty to animals and then go out and shoot 30,000 grouse (Duke of Edinburgh), not to mention princes William and Harry who are both guilty of hunting and shooting animals for no good reason. The only family member who emerges with any decency is the Princess Royal, who’s children have proper jobs, rather than sponging off the privy purse.
Anyway, rant over – a great read that lifts the lid off the worst bunch of money-grabbers in history.
Colin Garrow 