One thing that annoys me more than taxes, headlice and chewing gum on the heel of my new shoes is the children of the Royal family.
The press and public’s grievances have littered the newspapers recently with Princess Beatrice’s Belgravia “student” house, Prince William’s Chinook pilot “joyrides” and the generally undignified drunken
behaviour of them all.
As with the cast of EastEnders though not everyone is a “wrong ‘un” and I can’t help but like and possibly even admire some of the monarchy for their efforts.
Max Clifford, the father of the PR world, recently accused Prince Harry of courting good press with his 10-week stint in Afghanistan.
This week he also criticised Harry’s big brother William for the “good public relations exercise” of going to the country after his helicopter “jollies” over his girlfriend’s house in Buckinghamshire.
It is quite clearly the hand of a PR person hovering over the situation as William’s trip did indeed seem to neutralise the bad press he was receiving over the Chinook rides.
Princess Beatrice was said to have recently looked around a £4.25 million, four bedroom, four bathroom property in Belgravia, one of the most expensive parts of London.
This could be her student house when she starts a history degree at Goldsmiths College in September.
I remember at university when I was looking around with my future housemates for digs we had rather less choice and no chance of any plush surroundings.
One place that we went to the stairs were so steep and narrow we had to hold on to the banister and each other all the way up.
You could now say Beatrice can afford a house that expensive so why not let her?
It is interesting to compare her to Prince Harry’s girlfriend, Chelsy Davy. Although a non-Royal she is surely in the money (her father is a millionaire safari operator) and a potential candidate for the title of Princess Royal. She has all the opportunities to shine in the Royal limelight but she chooses to live in a normal student house to study at Leeds University.
Although you can’t fully blame Beatrice’s parents for her choices, she should be able to live her life without bringing attention to how much money she can spend unless she provides some kind of recompense in charity work. Even her mother wrote Budgie the Little Helicopter.
The unfortunate aspect of this is that if you are part of the Royal family you will be reported on in the newspaper. This brings a certain responsibility to cherish your public appearance and reputation.
Princess Anne’s children meanwhile mostly try and stay out of the press and only her daughter Zara appears every so often talking about her horses.
She did have a phase similar to her cousins a few years ago so maybe they will grow out of their irresponsible natures just as she has and do something worthwhile.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article