Some of you criticised me for writing a blog about Mr Windsor. I did so because it was obvious it was going to open up important arguments about state property, the private money of the royal family, and access to state cash and property for any royal who is not a working member of the family. So it has proved, with the Lib Dems deciding to allocate Parliamentary time to debating these issues.
These are not just a dead cat spin item from Labour as some of you think. This is a real issue raised by the King with his brother as the King battles to assert duty and good royal service over the noises off generated by allegations against Mr Windsor. The King wanted to take away the titles. His Prime Minister clearly agreed. Both hoped they could do it without Parliamentary debate and legislation. Then the issue of the Windsor mansion and its rent came up, posing the question of how will Mr Windsor pay for the expensive maintenance and upkeep of such a property given that he cannot receive any state aid or subsidy. If Mr Windsor has his own means then there is no public issue, though the Crown Estate will be asked to explain the financial basis of the lease by some in Parliament.
Meanwhile the King has prayed with the Pope. As Supreme Head of the established Anglican Church the King appoints senior clergy on the advice of the Prime Minister. Much was made of the symbolism of the two Heads of two large international Churches praying together almost 500 years after the Anglican Church separated from Rome. It is difficult to see how this can lead to a union of the two. The Catholic Church is against female priests. It was not surprising that the Anglican Church sent a man as its senior priest to the ceremony, claiming the Archbishop of Canterbury elect was not yet in office to avoid difficulties over sending a woman. The Catholic and Anglican views on same sex relationships are not the same , though both Churches do not conduct same sex marriages. There remain a range of other doctrinal differences concerning communion, Saints and sacraments.
There is also of course a fundamental constitutional divide. The main point of the Anglican settlement was to take back control, to prevent appeals to Rome in difficult cases and to ensure decisions made for our Church were taken here at home. The Act of Restraint of Appeals 1533 was a fundamental assertion of English sovereignty, vesting power in the King who appointed the Archbishop in charge of the Church. The idea was to banish the disputes between England’s government and the Pope, renamed the Bishop of Rome. Henry II had fallen foul of this with the death of Becket, and Henry VIII with his divorce.
The King needs to tread carefully. The PM needs to give him good advice. This remains a potentially important constitutional matter, given the extent of the wealth and property of the Anglican Church and its presence in the Lords.
October 28, 2025
Just why are these half witted leffy bishops in the Lords? I have not hear any of them say anything remotely sensible for very many years. They all seem to have swallowed the new mad religions of woke, DEI, climate alarmism, reparations, an ever larger state, being “generous” with other people money, “equality” unless that is you get a free palace to live in, a place in the lords with allowances and with no benefit in kind taxes to pay.
The UK Monarchy is surely a good thing, rather better than the alternatives but our deluded King and Prince William really do need to keep out of politics. This especially as they invariably are on the wrong side (but even if they were not). Just smile, make small talks and cut ribbons! On climate alarmism not only are they wrong but they are grade one hypocrites too – not a good look. Follow you sensible mother and granny Charlie and William.
October 28, 2025
Why is the Monarchy and the ‘Constitutional Monarch’ surely a ‘good thing’ when it refuses to protect the Constitution? Indeed as a divorced man who was remarried not in a church, I believe the king is constitutionally not able to hold that office. He has also committed to all religions which also disqualifies him.
That uncomfortable fact has been buried in the same big hole where all the rest of the bilge emanating from Andrew Windsor, Henry Windsor etc are sited, out of the public gaze.
Incidentally I see that these hysterical people who lead the west have effectively withdrawn the Covid shots. Available free now ‘only to the over 75’s and people who have a reduced immune system’, so to those who took the shots previously.
Trying to backpeddle on the global warming hysteria too.
All of this leaves Charles III high and dry.
October 28, 2025
Lyn
I hope you’re right about the global warming scam. KC3 has been at the forefront promoting this nonesense.
Mr. Windsor is hear is demanding a house for himself and one for Ferggy. What a sense of entitlement which sickens the average family
Living high off the hog while the government discusses reducing our pension.
The monarchy is fast becoming a failed institution much like the rest of the public sector
I don’t want to see a Republic but less display of unearned wealth would be good.
October 28, 2025
As I understood it Andrew received a financial inheritance from HM Queen Elizabeth II on her death.
Perhaps he forfeited it in order for his mother to pay off Virginia Giuffre, to keep quiet.
Seems like that has had little effect with more allegations reaching media?
October 29, 2025
Plus the beneficiaries of Queen did not have to pay the circa £600 million IHT tax on her death or any Potentially Exempt Lifetime gifts within the 7 years.
October 28, 2025
The statistics seem to suggest that the Covid shots did far more harm than good and should never have been coerced into anyone on any rational cost benefit analysis. See the excellent Malhotra speech at the reform conference! But then the MHRA were largely funded by big pharma and the trials done by the vaccine pushers!
October 29, 2025
I’m sure God did not tell you this. It is both untrue and irrelevant. Perhaps you know nothing about the subject in hand either but think we need your opinion. You have a right to silence. Do use it.
October 29, 2025
See the huge South Korean study for example many others.
October 28, 2025
Defending other faiths attempts to satisfy all, but some oppose Christian beliefs making it contradictory.
Divorce is an unfortunate end to a marriage, yet staying in a faulty marriage for its own sake would be worse.
October 28, 2025
And an acrimonious marriage which is painfully obvious to children, especially the younger ones, can do more long term damage than the parents separating and finding a way to share responsibilities.
October 28, 2025
The Monarch is the Constitutional Head of the Church of England. He has to have been married in said Church. He was not. Windsor Registry Office is no substitute.
October 28, 2025
LL,
‘ The UK Monarchy is surely a good thing,’
Is it? Did Allister Heath tell you this in the Daily Telegraph ?
By the way, four in a row again. Splitting your posts up seems to work.
October 28, 2025
I do not think I have seen him address this topic. David Starkey covers it rather well though.
October 28, 2025
Youtube The Monarchy David Starkey
There is an important point here: monarchy is a universal constant – you cannot get rid of it, you can only replace one with another.
October 28, 2025
But they refuse to do their only job! Therefore we cannot appoint a Constitutional Court, because they occupy that space.
So our Constitution is out the window and as a direct result, Britain is Broken.
October 28, 2025
From a ceremonial, and historical point of view a limited size working Royal Family must attract enormous benefits in tourism. Pruning the tree and offshoots is often beneficial, which I understand the next King is in favour of.
October 29, 2025
At the very least, downsizing the Royal Family would give less scope for the more minor members to “go off piste” and humiliate the Monarch …. as both Harry/MeAgain and Andrew/Fergie have done.
October 28, 2025
Certainly agree with your first paragraph.
A new religion has been created and many in the church seem to have joined it, but still keep the office and perks of the one they clearly no longer believe in.
October 28, 2025
So Reeves blames increased interest rates on Brexit.
10 year UK Bonds 4.39%
10 year Swiss Bonds 0.14%
Nothing to do with Brexit Ms Reeves – just higher due to expectations on UK inflation, UK risk and an “incompetent, moronic, tax, borrow and piss down the drain moronic socialists are in charge” premium. Did you not learn any real economics in PPE Oxon. Crying in the house of Commons standing next to Starmer so publicly rather destroys confidence in the UK too.
As does claiming you want “growth, growth, growth ” yet you push anti-growth policies in every direction.
October 28, 2025
@@Lifelogic – strange logic from Labour, they inherited inflation at 1.9%. It’s only their and the BoE that have caused it to climb. More to do with the mantra Labour’s new PR demands is repeated.
The point missed is now the majority of the UK knows politicians on all sides just lie, and refuse responsibility for anything
October 31, 2025
Dr Edward Norman wrote about how the C of E always catches hold of each generation’s folly, but late.
October 28, 2025
So Sarah Pochin is accused of racism by Nigel Nelson, Wes Streeting, LibDims… for simply stating the truth about adverts. How can that be racist? Her error was to say somthing that could be cut out of context and used dishonestly and pathetically to try smear her.
Michael Gove said “people have had enough of experts from organizations with acronyms that have got things so wrong in the past” this was cut to “we have had enough of experts”
Not that I am a fan of the Greta disciple and deluded climate alarmist Gove!
October 28, 2025
Hacks from the MSM behaved appallingly yesterday at the Reform Press Conference.
Faced with a victim of the predominantly ethnic Pakistani Rape Gangs – someone who had personally experienced real race and religion-based sexual violence and who left the consultation group for the (non-existent) Public Inquiry which the Government is desperate to broaden to dilute any possible criticism of the Pakistani “community” – they persistently asked questions about a few words, taken out of context, criticising the Advertising Industry’s DEI obsession.
They have, of course, had the opposite effect of the one they intended.
October 28, 2025
Sarah Pochin is correct, adverts for years have had more black than white people in them. The worst culprits are the banking adverts. I can’t remember the last time I saw a white person on their front page. Why is pointing out the truth deemed racist when it is a fact? I thought it was fantastic when that brave young lady asked the media why they didn’t say that the Pakistani rape gangs targeting young white girls was racist. Not one reporter answered her, but she received a round of applause. For too long, racism has only been allowed to be criticised in one direction, when we all know it is prevalent between all groups.
October 28, 2025
Yes. Drives me mad. I have told the White Company that they need to change their name.
October 28, 2025
Indeed. Some victims of the largely Pakistani rape gangs (Asian Grooming Gangs as the Cabinet absurdly like to call them) seemed to be far more honest and impressive than current cabinet members. Meanwhile it seems the Mayor of London, effectively in charge of London policing, is still turning a blind eye!
October 28, 2025
It seems “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” is his watchword.
October 28, 2025
+1
The original and actual question, and the full answer rarely given or broadcast, hence the attempted slur.
Afraid that is the way life is going at the moment, out of context for political gain, unfortunately so many playing that game at the moment, no wonder the people are getting P…ed off big time with politicians and news reports which have their own agenda..
October 28, 2025
Ms Pocin simply stated something that many of us have often thought as we watch TV.
Her real sin was that (especially as a Reform Politician) she should have prefaced her statement with the facts and criticised the woke (London based?) Ad Agencies driving the over representation. Farage gave her a sharp public rap on the knuckles but probably told her privately to be more careful in future.
October 28, 2025
How tragic is it when a Party leader needs to tell a member ‘avoid telling the truth’.
October 28, 2025
Sarah Pochin said what millions of ordinary folk up and down the land have been saying for a long time. Perhaps she could have worded it better but this constant treading on eggshells is just too much and it is ensuring people either don’t speak out, or speak in such limp word salad style that truths get buried underneath.
I don’t have a TV, but I see the same effects in everyday advertising, and of course it isn’t just advertising.
Naturally the establishment has gone to town with it, and are using it to deflect from the real serious issues such as the Epping Hotel migrant being released.
The collapse of the ‘grooming gang’ trial, which let’s face it was just going to be another huge expense to the public, only to be told ‘lessons learnt’ and we need to build more community centres, and have more festivals for everyone to sing Kumbaya together. In other words everything will carry on and those at the top will walk away none the worse for their part in it. The young girl at the Reform press conference put it in clear language, so refreshing.
I don’t recall all the screams of ‘racism’ when the former SNP leader read out a list of things ‘too white’
DEI is nothing more than a smoke screen for ‘no white’s need apply’
They say Pochin is racist and divisive???
October 28, 2025
‘Driving me mad’ was loose exaggeration just like someone claiming they are ‘starving’ when they feel slightly hungry.
If most advertisements portrayed guitarists playing rock music, many might be annoyed by that, even if they adored Rock ‘n Roll. Some would claim it drove them mad.
October 28, 2025
@Lifelogic – it is the advertising standards Quango and DEI that are racist, they have a disciplin and psychology that dictates discrimination
October 28, 2025
The PM “needs to give him good advice” this seems rather unlikely, the current PM would not spot “good” advice if it punched him in the face. The best advice for the King and William would be to listen to David Starkey and act on his advice!
October 28, 2025
Kier’s blatant two tier policing, sentencing & justice systems is, I assume, intended to calm community tensions – needless to say it does the complete reverse as one would expect it to!
October 28, 2025
Sarah Pochin says what the majority of thevcountry thinks. Recently I read a goid detective novel which has been adapted into a TV drama. It starts with two male policemen kissing each other. Nothing like that was in the book.
Every programme especially on BBC is awash with alphabet characters unlike real life.
I fing it rather sickening.
October 28, 2025
@Ian Wragg – facts came to light courtesy of new data from an agency called Tapestry, which looked at the top 500 ads on telly and found that more than 51% featured black people, even though they make up just 4% of the population,17% featured South Asian people who make up just 8% of the population and 11% featured East Asians who make up just 1% of the population.
October 29, 2025
and what percentage of white men featured?
October 28, 2025
The King is attending a LGBREXCE etc. function.
Just when the tide is turning to normality.
He is at least as confused as the PM.
October 28, 2025
Well no harm in him going I suppose.
“The ban, which remained in place until 2000 – long after homosexuality was decriminalised – saw thousands dismissed from the Army, Royal Navy and RAF. Many of them were hounded, bullied, outed against their will or even imprisoned because of their sexuality.”
Is he going to go and see all the would be white pilots who were barred from becoming Pilots in the RAF as they did not pass the skin colour reflectivity DEI test! Surely we should choose the best as the jets cost £100 million plus.
October 28, 2025
Overt sexuality was the problem. Still is. Sex should not be in the public square. It’s a private thing in a civilised society.
October 28, 2025
I see it reported “The King, ceremonial head of the armed forces, dedicated Britain’s first national memorial to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender troops, 25 years after the U.K. ended a ban on homosexuality in the armed forces”. Good for him, for he is their King too, and good for them for it is their country too, they have a right (and duty) to defend it and we should all be grateful for the dedication and sacrifice.
Note also there have always been homosexuals in armed forces, inevitable as such forces are staffed by people and as soon as numbers are large enough to be representative of the population, there will be homosexuals. It was ever thus, Alexander the Great providing an early example (allegedly).
October 28, 2025
Why do they need to be defined by their sexual preferences rather than the fact that they are Servicemen?
By attending a special service that confirms they were excluded from all the others.
As far as I knew, they were NOT.
October 29, 2025
Before the ban was lifted they were not accepted even if they were present. It hardly seems some grievous action to commemorate them although I do take your point that now in the context they are service people first just like any others.
October 28, 2025
I agree. Everyone should listen to David Starkey, a brilliant mind. I just listened to his interview with Steven Edginton, where he tore apart Lenny Henry’s (who is now a Sir for some reason) argument on reparations. I’m hoping Reform bring David into their government when they take office.
October 28, 2025
Exactly my thought when I read Sir John’s piece this morning. I doubt Stramer’s political nous is worth anything quite frankly, he’s managed to create plenty of problems of his own making.
October 28, 2025
The Anglican Faith is haemorrhaging members, especially in Africa.
This appears to be down to so called modern progressives within the Church of England. It seems that every right on decision, is greeted by migration back to Rome.
The CofE needs to ask itself, why is the Catholic Church and most other churches who are true to biblical teaching, expanding whilst it is seeing ever diminishing congregations and so many deserting it for more true biblical based denominations.
It may surprise people but, many of the new converts who are turning to Christianity are young men. Could this be because young males are feeling like outsiders in society as they are pushed out further and further by modern doctrines?
October 28, 2025
Actually there has been a concerted effort from the CofE to ‘reunite’ with Rome. The push started with that Archbishop who voluntarily became a Druid, Rowan Williams – search and you will see pictures.
None of the established churches are attracting the numbers that the ‘reborn Churches’ attract. sadly the established Protestant Church of England (which is why it is represented in the Lords – to safeguard our spiritual welfare in law which might undermine it) has been perverted.
October 28, 2025
The Bishops like the late queen should perhaps keep out of divisive politics and stick to nice music, a few smiles and a general platitudes.
October 28, 2025
They should stick to religion.
October 28, 2025
‘ Meanwhile the King has prayed with the Pope. ’
Praying with the new Archbishop of Canterbury might be even more controversial, as even members of her own faith in Africa are against her and have decided to remove themselves and establish a new more traditional structure.
Mind you, the Archbishop of Wales would have been even worse. She is a lesbian who lives with another woman. It is like something out of the old Peter Simple column in the Daily Telegraph. ‘You couldn’t make it up’ as they used to say.
The Popes are not what they were before the second Vatican council, with the honourable exception of the Polish Pope.
I have just read ‘The King and the Catholics’ by Antonia Fraser. This starts with the anti-Catholic Gordon Riots of 1780, which caused much loss of life and destruction of property including foreign embassies. This was sparked by an attempt at relaxation of anti-Catholic laws.
Move on fifty years and Catholics, including nuns and priests, are welcomed onto these shores after the French Revolution – often on the basis of a common enemy.
The Catholic question was still a huge issue. Tories were largely against any relaxation in restrictions on Catholics, Whigs not so much.
King George 111 was virulently against emancipation and he was also going mad. George IV was the classic idle rich king. Wine, women and song, plus prodigious amounts of food and laudanum. He was also against it.
Posh Catholics had a much more relaxed attitude towards them than ordinary Catholics, notably the Irish. The King visited posh aristos and dined with them. Their private chapels were passed off as libraries or mausoleums. Their offspring were educated in France,
However, there was much concern about the impact of anti Catholic laws within the now United Kingdom and particularly in Ireland. A huge proportion of the armed forces were Catholic, though not the officers. It was the only poorly paid work available to many.
Eventually the pragmatic Conservatives like Wellington and Peel decided change had to be forced through to save the union and they confronted the king and made him an offer he could not refuse.
There are very interesting parallels with modern politics and Islam. Though Islam has never faced anti Islamic laws in this country.
October 28, 2025
The Catholic Church isn’t true to biblical teaching. Their celibacy of the clergy is contrary to Creation order.
“Do not call anyone on earth your father; for one is your Father, he who is in heaven.” Jesus said, but they readily give that title to their officials. (The context is spiritual, so natural children can call their natural fathers such.)
October 28, 2025
Paulism, or more accurately Saulism. He was a genuine misogynist and suffered from piles. Very bad tempered and a narcissist.
October 29, 2025
The passage about call no man father was partly a rebuke to the scribes and pharasees who liked the status of their position and the privileges the position gave them. It was also to warn the disciples not to adopt similar attitudes nor to seek grandeur.
The discipline of celibacy is firstly to enable a priest to concentrate on his role, because a man should not have two masters, viz God and a Wife. It was also to prevent a priest from granting his own family special favours such as giving them church land or property.
As many CofE clergy moved over to Rome when the CofE lost it’s way on female ordination and same sex relationships, and created a scitsm within the wider Anglican communion, we allowed some ordained married clergy to convert. Remember it is not a doctrine but a discipline and could be changed, although I hope it isn’t but I am not The Pope. It is said that, although we have a shortage of those that wish to be priests, we have no shortage of those who want to be Pope.
October 28, 2025
Cliff.. Wokingham. – These other religions offer a safe steady hand in troubled times, the CofE does everything ‘but’
October 28, 2025
For me Jane Austen and CS Lewis (and others) represent the MAGIC of the Anglican Church. Pope John Paul II said CS Lewis was one of the best theologians of all times. In particular, Lewis’ ‘Four Loves’ – on Agape Love, Eros Love and the Loves of Affection and Friendship – which is off-the-charts good. Pope Benedict also wrote on Eros Love, inspired by CS Lewis.
If there is one CS Lewis book everyone should read (besides Lion, Witch, Wardrobe), it’s The Four Loves. Our country would be much stronger and happier if people did, whether they believed in God or not.
October 28, 2025
For me it’s Cranmer. If ever a man was inspired it was he, the Book of Common prayer says it all.
October 29, 2025
I’m Catholic (although Anglican mother and many Anglican clergy in her family) and although Catholic for doctrinal / sacramental reasons, am ashamed of the relative corruption, complacency, and triumphalism of the Catholic Church at the Reformation – and before and after. Whilst being fully aware of the great things so many Anglicans have brought to the faith including Cranmer’s B of C P (even though I don’t follow all the doctrine).
We both think we’re heretics, but let’s not forget the Good Samaratan was a heretic (whilst the orthodox man of faith walked on by, ignoring the beggar in the ditch).
October 29, 2025
Please, no more fairy stories in such a serious blog.
October 28, 2025
@Cliff.. Wokingham – members? Vicar’s now look after around 5 Churches and congregations each. Because of liabilitiy, accusation etc. a Vicar now has to have an independent chaperone when seeing/meeting parishioners. Deminishing point of its existance
October 28, 2025
The whole point of the Windsor’s being exempt from tax is to make them immune to bribery.
The Yorks, Sussexes and a few others here and there have kicked that one into touch.
Indeed the King has spent his life begging for money from anybody, for his charities.
It has been just one short step to begging for money for themselves.
It is outrageous that Andrew Windsor, employed by the State as an envoy, has been above questioning for so long.
It’s the reason he and others have dug such a deep hole that it is now engulfing the whole Monarchy.
October 28, 2025
Well the Queen was it is thought worth something like £800 million in personal wealth so saving IHT on that saves nearly £320 million. The King now worth more like £1.5 billion it seems. IHT on that would be up to 600 million. If all people have to pay IHT and taxes every generation but one royal family, churches, charities and the government erc. do not eventually it nearly all ends up the Royals and these other groups.
October 28, 2025
“The King needs to tread carefully. The PM needs to give him good advice.”
Not much chance of either happening. Charles has never bothered to hide his contentious, politically-motivated, opinions on a number of serious policy issues affecting this country. His mother knew how to “tread carefully;” he doesn’t. And Two-Tier has spent the last 18 months demonstrating beyond any doubt that he has appalling judgement and only takes advice from his hard-left, anti-British, fellow Fabians.
This is supposed to be a Parliamentary Democracy. The King is a Constitutional Monarch and the symbolic Head of State: he reigns but doesn’t rule. Andrew currently still has a Constitutional position within the Royal Family. It is therefore appropriate for Parliament, not the King, to decide on the Constitutional aspects of Andrew’s position …. including his titles, responsibilities and whether he remains living on extremely generous terms on the Crown Estate. For a start, why on earth should Andrew’s former wife be allocated a luxurious home on the Crown Estate? If Charles wants to give him (and his dreadful former wife) a house on one of his privately-owned properties (say Balmoral) that’s up to him. But taxpayers should not be on the hook, in any way, to fund the pair of them.
A cosy chat between Charles and Two-Tier and a cobbled-together agreement is not acceptable.
October 28, 2025
I see your point about the former wife, that should be bought and paid for out of personal funds.
I’m sure she’s not short of a bob or two in her own right.
I’m also quite sure she has the means to make a fair mint, not least out of her former status among the Royals and the circles moved in will be full of wealthy men only too willing to be associated with someone on the coat tails of ‘the family’.
October 28, 2025
She has wrung that one dry. The sums are fantastical.
October 28, 2025
@Donna +1
Yes his political activism, just like 2TK’s is misplaced other leading us all to the situation of ruin for their own personal self-gratification
October 28, 2025
Royal Lodge (the residence occupied by Mr. Windsor (as the still Prince Andrew is known here) was I understand the subject of an arm’s length negotiated lease to yield its owner, the Crown Estate (in respect of which King Charles has no function) a 5 per cent. return. The normal commercial terms were vouched by Crown Estate’s investment appraisal committee, then by an independent valuer and finally by the National Audit Office. Accordingly, Andrew appears to have won no special deal, enjoyed no discount, rather paid fully.
There is a new, 21 minute, YouTube video on the Royal Lodge building that also covers Mr. Windsor’s tenancy towards to end by Allan Barton titled “Royal Lodge – the History of Prince Andrew’s Residence”.
October 28, 2025
Weaving the events happening in the Winsor household and the religious habits of Catholic Church and Anglican Church, is an interesting conflation of disconnected events.
I have no idea what Andrew Windsor’s disgraced reputaion and hence his removal from royal duties and respect has to do with King Charles visiting the Pope and praying together?
Andrew Windsor is so far down the pecking order of royal succession he is obsolete. His role as notional UK trade and business representative on oversees missions seems to have been abandoned years back. With that being the case and his function as the King’s brother being his only claim to fame other than persistent scandal I have no desire to see him living in state mansions with his estranged wife who is also mired in questionable activities involving high profile high worth individuals seeking social standing via royal (sic) association.
I suspect the King’s visit to see the Pope was a nod to this closing chapter of his life, which may be closer than many realise.
Reply The connection is both events are relevant to the UK constitutional and political debate. I do not usually comment on royals all the time they are performing their constitutional duties above politics.
October 28, 2025
@ Rod Evans – Despite the Reply, I agree, “an interesting conflation”.
I am by now a highly experienced reader here and typically understand what is written and quite often why. Today’s offering is more of a puzzle.
Reply. Why? The King is Head of the Anglican Church and senior bishops sit with votes in the Lords. What the King does as Head and who he appoints as Archbishop- on advice from the PM-therefore matters constitutionally. The Crown estates and the Sovereign Grant are part of public spending which does often preoccupy this blog.
October 28, 2025
I myself see nothing material constitutionally nor for the State in the King praying alongside the Pope: they do after all believe in and serve the same God. That event can surely be viewed as just an expression of friendship and goodwill between the churches and certainly not a threat to the Church of England nor its established status or even of any special relevance thereto. It is not as if Leo XIV is Jacques Delors come again.
In that light, I puzzle how recent events in Rome connect to the present difficulties with Andrew Windsor, themselves having no need to precipitate a constitutional crisis of some sort when the solutions that have largely been implemented seem largely adequate unless there is a wish to escalate to force more changes. I further puzzle at the insistence (not unwelcome) at overlooking his still extant and intended for use title of Prince. I am left to wonder if you know more than I do, which possibility would be no suprise.
Reply I did not argue the two issues were causally related. The link is both these issues for the King are of interest to Parliament as they are constitutionally important.
October 28, 2025
‘The artist formerly known as Prince’(Andrew) is a useful diversion for the media and other, as yet unchallenged, culprits in the Epstein scandal. I don’t think the full truth will emerge for a very long time.
Now that the monarch is no longer a figurehead, who mostly. stays silent except for prepared speeches for the opening of parliament and at Christmas, he will attract more criticism.
The next in line,William is not keen on some of the traditional work. So he does not take it on. He also wants shot of some of his family members who also get handsomely funded.
I am not sure how long this set up will last.
October 28, 2025
Two ways to improve the UK. End the Monarchy, Stop teaching (all) religion. Both are rabid nonsense.
October 28, 2025
Rather large problems with the ‘solution’ you offer.
The Monarchy ended will destroy enormous sums from tourism. Stop teaching religions and those who are only exposed to the parental choice will have nothing to use as a yardstick.
October 28, 2025
“Then the issue of the Windsor mansion and its rent came up, posing the question of how will Mr Windsor pay for the expensive maintenance and upkeep of such a property”
He doesn’t have to, maintenance is the responsibility of the owner of the property not the person renting it. He should hang on until Labour’s renter reform bill comes in, then they’ll literally never be able to shift him.
Reply. We read this lease requires the lessee has to pay for maintenance
October 28, 2025
So we had no Archbishop of Canterbury present due to a resignation over poor management and standards.
A King who has been divorced, is exempt from inheritance tax, and is a member of a rather dysfunctional family.
A Queen who is also divorced.
A Pope who is head of a Church which has had its own extensive problems, and we are supposed to look up at these as an example of what exactly. ?
October 28, 2025
As examples that we are all frail, all sinners and yet redemption is possible in some form to some extent perhaps?
October 28, 2025
Our King needs to man up and put Mr Windsor in his place, otherwise Mr Windsor will continue to be a problem to the Royal Family now and in the future.
Afraid Mr Windsor has an attitude and entitlement problem, evident in much of his behaviour over very many years.
October 28, 2025
And the Queen robes herself in solid black against the Pope’s pure white. She represents Protestantism and he is the Bishop of Rome.
The Late Queen took to doing the same thing after the inhabitants of Lambeth Palace chose to ‘unify the churches’. Previously she wore bright colours. Her dress illustrates the change of policy, which she made no attempt to resist.
October 28, 2025
Mr Redwood, I do think you referring to Prince Andrew as Mr Windsor disrespects the Royal Family. He remains the son of our late Queen and brother of the King. His seedy connections and personal attributes do not do him credit, but he did serve in the armed forces and has committed no heinous crimes.
October 28, 2025
“The King needs to tread carefully. The PM needs to give him good advice.”
Today I cant help the sarcasm, does a Marxist actually have a religion outside political terrorism?
Not defending the situation but as a non-working Royal, Prince Andrew retains his birth given title in the same way as Harry and Megan(the Sussex’s) do? It appears he has given up the titles given to him by the queen that’s all ‘Duke of York, Earl of Inverness and Baron Killyleagh’. Do I think any of it makes sense? No more than I think having a Monarch that has no direct linage to the first Monarch’s makes sense. In street wise parlance ‘they have blown it’.
Then the issue of costs!, doing anything retrospectively is petty and malicious when we have a situation of the State & Parliament previously supporting a life style while inhibiting the ability to be gainfully employed is not how anyone should be treated.
Going forward this vast family should be made aware, that from a point in time the will be funding themselves.
Being in a family that has active C of E Vicars and a Canon in its ranks, even they can’t see the direction the Church is being taken. The English version of which the King is the Head is deliberately creating a schism between it and the World Wide Anglican Religion. This new English version is no longer the safe, steady port in troubled times.
Reply Prince Harry retains Prince. Meghan was not born a Princess. Both use the title of Duke /Duchess bestowed on them by the late Queen, as they are entitled to do. They are not of course working royals so need to provide their own housing and income. The titles of the Duke of York have been withdrawn from another non working royal in view of his conduct.
October 28, 2025
The bit I find disturbing and it has crept into every walk of life, is the idea that someone is guilty as the result of gossip. In this instance there has been no trial’s, no evidence and the person in question due to protocol is not permitted to defend themselves.
Its not just this situation, it is happening everywhere. We need ‘our’ rule of law back.
October 28, 2025
Ian B
Why was an alleged £12million compensation paid out to the alleged injured party, if the person paying is completely innocent ?
October 29, 2025
@Berkshire Alan. – the cost of protocol not allowing you to defend yourself and a means of making something go away when you have the money to throw away, a point the other party would have been well versed in.
My real point was ‘crept into every walk of life’ guilty by association and media hype. Certain things need proper airing otherwise the rumours become the judge & jury – the court of a loose Social Media.
Google Yesterday 28/10/25 admitted that the bulk of the hype that they have published in recent months as to the position of driving licences and pensions has no foundation. Their(Googles) search algorithm has been played by individual making thousands – to detailed to list here, but look it up. They say they are on top of it and it will lead to changes
£12 million to quell gossip, as already suggested in the responses in SJR pages the ‘Crown’ is netting £1.1 billion a year tax free just from windmills on crown land. So £12 million?
I wasn’t defending the character, it was a remark in relation to a distorted society we have morphed into
Reply Need to distinguish between royal private property/ income and property holdings by state entities paying into Treasury coupled to sovereign grant.
October 28, 2025
Meghan is entitled to call herself ‘Princess Henry’ if the Dukedom is removed.
Sarah, already divorced, has reverted to her maiden name although she was previously Princess Andrew. Similarly ‘Princess Diana’ was never a Princess by right like Princess Ann and therefore should have been called ‘Princess Charles’.
Think ‘Mrs John Smith’ a married woman, a widow reverts to her own name ‘Mrs Jane Smith’.
October 31, 2025
Widows never used to revert to that style of address. Apart from being incorrect, it made them look like divorcees. Mrs John Smith it stayed till death – unless she remarried.
October 28, 2025
When I saw the photo of the Pope with the Anglican Archbishop I thought that one of them had to be in fancy dress – when I see photos of the new Archbishop of Cantebury elect I am quite sure.
October 28, 2025
If King Charles’ job is to portray his country as weak, woke and suicidal, then he is succeeding. Praying with the Pope is just one example. But then he wants to be the defender of all faiths, including the climate crisis faith. Back in 2009 he said we had “…less than a hundred months to alter our behaviour before we risk the tipping point of catastrophic climate change.” Well, CO2 has continued to increase and as a result the planet is greening and harvests are increasing. Attending COP30 will only make us look us more ridiculous and on course for economic suicide. Only 62 nations out of 197 have sent in their climate plans (NDCs) ahead of COP30. The UK’s NDC is for an 81% cut in CO2 emissions by 2035. China has declared “7-10% by 2035 whilst striving to do better” whilst at the same time bringing its coal plant building to a 9 year high. Note that climate action is only #13 on the list of UN’s sustainable goals, so it can hardly be the existential threat they and King Charles claim it is.
October 28, 2025
Today(In the Daily Telegraph) and once again, a Government spokes-person is blaming Brexit for their problems “Rachel Reeves blamed Brexit for pushing up inflation as she addressed an investment summit in Saudi Arabia.”
This is a new attack on Brexit, following the previous unproven ones. The ‘dead cat’ on the table repeat it often and it will be believed. Changed the PR Guru, as the PR was appalling, bring back a Brexit hating advocate
‘ She is leading a UK delegation to the Gulf in search for economic growth, with less than a month to go before her autumn Budget.’ in search other peoples money to bail her Parliament, its Government and her self out
October 28, 2025
Further notes
‘Huge benefits’ to relationship with EU, says Reeves
Rachel Reeves has concluded her session at the conference in Riyadh, where she insisted the UK can reap “huge benefits” from rebuilding relations with the European Union.
October 28, 2025
Was there a long list specified of these huge benefits?
October 28, 2025
The King gets 12% of Crown Estate profits, which are at a record £1.1 billion because of the huge expansion of offshore wind farms.
His royal family wonga is invested with Black Rock. He’s a WEF fan and gives lectures about the Reset- which involves running the country on wind and solar.
It’s high time the Royals paid tax like the rest of us and lived in one of their properties instead of six. The others could be used as museums, hotels or offices.
October 28, 2025
Doesn’t the WEF proclaim a reset that ought to level up the living standards of all people?
I have not heard from Andrew Windsor with my housing offer, but the very same terms are available to King Charles III should he wish to contact me via our good host.
October 29, 2025
No, the WEF proclaims that “YOU will own nothing and be happy.”
Note …. it doesn’t say “WE will own nothing.” Charles belongs to the “WE” group.
October 28, 2025
I’ve just watched Danny Kruger talk about how they intend to ‘manage’ this country if elected.
It made a good deal more sense than much else that I’ve heard from most Politician for a long time. If Farage can get the management talent together to undertake this fundamental change in our national governance (and actually make it happen!) then we may have some hope.
I did like what I heard from Ms Badenoch a few weeks ago but is she moving fast enough? The Reform train is on a roll and Farage is setting the pace currently. I do wonder if Kemi can ‘reform’ (small r) her recalcitrant Party sufficiently, given how many Lib Dem MPs currently sit behind her?
Lot’s of time to see how this race develops (unfortunately) and both the right leaning parties need to show they can/are fixing the weaknesses in their election offering. Meanwhile, Starmer, Reeves & Milliband seem set to continue their demoltion efforts on the UK economy.
October 28, 2025
Antidisestalishmentarianism is at 34 letters the longest word in the English dictionary. You have to wonder how long it will last.
October 28, 2025
It is undoubtedly a complicated situation. Prince Andrew is not very bright, nor is his wife, although they seem to have done a good job with their daughters. If he had any humility, the King would not have to pressure him to move to less palatial accommodations. While I think he is the author of his own misfortune, I could not live with the media scrutiny he and Sarah are exposed to.
The King and the Pope praying together is remarkable, but both should worry a lot more about the increasing surge of the Islamic faith. In many parts of the world, Christians are being killed and persecuted by Islamic militants. Their loyalty is to Islam, and their stated goal is to make Islam the supreme religion in the world.
Christian leaders need to wake up, start preaching the true gospel and fight for their faith.
October 28, 2025
The problem is that we are talking about a divorced man and an atheist giving him advice. Neither is really qualified to be taken seriously on this issue. Leave it alone and let it find a level of its own. Of course, finding two homes for two parasites is going to be difficult and I don’t see why the King cannot find them something out of his own pocket. My opinion is that the Government should take the titles away from the person involved here to make it legal.
October 28, 2025
Sorry not my King, I am one of three brothers we all served out late Queen independently but are not fans of this King or his actions
October 28, 2025
hear hear
October 28, 2025
I am unashamedly a Monarchist and, whilst still sad about the loss of the late Queen, and notwithstanding the goddam awful exploits of Mr Windsor, Harry and wife; am still totally supportive of our working Royals who transcend politics and do a wonderful job for our country. Imagine being a Republic and having our own version
of Macron or his predecessors. UGH!
Sir John , I can’t see it happening but Reform […the Country for that matter] needs your experience intelligence and forecasting/financial/policy guidance. It’s wasted on the Tories in their present form and Labour won’t listen and hasn’t a clue.
October 28, 2025
The King is dying. Don’t expect him to make any tough decisions. I am surprised the UK press are hiding it.
But its time to abolish the monarchy anyways.
October 28, 2025
Andrew is damaged goods and his lack of awareness of this is his undoing.
Meanwhile I truly believe Labour have been damaging Britain on all fronts since coming to power is to say we need saving by Re-joining the EU by stealth (as we “Voted for Change” ).
However this is their hidden agenda – Blame Brexit and reverse it and explains why they give everything away to the EU and China, grovelling before the world making out we are useless without them.
October 29, 2025
Dear Sir John, the political maelstrom around the Monarchy and the Church of England is a diabolical distraction from what is really going on, in these days of rampant deception. We have been extraordinarily blessed as a nation through the Reformation, and the access (to quote Wycliffe) of every ploughboy to the Bible in our own tongue, which impacted the wider world in such a wonderful way. The Church of England has stood for divine truth in every village for generations, and the non-conformist off-shoots were essentially all from the same stock.
We would all do well to note the words of Christ in John 9:39: “And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.”
October 29, 2025
It is inconceivable that Starmer is capable of giving good advice on matters spiritual or on the place of the church constitutionally. First Labour does not do God, as Alistair Campbell famously said. Second, Starmer and several others of his gang, are Fabians who do not believe sovereign nation states should exist. They want in their place a socialist world order that would exclude God and would be ruled by people such as Starmer and fellow Fabian Hermer.
Third, it follows from the first two reasons that Starmer’s Gang is blind to the threat of Islam. King Charles has always been a bit wobbly on his faith and he seems to regard all faiths and any as equally good, as evident from his coronation oath. I seriously doubt he has the capacity to evaluate properly any advice related to religion that he receives.
Being well intentioned in the absence of his own strong faith and critical evaluation seems to lead to the King making unwise choices simply because he wants to do something, anything. It would better if he did nothing.
October 31, 2025
Whatever you think of Mr Windsor, he has not committed a crime (unless of course he has admitted something in private to the King).
We cannot have a society where people can be humiliated and destroyed for the perverse pleasure of the baying crowds. We are not in the Middle Ages now
October 31, 2025
There are doctrinal differences:
RCs believe in Papal Infallibility; we don’t.
RCs believe in Transubstantiation; we don’t.
RCs believe in the Immaculate Conception (not to be confused with the Virgin Birth); we don’t.
RCs believe in the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary; we (despite the best efforts of the EU) don’t.
RCs pray to Saints; we only ask them to intercede.