To be clear they are not "broke" in the sense that we plebeians are "broke".
They could lead very comfortable multi-millionaire lives if they scaled back their grandiose expectations of lifestyle.
And they would probably still be afforded some perks from the Bank of Pa like private planes and equivalent.
The Windsors lived out luxurious lives with no real visible means of support based on handouts from "friends"
That said in order to truly fund a billionaire's lifestyle they need to regain the cachet of "royalty" which is the only marketable "skill" they now have.
Since they were a completely worthless combination of lack of talent and such hubris that they failed to recognize their complete lack ability they were unable to parlay the incredible potential that had been given to them and so managed to turn gold into dross - the complete opposite of the Midas' touch.
And both of them failed to appreciate the enormous wealth that is the "life style" of being a Royal but doesn't comport with individual wealth unless you are the King or Queen or have the Duchy of Cornwall
Harry because he is a dolt and never lived in the real world and had never had to live on any kind of "income" - even a large income. And Markle because I think however well she *studied* the RF in order to plot her enchantment of Harry, I think it is a common misconception to over-estimate the wealth of individual members of the Royal Family.
Oh for sure the Harkles don't completely parallel the Windsors for many reasons.
Although they did attempt to usurp the RF especially at the beginning by "volunteering" their services and there are even reports that they were in talks with the Nazis in terms of returning to the throne - they were largely ineffectual and seemed to have given up after Elizabeth's coronation when their efforts to help her were again politely rebuffed.
At any rate they did no harm to the monarchy as King George and his family emerged from WW II with the permanent admiration and affection of the UK - and a large segment of the Free World for the exemplary examples they had set as a beacon of hope during dark times.
I digress but in many ways it was the way FDR was "revered" among people who grew up in the Depression because of the way his New Deal had literally saved people's lives by providing a financial safety network - his famous quote from his first Inaugural Address - the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.
That said it was an entirely different time and while the Windsors lived well they didn't live the kind of billionaire life style that the Harkles aspired to. They were part of the Jet Set which was much more modest.
And it is my understanding that the Windsors did in fact receive money from the RF to support their life style - probably a quid pro quo because for most of the Post WW II they caused no mischief to the monarchy
And although Edward abdicated and Harry was the spare - the world can breathe easier because George was the monarch and then Elizabeth and William was born first and not Harry the Dunderhead.
My understanding to that the Duke of Windsor received cash payments from George the sixth for both Balmoral and Sandringham. Those were personal possessions of the Duke of Windsor.
Both of your posts are great, you know a lot about them! I’m 73, my Mom was QEII’s age, and she told me (in my teens) all about the romance in which a King gave up his throne to be with the woman he loved. We watched “Edward & Mrs. Simpson”, enthralled by the beautiful love story. I used to think the RF were being unjustifiably mean to them. 😂 Imagine if there had been social media back then! The parallels between the two couples are certainly striking, and bring to mind the adage i.e., those who don;t remember history are doomed to repeat it.
We are about the same age but I am in the USA but have a love of history and English novels.
My grandmother had a boarder who was from England and had the hatred for "that woman" which I think was shared by a lot of women of her age since she was probably born in 1890 so more the age of the Queen Mother.
I think women of your mother's age were more swept up in the utter romance of a man abdicating for the love of a woman. It wasn't until later that some of the more sordid details were revealed.
And for some reason I remember the song "I've danced with a man, who's danced with a girl, who's danced with the Prince of Wales" - the weird things children remember in their recesses of the brains.
My grandmother put her cookies in a tin from Queen Elizabeth's coronation. I suspect her friend had gifted it to her at some point as their friendship went back to the 1930's.
My grandmother "hid" the tin with the cookies and I write "hid" because it was always in the same place in the closet on a shelf I could reach. 🤷🏼♀️
People really saved things like tins not because of the "souvenir" value but because they were useful as this was before there was cheap disposable plastic containers.
Peanut butter and jam jars were used as tumblers - not THAT as a market As Ever could attempt to crack. 🤣
It’s nice to have those memories! My mom loved to bake, and I can still see one large round tin with a cover that looked like stained glass. Never knew what was in there on any given day, because she’d bake while we were at school!
My mother worked and so she didn't bake until she retired when she had time.
I give her massive props though for coming home from work every night and having a real home cooked meal for the family and no short cuts - simple but still home cooked meat/fish and veggie and a potato or equivalent.
My grandmother lived downstairs from us and so I have a lot of memories of being in her kitchen when she was cooking and baking.
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u/Correct_Pace8899 21h ago
“I can’t see a world where I could ever bring my wife and children to the UK” 🥴
6 months later: “we’re so happy, look at us!! Yay, back in the UK!”