Obama And The Queen

"Only On The Web:" Reporting from London, Katie Couric speaks with English historian David Starkey about the upcoming meeting of Queen Elizabeth II and President Barack Obama.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Interview
• Katie
• Couric
• Obama
• President
• London
• U.K.

[kipps2]

This interview seems a bit of a waste of Starkey's big brain.

[NottinghamForest22]

Starkey is way too smart for interviews like this :)

[MrGilles1990]

@lastminuteregret im all for monarchy but i don't see why we have to be a US state or an EU state.

Independence from US foreign policy and from the EU itself would be great, if that makes us a tiny isolationist country like Switzerland then great, im all for isolationism!

[lastminuteregret]

@chrish12345 Oh, and not to mention...abolition of the monarchy would destroy the Commonwealth of Nations. And seeing Britain's current relations with Europe, it would isolate the tiny island nation. The monarchy is also popular abroad, especially in the U.S. I doubt it would help international relations, even in countries that call themselves 'republics'.

[lastminuteregret]

@chrish12345 Her wealth as of 2010 has been estimated at less than $100 million by Forbes. And you listed the cost of the monarchy, not the Royal Family. That includes maintaining all the residences, lands, and staff. These would still exist regardless of the monarchy, for the buildings would still need maintenance and staff, and the land tending to. If you abolish the monarchy, I feel they are entitled to everything they handed 'the people' in confidence expecting compensation in return.

[chrish12345]

@lastminuteregret the Queen is worth $450 million and the Royal Family cost is over £41 million/year. OK she may pay a bit back, which is the taxpayers money anyway. There's no evidence visits to the Royal sites would drop if they abolished the Royal family, they could even rise. Funny how eg. Windsor castle is owned by the people/state and yet the Royal family have whacked a massive entrace fee on. At the time of recession, the Royal family have recently requested a rise in their handout.

[lastminuteregret]

@chrish12345 First off, the Queen personally refunds around 1/7th of her expenses from private accounts. The remaining is covered by paid visits to see the Crown Jewels, assortments of royal residences handed to the state by the Royal Family, and the Royal Collection (the largest in the world). The Royal Residences and the Royal Collection were put into the hands of the state in return for the Civil List. Money received from public viewings exceeds 15 million pounds. The Queen costs 7 million.

[Gibraltar15]

Dr. Starkey calls him "W." Marvelous.

[chrish12345]

@lastminuteregret Its not 'common knowledge' to me, I'd like to see you back this up with a shred of evidence, or, on the other hand, don't bother if you're just going to be insulting

[lastminuteregret]

@chrish12345 The Royal family provides more money than it uses. Honestly, this is common knowledge. Only ignorant individuals like yourself choose to ignore the facts and continue your accusations. Not too different from the 'birthers' in the U.S.

[elimacfly1]

She's had nineteen dogs, Starkey, right? Couric & her great fat goofy grin make me embarrassed to be an American.