Princess Pushy and a Matter of Rent

Princess Pushy, also known as That Austrian, and her husband, Prince Michael of Kent, have finally agreed to pay a paltry £120,000 rent for their apartment in Kensington Palace. And to pay it themselves, not have it paid by the Queen as hitherto. It has to be noted, though, that this rent is still heavily subsidized by the tax payer. 

Princess and Prince Michael of Kent

Up to now and further into 2009, the Queen has footed the bill for the royal paupers, who have to live upon a pittance. They are neither working nor carrying out any official royal duties, and MPs had asked many times that they should pay a rent at commercial rate. Obviously, fixing such a value on a priceless apartment is beyond everybody’s imagination. But a five bedroom plus five reception room flat in one of the historic buildings of London should pay more than a lousy £10,000 per month.

Probably the flat should be auctioned off for rent to determine the real commercial value. Until 2002, the Kents had paid only a nominal rent, rumour has it at £69 per week, and it is surprising that the couple didn’t take their landlord to court over the new rent.

Obviously, a rise to over 400 times the previous rent would enable one to take court action? What are other destitute pensioners to do, once a precedent like this has been set? And it has been set for people who really are poor. Pushy said herself, that for a hot meal she will go anywhere. Honi soit, qui mal y pense.  

The rent will be paid specifically into a grant-in-aid by the government for royal palaces, earmarked Kensington Palace. It will probably be spent on refurbishing the apartment of the Kents, as it is most likely not good enough for her Pushiness. It is questionable if the bit of money they got from the sale of their cottage Nether Lypiatt, a mere £5,000,000, will allow them to remain in their flat for overlong. 

Funnily enough, no picketers have so far gone to the street clamouring for the rights of aged paupers. One wonders if this could not be a case of racism against Austrians. An inquiry panel probably will soon be set up by the government to look into that case, costing the taxpayer money he has so far not received from the Prince or the Princess, either in cash or in kind.

What it comes down to is that not doing anything for your country, or even against your country like marrying a roman catholic to lose your rights to succession, is paying off handsomely, again. If they ever did something at all is debatable, but they certainly learned from politicians how to line their pockets. Maybe Prince Michael should run for Prime Minister, as his title is virtually worthless anyhow, he can’t be worse than Brown or more damaging than Blair.

The original of this article was published on 20/12/2008.

Further reading
Princes: Not All That Glitters
William and Kate: Title History
The Prince, The Princess, And The Perfect Murder

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