30 June 2023 , 11:23
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Queen Camilla's friend has claimed "Buckingham Palace is not fit to house homeless people" in a heated televised debate about a slimmed down royal family.
Royal insider and friend of the new Queen Petronella Wyatt clashed with presenter Jeni Barnett over the attempt to slim down the monarchy.
Just days earlier Prince William had said his life's work will be to end homelessness and that he wants everyone to have "a safe and secure home” as his enduring legacy.
But his plans were scoffed at by Ms Barnett during the debate on GB News, which had originally asked whether people would be happy to spend £1.29 a year to fund a slimmed down Royal Family.
Host Dan Wootton struggled to keep the two guests in check as they clashed over the worth and relevance of the British monarchy.
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The clash took place on GB NewsCamilla's pal Ms Wyatt said: "Let’s look at it from a business point of view. Let’s say the monarchy was a company and you were thinking of buying shares in it.
"It’s £1.29 a person, annual - that’s a total annual cost of around £500 million but it’s been calculated by independent financial institutions and Forbes magazine that the monarchy actually gives back to the economy £2.5 billion a year.
"That’s a hell of a profit, the best deal ever! So, is it value for money? My goodness it is!’
Queen Camilla (PA)
Petronella WyattMs Barnett retorted: "I think it’s not about £1.29.
"It’s about one family that’s worth £37 billion, that could be put back into the economy to help people.
"If we were living in a country that was egalitarian, where the NHS worked, the schools worked, the utilities worked, I’d say nothing but it’s a symbol of what we don’t need. What do they give back?"
Should Buckingham Palace become social housing? (PA)Ms Wyatt snapped back: "Charles is giving Balmoral back! He’ll be giving other palaces back. This is a really streamlined monarchy, they have said no slackers welcome here and that’s what they are doing."
Ms Barnett admitted to admiring Prince William and his ambition to try to end homelessness, before adding he could do it possibly by "building social housing on their acres and acres of land" but then claimed a certain Royal Palace would be a good place to begin the overhaul.
"I think it would be a really good move if Buckingham Palace helped the homeless," Ms Barnett said.
The royal family on the balcony at Buckingham Palace (PA)Host Dan asked if the presenter was seriously suggesting the Palace be turned into social housing, to which she answered: "Yes. I think the homeless should be brought into that wonderful building and they should be given rooms and they should be given heat and warmth.
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"We are living in a society that is polarised."
Ms Wyatt replied: "I am sorry, but I wouldn’t put the homeless in Buckingham Palace because it’s not good enough for the homeless.
"The paint is peeling off the walls, there is mould, there is damp, the plumbing doesn’t work properly – believe me, because I know!"
*Dan Wootton Tonight airs on GB News at 9pm from Monday to Thursday