Prince William has been called “lazy” during a lively debate about the monarchy’s future on GB News.
Protests are taking place in Trafalgar Square, London, with anti-monarchy group Republic calling for the King to be replaced with an elected, democratic head of state.
The group’s CEO Graham Smith joined Stephen Dixon and Sophie Reaper on GB News and sparked a furious response from royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams when he claimed the future King “does nothing”.
Fitzwilliams argued: “There’s no doubt that if you take charitable activities, the monarchy has an absolutely unique profile.”
Richard Fitzwilliams locked horns with Graham Smith in a lively GB News row
GB NEWS / PA
Smith hit back, claiming the Royal Family has little to no impact on charitable matters in Britain.
“It makes no difference to charity at all”, he said.
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Both William and Charles were slammed by Graham Smith
Getty“There’s so much stuff said about the monarchy which isn’t true. There has been a very deep, detailed study on their impact on charity by an independent authority which said the impact is close to zero.
“Part of the problem with them and part of the problem with William, who is in line to be the next monarch, is he’s incredibly lazy. He doesn’t do anything.
“In the last month, he did about four days of work. When I say work, I mean turning up and waving at people. Most of which is done in or near their houses.
“They cost us. They cost us half a billion a year. For a whole family, which we do not need, including people that most people would have never heard of, they’re all included in this cost.”
A GB News panel debated whether the monarchy can survive
GB NEWS
Fitzwilliams continued to insist the royals have a tangible impact on charitable matters, saying King Charles was “the first figure to internationally push the environment”.
After Smith hit back saying the claim was “not true”, Fitzwilliams doubled down by saying “it’s a proven fact”.
“He’s a hypocrite”, Smith hit back. “He is distracting from the very serious issue of the wealthiest people having the largest carbon footprint.”
Fitzwilliams asserted that the royals have an “extraordinary” international profile which is a “wonderful” advert for Britain.
“You can’t quantify everything with reference to just simple figures”, he said.
“You say that because you have no figures on your side”, said Smith.
Protesters have taken to the capital after a recent poll suggested a majority of Britons still back the monarchy.
The vote suggested that 55 per cent of the public favour the institution.
The total cost to taxpayers of maintaining the Royal Family has been estimated at £510 million per year.
