It’s no secret that the Prince of Wales is a bit of a dandy. He is always immaculately turned out in double-breasted suits and exquisitely tailored tuxedos and morning coats and such. He spends a lot of money to look a particular way. It’s also not a secret that Charles has a lot of people working for him in many different ways. He has an enormous personal staff, household staff, communications staff, and he probably employs thousands of people with all of his charitable endeavors, like The Prince’s Trust and everything else. So is it fair or unfair to note that Charles traveled to Australia earlier this year with a personal “yeoman” for his clothing?
The extravagance of Prince Charles, who was recently accused of sending his own bed and artworks from his bedroom to a friend’s house where he was staying a few nights, has long been grist to the mills of his critics. Now a row over the cost of Charles’ trip to Australia earlier this year is threatening to take the shine off Harry and Meghan’s ongoing tour Down Under, after it was revealed that Charles took a 13-strong entourage on the trip, including one attendant described as a ‘traveling yeoman.’
The story has been doing the rounds in Australia this weekend after the costs of Charles and Camilla’s trip were released. The Australian state was responsible for paying some of the direct costs of hosting Charles and his entourage, and critics say the inclusion of a traveling yeoman added to the $200,000 bill.
The traveling yeoman, incidentally, is a kind of clothing manager—he has been described as a member of staff who ensures “the right clothes are in the right place at all times.” It should be noted, however, that the entourage also included a personal assistant, a dresser, a butler, a valet, and a hairdresser, according to Australia’s News.com.au.
Michael Cooney, national director of the Australian Republic Movement, questioned why the Australian government had paid for his entourage when farmers in rural regions including Dubbo, New South Wales, which Meghan and Harry visited last week, are struggling with a devastating drought. Speaking to News.com, he said, “The government should explain to drought stricken Dubbo farmers why we could afford to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars before Prince Charles had even arrived in Australia. Why did the government force Australians to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to bring butlers, valets, and traveling yeomen?”
I could see how one could employ a traveling yeoman for $200,000 ANNUALLY. But $200K for one trip, which was what, for two weeks? It seems excessive, even by “traveling yeoman” standards. Update: Ah, I see my mistake – the cost was $200K for all of his personnel, not just the traveling yeoman. Still, one does wonder why he needed a traveling yeoman on top of everything else.
Incidentally, I can’t wait for Gwyneth Paltrow to claim that SHE INVENTED traveling yeomans and that Charles is copying her and that you just have to get a traveling yeoman, everyone is getting them. Anyway, yes, you could make the argument that “dressing appropriately for the occasion” is an important thing, and yes, if you’re a busy royal figure, maybe you should pay someone to help you with that. But is there really a need for a traveling yeoman AND a dresser AND a valet AND a personal assistant? Certainly one of those people could have done double-duty? I know that’s impossibly gauche and middle-class of me, it’s just that where I come from, one’s dresser tends to take on the traveling yeoman’s duties. *clutches carefully yeoman-selected pearls*
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Of course Prince Charles has a traveling yeoman. LOL.
It’s excessive and sounds ridiculous but I think when you look even a bit closer at the costs of any of these royal tours they seem excessive and ridiculous. We just ignore it because Meghan and Harry are more interesting.
Maybe if Meghan had a traveling yeoman the tag wouldn’t have been left on her dress!
If the taxpayers want to pony up for this, yeomen for everyone.
“Travelling Yeoman” sounds like Royal-speak for a suitcase packer! It does sound a bit excessive as he already had a dresser and a valet – both of whom would usually have responsibility for clothing
Maybe the dresser was for Camilla.
this is why i have no respect or admiration for the royal family or the concept of a modern monarchy at all. it is an archaic system that is drowning in wealth meanwhile their “people” need food, and support. gross gross gross.
THIS. exactly.
while I enjoy the fashion and the tiaras and the fun frivolity. It doesn’t overshadow the fact that there really is no place for monarchy in democracy and that they really are just a dog and pony show long supported by the pillaging and stealing of other’s wealth.
Yep! Totally agree. I know people like tiaras and dresses but I do wish this site was a bit more reserved on the royal front. Monarchy is an utterly undemocratic, parasitical institution that can’t be reformed and should be done away with.
Perhaps when William and Harry say they want a “normal” life they are speaking to the excess and insanity of Charles’ life. Would I love some extra help in my life, sure, but the idea of being smothered by an entourage of 13 makes me positively claustrophobic.
It’s not any different in republics. I watch Trump pillaging public money via his weekend trips to Mar-a-Lago, floor on Trump Tower paid for by the Secret Service, etc.
It’s a sweet deal if you inherit it or marry into it. It’s ridiculously extravagant.
WEll.. here’s the thing.. in most parlimentary democracies, the monarch will be replaced by a head of state, who is always more prone to corruption and leads to an endless way of providing persks and lifelong pensions to people every 4 years..
Your comment is interesting. My 28 year old son is convinced that a heredity monarchy as head of state (with some level of power), coupled with an elected legislature of some kind, is the best use of checks and balances and the cheapest alternative for a country. Having watched our American checks and balances totally fail, and our current President consolidate power with branch of government who can stand against him, I might be inclined to agree.
Is there anywhere where such a system actually exists? The “elected” legislatures in Morocco and Jordan are hand picked by the king and do his bidding faithfully.
Yeah, I’m so happy with our (Dutch) monarchy, because I haven’t felt represented by our PM for the last 12 years at least and it’s so nice to have someone capable going on foreign visits (our foreign secretary is such a disgrace to the country) and being pretty visible in our country as a unifying person and head of state to us all. A president would come with their own costs and would not bring the same continuity
What Wilma says.
Denmark is a constitutional monarchy and the Queen is incredibly popular. I think that there’s argument for an apolitical Head of State unencumbered by political ties. An elected president is not a bad thing but if the office is held by pensioned of politicians then the lines can become blurred.
Regarding money matters – have the government define an annual stipend of a set amount. The British system is not really transparent because of the Duchies that support the monarch and the Prince of Wales. In Denmark, the Queen get a certain amount where a percentage is earmarked for the consort. The same goes for the heir and his/her consort. They also have to account for their expenditure from these stipends.
ArtHistorian: Please loan us your Queen for the next few years, would you? I swear to god we will give her back as soon as we find a sentient adult to take over the White House. I’ve watched Margarethe’s interviews, and she’s pretty awesome. Smart, funny, likes ballet, draws and paints, gets along with all the other nations, without selling her soul to the devil for a few ruby parures.
Yes, she smokes, everyone has a vice. At least she doesn’t grab women by the pussy, or excuse rapists who want to be Supreme Court Justices.
The Denmark constitution has provisions that allow her princely sons to be Regent when she travels abroad, Frederik could step in for a couple of years. Kind of an internship before the long-term job starts. It’d be cool. The King of Norway lived at the WH for a few years during WWII. We gave him back, and he’s pretty good at the king-thing.
Pinky promise, we’ll send Margarethe back, and throw in a Chihuly Chandelier forTivoli Gardens as a parting gift.
@jaynebirkinb
I’m always happy to see my queen being appreciated internationally. When I could afford to go to the Royal ballet regularly I actually saw my queen fairly often. Got used to checking to see if Aunty Queen was in.
And I understand your frustration, I follow the US news and sometimes I cannot believe my eyes and ears – I sincerely hope you get that turd voted out of office (and preferably sent to jail).
Yes, Courtney. Yes!
They are so out of touch with reality, but that happens when you never have to actually work or just think about life outside that golden cage.
Well the people who work for the royals are in paid employment, what is the problem with that? Are their services needed elsewhere, like ploughing fields? I think not.
That’s what I was thinking -it’s a good job for someone.
It doesn’t say the yeoman (lol, whatever that is) alone cost $200,000, it says it “added to the $200,000 bill.” So it was just part of it. Not that I’m defending employing a yeoman!
The traveling “yeoman” didn’t cost 200k. In the story it states that it added to the 200k bill. So we actually have no idea how much this “traveling yeoman” actually cost. Either way you slice it though it’s bad optics for Charles. But also not surprising. He’s clearly a high-maintenance dude. Which is is why it’s kind of funny that he took such obvious issue with how much money Kate spends. Perhaps because it’s taking away from what HE can spend since it comes out of his budget lol.
I read a story he flew in a week’s worth of organic food from his own gardens for an international trip! Definitely very very frivolous.
I hope that wasn’t the Australian trip considering we have some of the best organic produce in the world!!
enough about the Yeoman, what about the bed and the art he sent to his friend’s? I missed when prince charles turned into such a wastrel!
Yeah, that is just bizarre.
He seems like a fussy guy, doesn’t he?
Some of these stories should be taken with a pinch of salt, like the toilet seat story, which Charles said was utter rubbish.
My great uncle was a bit (ok, a LOT) of a dandy and was a bit of a celebrity in his small midwestern town. Years ago, I met someone who went to college in my uncle’s town and once he realized the familial connection, he peppered me with questions and stories, including the fact that my aunt and uncle slept under a mink bedspread. This was absurd (who sleeps under a mink bedspread?) but evidently the story was well known.
The way I read it, the traveling yeoman ADDED to the $200K bill, they weren’t paid $200k.
Yeah, I’m not sure I see the difference between a yeoman, a dresser, and a valet. I literally would assume a dresser and valet were the same thing. And surely the person who picks your clothes can help you put them on? Is that beneath them? And Chuck can comb his own hair into something that looks reasonable?
I’m hoping the hairdresser was for Camilla, lol.
Hmmm… I think the yeoman *picks out* the clothes, the *dresser* helps you put them ON, and the *valet* takes them out and puts them away (as well as arranging for cleaning/pressing). Still… total waste. Esp. btwn. a yeoman/valet.
I will never forget the scene in the Getty movie, when Donald Sutherland (as JP) was being “dressed” by his valet. The man even adjusted JP’s b@lls after putting his underwear on him, put the toothbrush in JP’s mouth and BRUSHED HIS TEETH for him… I wouldn’t be surprised if he held “it” for him while he peed! lol.
(Wonder if Charles goes *that* far?? 😏 )
Lol! 😂
I think I read somewhere that Charles’ valet put the toothpaste on the toothbrush for him. No idea if that is true.
Meghan desperately needs a travelling yeoman.
Was gonna say, “thats why Charles doesn’t have tags on his clothes”
LOL!
Sorry, I messed this up – the traveling yeoman didn’t cost $200K for one trip, ALL of his staffers (including the yeoman) cost $200K for one trip.
I find the very idea of hereditary monarchy to be so ridiculous and grotesque that a $200,000 yeoman makes almost no difference to my opinion of the entire institution. If you have a King that King might as well have a yeoman.
Same.
I’ve come to embrace Prince Charles and his dandified ways. I mean, why not? However, He could have loaned said yoeman to Meghan for wrinkles, slips, price tag removals and such. They say they are giving her their best, but they aren’t. Prince Charles low key trolls them all.
I suspect that the Sussexes did not bring a dresser because they did not want to be accused of having an excessively large entourage like Charles is being accused of.
Anyway, I love the way Charles dresses, he always stands out from the other Royal men, and I am guessing that he likes Edwardian style, and I actually wonder if some of his outfits are hand me downs from previous UK Kings from the 20th century. Its not like they wear there clothes out, maybe Charles revamps them because the quality and style of some his morning wear and evening dress is really on another level.
I would think security is a huge percentage of the cost, honestly. A lot of people have to be arranging things along the way. I’m split on how much wardrobing actually costs. On one hand, these are pricey pieces, but on the other hand, it’s getting tons of press and royal association, so I can see a lot of higher end fashion houses gladly handing that stuff over on a discount.
I mean, don’t get me wrong, $200,000 is an insane amount of money considering how much of their life is funded by taxpayers, but you know. Rich people DGAF.
Veronica S, I think you’re correct here. The prices quoted for the Cambridges, Sussexes and Brooksbanks weddings are 90% security / 10% posh wedding.
When QEII attends *any* wedding, there are security costs that are paid by the State. Goes with the territory. Everyone complains until their hearts melt watching the royal weddings, and then they talk about the dress, tiara, crazy guest hats, etc. Rinse and repeat for every royal wedding, large or small.
As I sit here in my non-yeoman approved sweats, I’m thinking about the raging claustrophobia I would have if there were that many people helping me get dressed. However, I guess the good news is that unlike earlier kings and queens, one’s morning poos aren’t evaluated.
Yes! I would not be able to stand all those people fussing over me!
Ha ha. I’m currently wearing similar clothing that also hasn’t gone through any vetting. But, I would very much love my own Jeeves. Like Bertie, however, if I had a Jeeves I’d have to pay myself. I know, Bertie had inherited money and I’ll never have that.
Why does Prince Charles look like a lobster who has been cooked alive in the bottom picture? His face is a crazy shade of pink. Maybe he needs to add a makeup person to his entourage, as well?
Doesn’t he have high blood pressure/hypertension, which is what also causes the swelling/red hands?
I see.
It’s a condition called rosacea and Harry has it too.
If that is rosacea he definitely needs a person who would suggest calming tonics/facials to him.
I don’t buy the rosacea story, it must be something else.
Well, at least he always looks immaculate. So that yeoman is really doing his job well (unlike Jessica Mulroney).
I think it’s not too much to ask Meghan to be responsible for tag removal. Perhaps it was missed because it’s in a strange location. First tour rookie mistake.
I don’t think Jessica Mulroney gets much fo anything else right either though. If Meghan happens to look good (both in the face and figure), I think it’s because she’s pretty, not because Mulroney is really excellent at what she does.
I thought it looks more like the dryer instruction tag than a price tag….
this story makes me giggle so much. I have only ever seen Prince Charles in pix wearing either extremely luxe suiting or his polo outfit or something that looks like “Country Gentleman Shooting Outfit.” And i sort of picture him having a complete and expensive silk pajama/robe/slipper set for evenings. But I wonder if he ever just lounges around his palace wearing old man jeans with an elastic waistband and a ratty Gourdonstoun Prep shirt.
😂😂😂 Stuffing his face with chips from the bag and a can of Coke. Crumbs everywhere. Binging on The Walking Dead.
Only that his chips are from his personal super eco friendly not genitically manipulated gardens and his coke is made by silent monks in Himalayan mountains at a full moon ritual. Or something.
But for real, I watched a food documentary recently and there was a fancy Italian meat person who showed some super exclusive hams he smokes/ages for Prince Charles. Shit is more expensive than everything that I own.
Charles, at home, wears clothes that have been darned. In the winter he can sometimes be seen in a very old coat, which may have been inherited, with all manner of repairs and patches over it. I don’t think he buys a lot of clothes but just has very high quality stuff which is meant to last a lifetime like his hand made shoes for instance which are reheeled and resoled. I think William and Harry wear handmade shoes, which cost a fortune but are made to last for ever.
Prince Charles has aged into the white rabbit from Alice in Wonderland.
I need a travelling yeoman to keep all my devices charged and make sure I have snacks.
Can’t wait until the UK is a republic.. and isn’t called the United *Kingdom* anymore.
You’ll just end up with more greedy and grubby politicians as head of state..
You’ll be able to vote those out at least.
@Veronica, you’re assuming our electoral system won’t become as corrupt as the US system. It’s already well on its way (Brexit vote).
On one hand, you have all the comments about WK and HM donning ill-fitting and wrinkled clothes. Royalty should just not be funded period but here we are. At least he is conscious enough to rack up his numbers and set up a meaningful foundation.
This sounds fascinating though! Now I want to nibble on scones, sip tea served by my butler, while waiting for my yeoman *adjusts tiara*.
I remember being a kid and having to go on a field trip. We were told Prince Charles was visiting Canada and we would get to see him. They had us stand hourssss outside somewhere and all we got to see was his hand waving from a car window. THAT WAS IT. The Royals do anger me though. They’ve done nothing to earn such an amazing lifestyle other than being born. They spend money like crazy and it’s the poor tax payers that have to pay for it.
“Clutches carefully selected yeoman’s pearls” 😂
He really does not look well lately. I hope I’m wrong.
The only new thing in this story is that this information came out for the public. I have heard rumors for years about him and his huge entourage, it was around 130 people working in his house alone???!!!
Times are changing and we hear about things like a yeoman etc. What we really should understand is that Charles was raised like this. He will be king and nothing was even spared for him. Sure he has worked and has built successful organizations etc but he has always lived a pampered life and he will live till the end of days. He is an old man. Expect him to get more spoiled as time goes by. Doesn’t William also has a valet??? When he is king her will have more than one. But for now they call them personal assistants or something.
Oh to live that life, even for a while. No wonder Meghan left everything behind for that kind of life. She, as a working woman, has never tasted anything like that. NEVER
Meghan needs a yeoman.
Charles always looks immaculately dressed. I’ve developed a soft spot for Charles after waiting for the crown all these years and now he’s pretty much an old man.
I also like that he was environmentally aware before it was a fashionable thing to be.