Princes slammed over charity motorcycle ride
Royal brothers under fire after donating minimum amount to African charity
PRINCES WILLIAM and Harry have come under fire after the two royals managed to raise just £1,500 each for their motorbike charity ride - Enduro Africa.
The sum has come under fire after the rest of the riders taking part in the motorcycle adventure managed to raise an average of £3,500 each. A representative for William and Harry confirmed the amount, but insisted the Princes had raised the profile of the charity event. He said to the Mirror newspaper:
“The princes both donated the minimum required to take part but their presence on the ride, as with their support of other charities, raised its profile and we expect more riders to be taking part next year, so it raises more money indirectly.”
Did the Princes do enough for the trip, or was it just a low-cost jaunt for the royals and their entourage of security staff?
Discuss this story
I would have though the princes have lots of very wealthy friends and family from whom they could have collected quite a bit more. People to whom £50 is just like a donation of a fiver to you and me. I wonder if they went round with their sponsorship forms? The princes certainly raised the profile of the event but I'm not sure it was in a positive way.
Posted: 11/11/2008 at 10:37
I would suggest that this is sour grapes bordering on greed on the part of the charity. They (the Princes) did what they needed to and undoubtedly used their influence to raise the profile of the event.
Does the Queen or the PM donate to every "do" she/he goes to - unlikely. If the min of £1500 wasn't enough then make the minimum £3500. These events are touted as holidays of a lifetime with the added bonus of raising money, not the other way around (granted I don't know the specifics of this event) Fairly typical British reaction as far as I can see ("Thanks for your money, have you got any more?") 
Posted: 11/11/2008 at 10:48
I did the Macmillan 4x4 Challenge the past 2 years. One of the guys who has done it since the first year always has a celebrity passenger, he has had Charlie Dimmock and others and has Julia Bradbury this year. He has always maintained that they are not required to raise the money, yet are part and parcel of raising the profile of the event, hopefully allowing others to raise more money on the back of it. The guests have commitments (Contractual in most cases) where they cannot support another over theirs. I can see exactly why they only raised the minimum allowance bearing in mind what else they do.
Posted: 11/11/2008 at 12:30
Does the Queen or the PM donate to every "do" she/he goes to - unlikely.
Going to and participating in are two different things. The princes were actively participating in this event. I think it is a bit poor to only raise the minimum, especially if the other entrants average is more than double. I very much doubt it was the holiday of a lifetime to the princes. They should be setting an example - doing the minimum required is a bad (but all too common) example to set... Yes, I am a grumpy bastard. 
Posted: 11/11/2008 at 12:34
I really didn't expect anything else from the pair You often find the richest most priviledged people are the tightest and meanest, so no surprises.
Posted: 11/11/2008 at 12:44
It was an excuse for a jolly, really The cost of the escort exceeded any donations they made. A joke really, but hey, if you're rich & priviledged you can do what you want and fuck the rest. So no change there.
Posted: 11/11/2008 at 13:13
Not that you're bitter and twisted about it all eh? 
Posted: 11/11/2008 at 13:31
Personally, I don't care about them or what they do. I'm not bothered. I'm not a fan, I admit, but care neither way. To me it was obvious they were on an accompanied jolly, the charity bit was an excuse.
Posted: 11/11/2008 at 14:17
So. let me get this right? Did the charity benefit at all? If so well and good, if not poor show. Why does everyone always want more than their share??????
Posted: 11/11/2008 at 14:20
So. let me get this right? Did the charity benefit at all? If so well and good, if not poor show. Why does everyone always want more than their share??????
Val, you're just too damn sensible! We want inflammatory content, we want rude words, we want to hear you say disrespectful things about the royal family. Go on, just this once.......please 
Posted: 11/11/2008 at 14:33
What difference does it make how much they raised? We've been pumping millions into the shit hole since Bob Geldoff & the rest of the multi - millionaires told us to 'dig deep,' & what difference has it made? Fuck all, there still won't be snow in Africa this Christmas time.
Posted: 11/11/2008 at 19:21
whatever happened to charity begins at home? im sure theres plenty more worth while causes in this country to attend too
Posted: 12/11/2008 at 17:48
I think the main benefactors of the event was a charity which Harry set up and is patron of, which obviously dictates that he gives alot in time and effort as well as financial donations. I feel a bit for them really, yes they are priveledged, they are fucking royalty for christs sake, but they also do try to have some sort of normality in their lives and when they make a mistake, which we all do from time to time, they are then slated publicly for it. If they sat in their "Ivory Towers" living of the civil list and doing fuck all else they would still get it from the press.
Posted: 12/11/2008 at 19:31
This is an adventure ride with a Charity bit to give it some credibility and a bit of a feel-good factor. It costs £5000 to enter, and £1500 of that goes to charity, unless you raise more. Basically you pay £5000 and you get to do the ride. End of really. BTW, I'm not knocking it, I would love to do it myself.
Posted: 13/11/2008 at 09:49
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