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Royal Visit: Just More Tourists
updated: Jul 09, 2011, 8:00 AM

By Edhat Subscriber

Comment here on Prince William and Catherine's royal visit to the Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club today. If you don't care about the visit, use this thread.

Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

COMMENT 190992	2011-07-09 08:29 AM
It's just NOT that BIG of a deal. But I surely don't wish to deal with the traffic chaos.
COMMENT 190997	2011-07-09 08:33 AM
I plan on staying as far away from the craziness as posible. A good day to spend in Goleta!
COMMENT 190999	2011-07-09 08:37 AM
they're just people!
AQUAHOLIC	2011-07-09 08:41 AM
An archaic show (circus) of epic proportions. They could do so much more with all their wealth...
COMMENT 191006	2011-07-09 08:45 AM
AQUAHOLIC: Polo match is a fundraiser, expected +$500k for charity? What do you propose they do with their time?
PURPLERIDER	2011-07-09 08:57 AM
Does anyone know when they'll be leaving the area? I have a B.Day party in Montecito to go to tomorrow and I need to plan accordingly.
ZIPPER101	2011-07-09 09:04 AM
With regard to what they should do with their time, one word: abdicate. The whole "royals" nonsense is too much. The justification for the continuing presence of a monarchy in the UK, tradition along with supposed tourist dollars, is far outweighed by the inherent silliness of the idea of kings and queens in the 21st century and the extraordinary costs of maintaining this so-called "House of Windsor" and its many hangers-on and dependents. The concept of "royalty" now exists mainly as one more manifestation of the sickening world of 24 hour "celebrity culture" in which we all now live.
AQUAHOLIC	2011-07-09 09:06 AM
@006, They could stay home, in a castle, and send a check to the worthy charity, thus saving lots of $$ and frustration for the lowly working class here in the U.S. Again, they are archaic figure heads/celebrities with no real purpose other than to attract tourists to Britain, thus insuring their lavish lifestyles at tax-payers expense. yawn.
COMMENT 191023P	2011-07-09 09:11 AM
"The institution of royalty in any form is an insult to the human race." Mark Twain
COMMENT 191025	2011-07-09 09:16 AM
ZIPPER101: Completely disagree. 191023P: Stolen from another post - hopefully your own. Monarchy provides a relatively inexpensive form a stability in an otherwise hostile political and social environment. Imagine if we had an apolitical figure head helping bridge right and left in this fantastic country of ours?
COMMENT 191032	2011-07-09 09:37 AM
They are hugely popular in England - google "British Royal Popularity" - 75% of English prefer the monarchy over switching to a republic. They are also hugely popular here and elsewhere - witness the crowds and attention they are getting. A small but vocal minority wish them gone but most folks kind of like the royals.
AQUAHOLIC	2011-07-09 09:42 AM
Just because something is popular, doesn't necessarily mean we should keep doing it, for example, slavery.
COMMENT 191037P	2011-07-09 09:45 AM
I really could care less. I'm just hoping it doesn't cause a bad traffic issue for me because I live near the polo fields in Carp (note to rest of world: That's Carp, NOT Santa Barbara) and I have to make a couple of trips into SB today. I think it's silly to pay $4k for the privilege of donating to a foreign based charity when there's a ton of stuff locally that needs tending to. The whole thing is really kinda lame imo and as someone who lived in the UK for almost 10 years, I have never understood the love for the royals. They live off the people and don't really serve any purpose other than for sentimental traditionalists to fawn over. rant over.
COMMENT 191053	2011-07-09 10:28 AM
William & Kate's visit to the polo fields raised $4 million for the William & Harry Foundation which helps poor children.
COMMENT 191054P	2011-07-09 10:39 AM
In recent years, there have been a number of movies like "The King's Speech," which have portrayed the British monarchy in a favorable light. I enjoyed these films, but I never forget that my ancestors came to this country and fought a revolutionary war to escape the tyranny of that institution. Today would be a good day to reread the Declaration of Independence. These people are rich, immeasurably wealthy, and still a threat to human freedom.
MTNDRIVER	2011-07-09 11:09 AM
Umm, "threat to human freedom"? Sounds like part of a Monty Python sketch. They're what they have in England instead of movie stars. I think an argument can be made that they are on balance a financial asset to the UK, what with the tourism and all. Not saying it's the case, but they aren't clearly parasites either. Having lived in England and being married to a Brit, my personal experience has been that the people over there who like them think of them sort of like a cross between a pet and a quirky or favorite relative (grandmother, brother, niece, etc, depending on which royal you're talking about). There's a way people take possession of them emotionally. I think with this prince in line for the throne, it's more likely the monarchy will survive. If his brother had been the elder, there'd be more pressure to get rid of it. But William seems "a decent chap". And he married a "nice middle class girl", which helps as well. Makes it more palatable. She's not a toff.
COMMENT 191064	2011-07-09 11:24 AM
The Royal Family is symbolic of just about everything that is wrong with humans.
COMMENT 191066	2011-07-09 11:26 AM
....and Paris Hilton explains all the rest.
COMMENT 191068	2011-07-09 11:39 AM
They came on my tour the other day [that was us in the black SUV, in case you saw us on State st.] Nice enough people who.... Read the newspaper & know of SB`s plights ie: crime,homelessness,law enforcement, gangs & gov.[I told them about edhat] I am beholden to tell the truth & I sure did!!..about everything!. And of course,what we consider "rich" [Ty W.] they laugh at. I once had an Egyptian Prince on tour too,so I`m accustomed to hangin with royalty....sorry, no pics by request.
COMMENT 191069	2011-07-09 11:41 AM
Our "royalty" is the over-the-top celebrity culture we have where all behavior seems without limits. Unlike most of our celebrities, I like how much the royals do for others, how involved they are in multitudes of charities within their country and internationally. It'd be a stretch for us in this country to support them (like the Canadians are providing their air transportation to Canada the U.S. and home). However, they do have their own fortunes (like our wealthy businessmen/women), and are doing something positie with their 'celebrity.'
COMMENT 191073	2011-07-09 11:45 AM
My goodness - such negative comments. I LOVE the Royal Famly and they bring so much money into England through tourisim. I totally agree with MtnDriver! Long live the Monarchy!..........peronally I've never understood the fawning over Hollywood Celebrities.
COMMENT 191083	2011-07-09 12:00 PM
068: nice try, but no.
COMMENT 191095	2011-07-09 12:34 PM
I seriously can't believe people are complaining. 90% of people in SB don't even make it out to the polo fields area, so it's a non-issue and there's always traffic northbound on Saturday, from everyone in LA coming up for the weekend. This polo match will raise $4 million and a dinner in Hollywood the other night raised $27 million for poor children around the world. How could anyone criticize that?
COMMENT 191111	2011-07-09 01:47 PM
Seems like a good day to work in the garden and avoid the freeway.
COMMENT 191116	2011-07-09 01:59 PM
Did you read about the wretch who tortured those poor dogs? He and his kind who enjoy applying cruel and perverted actions upon the innocent and helpless, these are examples of what's really wrong with humans.
COMMENT 191124P	2011-07-09 02:12 PM
A little royalty can be a good thing, take for example the trophy presentation on the steps of the royal box after the Monaco Grand Prix each year in Monte Carlo.
COMMENT 191131	2011-07-09 02:32 PM
AQUAHOLIC This is a fundraiser. When did you last get up at five in the morning to spend your weekend doing good works? This is what they are doing with their time. It's not a circus. It's a thrilling,exhilarating and often dangerous sport played with enormous skill by both pony ( the horses are referred to as "ponies") and rider alike,
COMMENT 191144	2011-07-09 04:02 PM
It is not a 'figurehead' entity as the House of Windsor has massive financial power. What they raise for charity is a drop in the bucket in comparison with the wealth they extract from society. Royal control and influence continue but flow from the boardroom instead of the throne room. I do agree with the Samuel Clements quote.
COMMENT 191145	2011-07-09 04:11 PM
AQUAHOLIC: Comparing royals to slavery - good job.
COMMENT 191152P	2011-07-09 04:40 PM
@191144--I completely agree. We used to be a fairly independent people. The older people around me when I growing up made a point to praise achievement & merit over inherited power & money.
COMMENT 191162P	2011-07-09 06:04 PM
"Off with their heads." OK, I'm sure they are very nice people and charming dinner guests, but this Royalty thing is so dusty and old.
COMMENT 191168	2011-07-09 06:29 PM
Sorry, but they were completely charming.
COMMENT 191169	2011-07-09 06:32 PM
032 Right on. In the UK most of us enjoy the Royals and the rich panoply of history, happily leaving the Government to run the country. Some can't govern very well, but thank heavens we regulary have a change! Imagine being stuck with generations of Browns or Camerons,or in your case in the USA, having to cope forever with dynasties forged by people like the Bushes.
COMMENT 191182P	2011-07-09 08:19 PM
I love how all the long live the monarchy comments are from US residents. It's easy to support and fawn over someone who isn't taking your money to live a life of wealth and privilege off of...oh wait, I forgot about healthcare CEOs in the US....Do you think they're fascinating and regal, too?
COMMENT 191186	2011-07-09 08:44 PM
AQUAHOLIC: Royals cost the brits $60m and just a couple of them raised $4m in a week?
COMMENT 191195P	2011-07-09 09:36 PM
I was meh about this as I am with many of the celebs that come to town, even Bill Clinton, but I don't think this couple really cares if people care so that's cool. I'd be pretty stoked to see GW Bush though. Missed him when he literally rolled through town during his 2000 campaign on a train--he didn't even stop. Hopefully he will return to SB again.
AQUAHOLIC	2011-07-09 09:59 PM
131....I get up regularly at 5:00, sometimes earlier, on the weekends to haul kids to far flung places who happen to love swimming...all for a good cause, health, fitness, focus, discipline, and hopefully, entrance to a fine college one day! I never said I didn't like polo, on the contrary, I love it, the sport of kings ironically. It's a beautiful, and yes, exhilarating spectacle of man, (sometimes women, on Kauai), horse and sport. These ponies are well loved, and most are taken better care of, than lots of people! I have watched it here locally and on the island of Kauai where it's a little more like Mayberry RFD, which I find charming, and love even more!
COMMENT 191209	2011-07-10 06:51 AM
I don't have negative feelings about the royals, but I didn't care to see them. I pretty much feel sorry for them since they'll never get to hike the Cold Springs trail.
COMMENT 191210	2011-07-10 06:59 AM
I was somewhat neutral, but with The Highlander against them, I'm now definitely for them. (Although we do agree on Paris Hilton.)
COMMENT 191222	2011-07-10 07:41 AM
I went online and viewed some photos of the polo match and the people who came to view it. Some of the photos (and their captions) of the attendees were downright embarrassing, with their bizarre hats, playing dress-up, etc. Made me embarrassed to be an American and Californian. Glad the couple raised a lot of money, though. I hope no ponies had to be put down: When we watched a few polo matches at the club a while ago (when the world championships were there), a couple of ponies broke bones and were put down. Kind of takes the glamour off the sport and makes it appear cruel and selfish.
COMMENT 191296	2011-07-10 11:10 AM
Big WOW!! They have to put on and take off their pants one leg at a time, just like the rest of us, and their poop stinks most foully, just like the rest of us. Just because of the random luck of "birth" we're supposed to place them high on a pedestal? B.S.!!!!!!
COMMENT 191380	2011-07-10 03:37 PM
I bet some of people who had jobs at the polo fields yesterday were happy they came. How much did their visit bring to our local economy?

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