Dappy avoids jail over knife row in street

The monarchy is all cost and no gain

FREE Dappy outside court FLIGHT STUFF Meghan on Sunday and Harry, above MEGHAN Markle proves she’s in for the long haul with Prince Harry by making yet another flight to see him.

The actress, 35, was snapped before take-off in Toronto on Sunday night. She is staying with the 32-year-old prince at Kensington Palace. And with things said to be getting serious now, royal watchers are talking about aisle seats… FIREFIGHTERS, police officers and nurses face cuts and shortages, yet funding for the royals has shot up by 167% from £31million in 2012 to more than £82million for next year.

But this is just part of the cost. Research by Republic suggests the real figure is more like £345million a year when we include security, costs met by councils, unpaid tax and more.

It’s time we had proper accountability for royal funding. And let’s not hear about how much the royals bring into this country. Tourists would still flock to Britain if the monarchy was abolished. And Crown Estate profits would still go to the Treasury.

The monarchy is all cost and no gain. It’s time for a value-for-money, effective, democratic head of state.