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Top comments of the week

Did you make the cut?

EVERY SATURDAY MORNING we take a look at all the best comments left on the site by our readers over the past seven days.

This week there was a lot of talk about Brexit, Console and divorce.

The 5 most popular comments this week

man-suffers-racist-abuse-on-manchester-tram-1-310x415 A still from the video footage

1. People were shocked by an incident that saw racist abuse shouted at a man on a bus in Manchester a few days after the Brexit vote.

Sean got 1,300 likes for this comment:

While drinking beer! That man was most likely on his way to work, paying his taxes so as to keep those thugs in benefits.

2. Speaking of the referendum, Johnnathan Biskalero had this to say about the UK’s decision to leave the European Union:

Keep voting till you get the right result……where have experienced that before ???????

That one got 1,256 green thumbs.

3. Lily Martin got 1,196 likes for this comment about a judge who dismissed a damages claim by a teenager who who said he fell on a broken bottle while playing football in “knee-high” grass:

Proper order. Well done judge.

4. The country was proud of the boys in green and their efforts in Euro 2016. After their loss to France last weekend, Tweed Cap wrote:

Doesn’t matter lads my kids are out the back. One of them is pretending to be Hendrick and the other Brady. That’s what it’s all about the next generation are inspired. Roll on the World Cup

Some 1,082 of you approved.

5. In another Brexit-related comment, Kerry Blake had this to say underneath Vincent Browne’s column about the EU:

Don’t often agree fully with Vincent but on this I do agree. My heart sank when I heard today that Enda was going to fight the fight for the Irish,,,,,,

That comment got 1,043 likes.

The top 5 articles which received the most comments this week

boris new Boris Johnson, leading Leave campaigner in the Brexit campaign. Dominic Lipinski / PA Wire/Press Association Images Dominic Lipinski / PA Wire/Press Association Images / PA Wire/Press Association Images

1. Poll: Should divorce waiting times be reduced to two years? (254 comments)
2. RTÉ, the Indo and the Times were “very, very hostile” towards Sinn Féin: Pearse Doherty (227 comments)
3. “Why are you here?” – An EU chief wasn’t impressed with Nigel Farage today (217 comments)
4. Poll: Would you like to see a second referendum on Brexit in the UK? (211 comments)
5. 28 dead and 60 others injured in Istanbul airport blast – official says (204 comments)

Standout comments

File Photo The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors is to hold a special conference in June to discuss possible industrial action if the government does not commit to pay restoration. AGSI General Secretary John Jacob called on delegates at the a RollingNews.ie RollingNews.ie

Ater it emerged that a man was shot by a garda during a planned operation incident near Foynes, county Limerick, scientia wrote:

Men and women tasked with the job of making life and death decision while their own lives hang in the balance forced to scrap for basic wages. These incidents really put it into perspective.

Food for thought.

90422766 Paul Kelly RollingNews.ie RollingNews.ie

People were shocked after an audit of the suicide prevention charity Console found that half a million euro was spent on foreign trips, designer clothes, eating out and other expenses between 2012 and 2014 – while another half a million was spent on salaries and cars for former CEO Paul Kelly and his wife Patricia Kelly.

JoseMacPhisto, a former Console volunteer, wrote:

As someone who used to volunteer for Console I am particularly disgusted at this. The counsellors whom I worked alongside were professionals, and relied on the wage as their only income. But this wage was irregularly payed to say the least, and things were always very tight within the service.
That Paul Kelly was earning that amount of money in the first place, before abusing his position to sequester half a million between him and his family, leaves me virtually speechless, and wholly indignant.
Worst off, it’s a terrible advert for a wonderful charity for whom people contribute an extraordinary amount of help and goodwill to people facing one of the most difficult situations imaginable. I hope people here won’t tarnish the charity by association.

While Dominick Lodola summed up how a lot of people are feeling after the revelations:

Lost for words.

download Met Éireann Met Éireann

As always, the weather provided much commentary this week. Here are some of our favourite comments from a post about how, shall we say, shite the weather has been:

Barry Aston and Maoilséachlaoin got straight to the point with these inputs:

weather

john culhane had this to say about the Irish summer:

Ah the monsoon season is a week early this year. Roll on September…

While Charlene Vaughan made us all this kind offer:

Picked a good week to go on hols then..will try pack the sun on way home

Fingers crossed, Charlene!

During the week, Dublin City Council’s Transport Committee passed a motion calling for new Luas trams to be “capable of being fitted with self-driving software“.

It was only a matter of time before this happened:

mono

All together now:

saveourspit / YouTube

In an interesting move, Don Henley banned any kind of mobile use – including texting, calling, taking photos or videos – at his solo gig at the 3Arena last night.

Don Henley Portrait Session Don Henley AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Concert organisers Aiken Promotions said in a statement: “In order to maximise your enjoyment as well as the enjoyment of those around you, please turn off your mobile phones and other electronic devices during the concert.”

Many of you agreed with the stance.

Jimmyjoe Wallace wrote:

Proper order too. Can we bring this rule in for all gigs? Strict enforcement too, of course.

Jason Ebbs added:

Same should apply in the cinema. People continually checking their phones. If you can’t go into a cinema for a couple of hours without constantly checking your phone you have no hope.

While Conor church had this idea:

If we can also add in people singing loudly during acoustic songs that would be great

That would *might* be difficult to enforce.

Speaking of singing, earlier this week a US federal judge signed off on a settlement that puts the song Happy Birthday in the public domain.

Attorney Daniel Schacht said: “This is a huge victory for the public and for the artists who want to use ‘Happy Birthday to you’ in their videos and music.”

The decision led Martin Flood to ask:

I’m guessing a refund for my previous 42 years is out of the question?

You might be out of luck there, Martin.

Fans sing as the players acknowledge them after the game Ireland fans salute their heroes one last time after the defeat against hosts France. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Finally, on foot of news that the Irish fans are to receive a prestigious award from the mayor of Paris for their “exemplary sportsmanship” during the country’s run to the last 16 of the Euros, Joe Murphy commented:

Well done to all the travelling supporters, you did your country proud

See any good comments? Send them to orla@thejournal.ie.

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20 Comments
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    Mute Manbackonboard
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    May 24th 2019, 9:48 AM

    I think they’ll be disappointed. Queen are not the same without Freddie Mercury.

    650
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    Mute Michael Mulcahy
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    May 24th 2019, 10:17 AM

    @Manbackonboard: excellent

    79
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    Mute KJmadra.
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    May 24th 2019, 10:00 AM

    I feel sorry for the Queen.

    287
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    Mute Russel Steapot
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    May 24th 2019, 11:03 AM

    What TF are Harry and Wills doing by agreeing to meet the Trumps? Surely they’re not obliged.

    47
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    Mute TamuMassif2019
    Favourite TamuMassif2019
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    May 24th 2019, 12:37 PM

    @Russel Steapot: Must be setting up the Royal family in the US now, it is a business?

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    Mute Paula Mackie Senior
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    May 25th 2019, 7:47 AM

    @Russel Steapot: probably moral support for poor Grannie who has a deluge of crooked, ignorant Trumps, who’ve invited themselves, to cope with. That family have some neck!

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    Mute emer caffrey
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    May 24th 2019, 10:04 AM

    One will need xanax with ones gin to cope

    187
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    Mute TamuMassif2019
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    May 24th 2019, 12:41 PM

    @emer caffrey: Trump’s all excited about the Royal wee…

    20
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    Mute Eamonn Ó Maoldomhnaigh
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    May 24th 2019, 12:56 PM

    @TamuMassif2019: Desending on him from a great height?

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    Mute TamuMassif2019
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    May 25th 2019, 1:02 AM

    @Eamonn Ó Maoldomhnaigh:
    Rain down, rain down
    Come on rain down on me
    From a great height
    From a great height
    Height
    Rain down, rain down
    Come on rain down on me
    From a great height
    From a great height
    Height
    Rain down, rain down
    Come on rain down on me
    That’s it, sir
    You’re leaving
    The crackle of pigskin
    The dust and the screaming
    The yuppies networking
    The panic, the vomit
    The panic, the vomit
    lol.

    1
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    Mute Olly Keegan
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    May 24th 2019, 10:36 AM

    I think they should just give Philip a free reign to say whatever he wants and then sit back and enjoy the show

    186
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    Mute Col de Gal
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    May 24th 2019, 10:46 AM

    @Olly Keegan: They should let him do the driving.

    104
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    Mute Enda Heff
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    May 24th 2019, 10:47 AM

    @Olly Keegan: That would make for excellent reality TV if they put a camera In the room

    35
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    Mute TamuMassif2019
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    May 24th 2019, 12:39 PM

    @Olly Keegan: Phillip’s driving them to the palace…

    3
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    Mute Tom Kelly
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    May 24th 2019, 9:57 AM

    Hope she snubs the lot of them.

    94
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    Mute Shane Carroll
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    May 24th 2019, 10:51 AM

    @Tom Kelly: One wealthy family from inheritance that doesn’t declare their tax meets another. One difference though is that the royals pr team bans them from exposing their real thoughts on social media!

    45
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    Mute Russel Steapot
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    May 24th 2019, 11:04 AM

    Imagine if Prince Philip had a twitter account! That would be legendary.

    96
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    Mute Anthony
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    May 24th 2019, 11:56 AM

    @Shane Carroll: the royals don’t declare tax because they don’t pay tax. It’s difficult to declare zero

    19
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    Mute Steven Moens
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    May 24th 2019, 10:16 AM

    I wonder if Her Majesty will be able to keep up the facade when that reality TV bunch of riff raff comes to soil her carpet….

    75
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    Mute Pl O'neill
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    May 24th 2019, 9:53 AM

    Probably worried about leaving them at home with creepy Joe biden .

    66
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    Mute Orla Smith
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    May 24th 2019, 10:12 AM

    @Pl O’neill: You mean Brett Kavanaugh!

    70
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    Mute Enda Heff
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    May 24th 2019, 10:45 AM

    @Orla Smith:. No he clearly stated Joe Boden. Is there something wrong with you?

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    Mute Sorcha Ní Shúilleabháin
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    May 24th 2019, 10:50 AM

    @Enda Heff: He clearly didn’t state Joe Boden!!!

    47
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    Mute Enda Heff
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    May 24th 2019, 10:53 AM

    @Sorcha Ní Shúillekabháin: so the pretext of creepy changes the clarity is it?

    6
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    Mute Sorcha Ní Shúilleabháin
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    May 24th 2019, 11:21 AM

    @Sorcha Ní Shúilleabháin: No, but if you’re going to be so rude as to ask what’s wrong with someone else it would help to be right yourself!

    37
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    Mute Julian Friesel
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    May 24th 2019, 1:54 PM

    @Sorcha Ní Shúilleabháin: *mic drop*

    14
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    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
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    May 24th 2019, 4:08 PM

    I don’t think he has figured it out yet

    5
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    Mute White Rabbit
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    May 24th 2019, 7:11 PM

    @Enda Heff: He clearly didn’t say David Hasselhof. Does that affect the context?

    3
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    Mute bill clear
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    May 24th 2019, 9:59 AM

    Oh God does that mean they are coming here too. Nooooo

    44
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    Mute DJ François
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    May 24th 2019, 10:15 AM

    Let loose the corgis…

    51
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    Mute Keelan O'neill
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    May 24th 2019, 10:58 AM

    @DJ François: with bees in the mouths and when they bark they shoot bees.

    16
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    Mute Paula Mackie Senior
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    May 25th 2019, 7:50 AM

    @DJ François: in case you missed it … all royal corgis are now ex- corgis. They’ve died out and Betty isn’t going to have any more.

    1
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    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
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    May 24th 2019, 10:02 AM

    A nice day out for Tiffany

    35
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    Mute Veronica
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    May 24th 2019, 10:51 AM

    @Dave O’Keeffe: haha so harsh

    8
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    Mute thephantomshit
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    May 24th 2019, 10:02 AM

    Is this really news?

    32
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    Mute Dave Moran
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    May 24th 2019, 10:29 AM

    The Grizwalls meet the Queen National Lampoon European vacation!

    35
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    Mute ianglen
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    May 24th 2019, 10:06 AM

    Wouldn’t be the first time the monarchy of the UK was sympathetic to a fascist.

    39
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    Mute Pl O'neill
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    May 24th 2019, 12:00 PM

    @ianglen: Always Facists around in Central Europe .

    3
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    Mute Eugene Conroy
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    May 24th 2019, 10:52 AM

    A democratically elected head of state meeting an unelected head of state before he meets with an other head of state that inherited his position from his pals. Would I have that right or am I missing something

    28
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    Mute Joe Curran
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    May 24th 2019, 10:52 AM

    The Clampetts are coming to town!

    27
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    Mute Malcolm Smith
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    May 24th 2019, 11:44 AM

    Well he’s bringing the ones he knows about !

    19
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    Mute Patabake Kennedy
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    May 24th 2019, 10:19 AM

    It’s going to be like a school outing.

    14
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    Mute TamuMassif2019
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    May 24th 2019, 12:35 PM

    @Patabake Kennedy: Who took a dump in the Queens handbag… Own up…

    3
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    Mute FlopFlipU
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    May 24th 2019, 11:14 AM

    I didn’t think he was a adult never mind siring any such a thing

    10
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    Mute TamuMassif2019
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    May 24th 2019, 12:33 PM

    @FlopFlipU: Show the Queen what you do for Daddy lol.

    3
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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    May 24th 2019, 11:17 AM

    I think three Queen will be so excited……not

    9
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    Mute David Faulkner
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    May 24th 2019, 1:48 PM

    He reckons he’s royalty most likely. Delusions or notions, or both

    9
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    Mute Marty from Sligo
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    May 24th 2019, 11:07 AM

    The Queen of England is head of Britain’s for over 60 years and its amazing no one ever voted for her..

    8
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    Mute TamuMassif2019
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    May 24th 2019, 12:32 PM

    @Marty from Sligo: No need when they have the BBC Propaganda machine working overtime.

    6
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    Mute Kyle Mac Creddin
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    May 24th 2019, 12:51 PM

    What do you call a bunch of Trumps?????

    8
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    Mute Dave Thomas
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    May 24th 2019, 1:11 PM

    @Kyle Mac Creddin: an intellectual black hole

    17
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    Mute Paula Mackie Senior
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    May 25th 2019, 7:52 AM

    @Kyle Mac Creddin: a degradation of Trumps?

    1
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    Mute Dominic Leleu
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    May 24th 2019, 10:05 AM

    Yeah.. don’t mind us, we just have hotels and golf courses.. moving on, next the United Kingdom… They speak the same language so it should not be hard ..

    5
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    Mute CharliesAngel
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    May 24th 2019, 3:38 PM

    I thought you had to be invited by Her Majesty, that you couldn’t just rock up to the palace with all your family in tow. Could this be like a reverse Assange? They show up at Buckingham Palace and claim asylum?
    (No offence meant to anyone who genuinely is seeking asylum)

    5
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    Mute Kim Campbell
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    May 26th 2019, 9:45 PM

    @CharliesAngel: May invited him for a state visit just after he was elected.

    1
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    Mute TamuMassif2019
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    May 24th 2019, 12:31 PM

    Because they all have sore feet and Trump heard the Queen has Footmen lol.

    5
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    Mute In my opinion
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    May 24th 2019, 1:35 PM

    The Von Trappe family meets the Queen

    3
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    Mute michael dowling
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    May 24th 2019, 1:24 PM
    2
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    Mute Donal Desmond
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    May 24th 2019, 4:54 PM

    Is Stormy Danials going also… Will the video be on sale after visit.. Asking for a friend.

    2
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    Mute Louisa Anna Harley
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    May 25th 2019, 9:11 AM

    He is a multi billionaire so that should be no problem.

    1
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    Mute Francis Glynn
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    May 24th 2019, 2:23 PM

    Like a pack of……..

    1
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    Mute Kim Campbell
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    May 26th 2019, 9:47 PM

    Oh I hope Charles and the boys have a great talk about climate change and the benefits of wind power.

    1
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