5 Reasons We Can't Believe What They Say Because We See What They Do

Jame Baldwin's phrase "I can't believe what you say because I see what you do" hits especially hard when applied to Charles and the royal family because it captures the gulf between their public rhetoric and their private behavior—particularly around values like service, humility, environmentalism, and public duty.

Here’s why it resonates so sharply:

1. Public Image vs. Private Privilege

• Royals often speak of “service,” “sacrifice,” and “duty”, but live lives of extraordinary privilege, wealth, and insulation.
  

• Charles, for example, talks about caring for the planet and promoting harmony, yet:
  

  • He travels frequently by private jet and helicopter.
    

  • His Coronation cost the public tens of millions during a cost-of-living crisis.

Disconnect: The words evoke humility and stewardship; the actions reveal entitlement and extravagance.

2. Environmental Advocacy vs. Personal Carbon Footprint

• Charles has long styled himself as an environmentalist, calling for urgent action on climate change.
  

• Yet his personal lifestyle—multiple homes, frequent air travel, lavish events—contradicts this.

The public sees the hypocrisy: “Don’t lecture us on emissions while you’re flying to Balmoral in a helicopter.”

3. Royal Neutrality vs. Political Meddling

• Royals claim to be politically neutral, a key justification for their unelected role.
  

• Yet Charles has a long history of lobbying government ministers via the infamous “Black Spider Memos”, pushing personal views on housing, health, and education policy.

He says he respects democracy, but acts in ways that circumvent democratic accountability.

4. Support for Charity vs. Extraction from Public and Charitable Funds

• The monarchy is often praised for supporting charities—but under scrutiny, it's clear that:
  

  • The royals cost the public hundreds of millions annually.
    

  • They’ve charged rent to charities on Duchy land (until recently).
    

  • Their charitable foundations have faced transparency issues, including donations from questionable sources.
    

They talk about giving back, but are seen as taking more than they return.

5. Taxpayer-Funded Lives vs. Claims of Frugality

• The royal family insists it’s good value for money
  

• But this ignores:
  

  • The true scale of public funding, including security, renovations, and ceremonial costs.
    

  • Their voluntary, limited taxation arrangements—far more lenient than what ordinary citizens face.
    

They say they’re cost-effective; the public sees unchecked opulence.

In Summary:

"We can’t believe what you say because we see what you do" cuts through royal PR like a knife through illusion.

It calls out the monarchy’s reliance on appearances over substance, virtue-signaling over ethical consistency, and performance over accountability. It reminds people that actions—not speeches, symbols, or ceremonies—reveal true values. And for an institution that rests entirely on image and symbolism, that kind of exposure is particularly damning.