So what do a duke and duchess do in the modern age?

[XemaSab]

What does the title mean? :shrug:

[JHB]

1. Some ceremonial duties and lots of opulence.

[XemaSab]

3. Ok

Are there incomes and lands associated with the title?

Is there an "old" duke of Cambridge who has to pack up and leave? :P

[joshcryer]

11. The Royals transferred to "The Firm" a long time ago.

They make millions off of their assets. And given their position with the State they get a lot of kickbacks. Consider for instance the wind farms which give them a quarter of a million dollars a year in lease money.

[CBGLuthier]

2. Live very well while their people starve

Just like in ye olden times.

[cali]

7. there are people starving in England?

Look, the English like their royalty. it's not my cup of, er, coffee, but it's nothing to me in any case.

[CBGLuthier]

8. Maybe not now but with austerity who knows

But one thing is for damned sure. They live very damn well on the backs of their "commoners."

[joshcryer]

12. And we Americans like our Koch's.

Oh, wait, most DUers don't. Likewise I'm sure there are a bunch of Brits who don't like their royalty.

[HereSince1628]

4. Nothing here in the US, we worship MONEY.

Here you've got to show us what's in your portfolio.

If you haven't got a portfolio, well, you ARE f@#ked.

[no_hypocrisy]

5. Charity work and placeholders for the monarchy essentially.

[deminks]

6. Make an heir and a spare.

[peace frog]

14. Exactly right

because after all, Kate is 29 and her biological clock is ticking. I think the couple had a hell of a good time these past eight years together but are now ready to get down to serious business producing babies and continuing the line of succession.

[marmar]

9. Gary Younge has a piece on this in the Nation:

http://www.thenation.com/article/160087/royal-wedding-class-act

[izquierdista]

10. After the honeymoon is over,

they duke it out for the amusement of the masses.

[XemaSab]

13. .

[jberryhill]

15. Promote Tourism And Charities

The royal family has considerable personal wealth - apart from all the stuff that belongs to the state - and would be living anyway.