Princess says animals don’t have rights because they don’t pay tax
The royal has sparked an angry backlash after reportedly saying animals do not have rights “because they don’t pay taxes”.
Princess Michael of Kent – who is married to the Queen’s cousin – is said to have made the remarks during a discussion about her new novel, Agnes Sorel: Mistress Of Beauty.
“I’m a great animal lover and I’m involved in a lot of conservation, but animals don’t have rights.
“They don’t have bank accounts. They don’t vote,” she allegedly commented.
Despite saying we have an “obligation” to animals, she argued that does mean that they have any rights – as you have to “earn them”.
“We have obligation. We have obligation to animals, but to say they have rights?” she supposedly said.
“They don’t have rights. You only have rights if you pay your taxes. You earn your rights.”
Animal rights campaigners were quick to brand the alleged comments as “ignorant” and “daft”.
They have also urged the Princess to “exercise caution” before sharing her views on the issue henceforth.
“PETA urges Princess Michael to study the subject, rather than making an off-the-cuff statement that reflects ignorance of the issue of what fundamental rights animals have, which do not include the right to drive a car or build up an overdraft,” Elisa Allen, associate director of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), told The Times.
“She should also exercise caution in opining at all on such issues, because her daft assessment would mean that children and certain classes of human beings are also not entitled to rights.”
The princess has previously clashed with animal rights campaigners over her love of fur coats.
