Historically the Royal family have produced a net positive economic benefit of well over £1bn pa. They get taxpayer money to carry out their duties. The same duties which result in significant economic value. The profita from the crown estate go back to the public purse.
The net contribution has lessened in recent years. But they are still net wealth creators for the country. Our King is slimming down the royal family cost of operations to respond to this downturn.
Purely from an economic standpoint I have no idea why folk would criticise the royal family. Too many in this country seem to have a chip on their shoulder about wealthy folk, when in reality many of them create wealth for the economy as a whole. Good luck to us once we have driven every last one to other countries.
It is a hard thing to measure. But when I've worked abroad, occasionally in the odd far off place, there is no doubt that the institution is very well regarded overseas.
That said, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor should count himself extremely fortunate that he has lived his life in this and not another time. The Royals down the centuries have shown little patience with their more pestilent members, often exiling them, imprisoning them, topping them or just denying them their existence.
He is clearly a t**t, and will live the rest of his life trying to understand why he is so publicly loathed.