British royal family to receive $118M from taxpayers this year
What's the story
The British Royal Household has announced that it will receive £86.3 million ($118.50 million) from the UK government this year. The amount, known as the Sovereign Grant, is used for maintaining palaces and supporting official duties of the royals. This funding is sourced from British taxpayers and has been a tradition since 1760 when King George III agreed to hand over profits from the Crown Estate to the government in exchange for annual funding.
Funding details
What does the Sovereign Grant cover?
The Sovereign Grant serves as an expense account for the monarch and their representatives. It covers costs such as travel, staff salaries, and upkeep of historic properties. However, security expenses are not included in this grant. The royal family carried out more than 1,900 public engagements in the UK and abroad last year. Also, more than 93,000 guests attended 828 events at official royal palaces during the same period.
Palace upgrades
Grant includes $47M for Buckingham Palace refurbishment
The £86.3 million grant is divided into a core grant of £51.8 million ($71.1 million) and £34.5 million ($47.4 million) for Buckingham Palace's refurbishment. The palace, a major tourist attraction in central London, is undergoing extensive modernization work including updates to electric cabling and pipework, elevators, as well as bathrooms. The report also revealed plans to decommission the royal train after a review of its use and value for money.
Sustainability initiatives
Royal family plans to electrify vehicle fleet
The Royal Household plans to increase its use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and continue electrifying its vehicle fleet. Last year, they announced plans for an "almost fully electric" fleet but did not specify a date. The King's two Bentleys shall be modified to run on biofuel. The royal family's income comes from the Sovereign Grant, Duchy of Lancaster and Duchy of Cornwall estates, as well as personal property and investments.
Criticism
Funding for royals criticized
The funding levels for the British royal family have often been criticized. Republic, an anti-monarchy group, has called for abolishing the Sovereign Grant and keeping all profits from the Crown Estate. Graham Smith, a campaigner for Republic, slammed the grant system as "mad" and demanded better accounting and reduced costs of monarchy. However, James Chalmers, Keeper of the Privy Purse, defended its value saying "soft power is hard to measure but its value...is now firmly understood."