Royal cost rises 40%
Hike of £1.5m as Harry and Meghan wed
FUNDING for young members of the Royal Family has shot up by 40%, from £3.5million to £5million.
The figure is revealed in accounts for Clarence House, which cover Prince Charles, as well as sons William, Harry and their families.
While no breakdown was provided, royal sources suggested the rise was partly due to Charles paying for Harry and Meghan’s wedding in May.
Charles funds his own duties and his immediate family’s activities from the income of his vast estate. Meanwhile, the Queen’s income from taxpayers – Sovereign Grant – increased by 13% due to Buckingham Palace renovations and extra payroll and travel costs. It rose from £41.9million to £47.4million. A spokesman said this sum represented an operational cost of 69p per person in the UK, up from 65p last year.
The Clarence House accounts for 2017-18 show Charles’ annual income from his Duchy of Cornwall estate rose by 5% to £21.7million.
His tax bill increased 2% from £4,757,000 to £4,854,000.
Travel cost £1million as he and the Duchess of Cornwall carried out 619 engagements in the UK and official overseas visits to 15 countries.
Graham Smith, of campaign group Republic, blasted the bill. He said: “Charles is the king of expenses, this should make us all worry what he’ll be like when he’s king of England.”
THE Royal Family has been riding high this year.
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle lifted the nation, the Queen leads by example with her exemplary dedication to public service and Prince William is a great ambassador on his trip to the Middle East.
It has long been accepted that this good work requires taxpayer support. But the royals risk squandering much of the goodwill if they dip too deeply into the public’s pocket.
Last year the amount the Queen received from the taxpayer-funded Sovereign Grant rose by 14% from £41.9million to £47.4million.
Nobody expects the Windsors to live like paupers. Nor can pageantry, such an essential part of the monarchy, be done on the cheap.
Yet they should be sensitive to the fact that millions of people are struggling to make ends meet. If they care about their image, they should also care about their finances.