Great Britain Opponents of the monarchy: royals cost half a billion a year

Half a billion pounds - according to opponents of the monarchy, that's how much the royals cost the British state each year. This is according to a report by the group Republic, which is calling for the abolition of the monarchy.

According to the report, the costs and lost income for King Charles III (75) and Co. amount to more than 500 million pounds (567 million francs). The palace declined to comment when asked by the German Press Agency and referred to official financial reports.

Instead of cutting pensioners' heating allowances, as announced by Finance Minister Rachel Reeves (Labour), savings should first be made on the royals, said Republic leader Graham Smith in a statement. "If Reeves thinks tough decisions are needed in these difficult times, she needs to start with the royals."

Official figures partially missing

The sum quoted by Republic is based in part on rough estimates and is difficult to verify independently. For example, the group assumes that the security costs for the royal family amount to 150 million pounds. There is no official figure for this.

Estimates of alleged lost income are also included, such as potential rental income of over 70 million pounds for Buckingham Palace and a good two million for Windsor Castle. Other estimates for the potential rental income are less than half as high - apart from the question of whether it would even be realistic to let the property.

Royals can look forward to a handsome windfall

However, the royal family's budget for official duties and the maintenance and operation of residences, known as the "Sovereign Grant", is well known.

Its amount is based on the income from the Crown Estates, a land and property portfolio that also includes the rights to the continental shelf around the British coast.

As income has risen sharply due to the expansion of offshore wind power, the royals can look forward to a handsome windfall. The "Sovereign Grant" has increased by 45 million to around 130 million pounds. According to the palace, a large part of this will go towards the urgently needed renovation of Buckingham Palace.

Charles is to make do with 189,000 pounds

The royals' private income comes primarily from other land and property portfolios, known as the Duchy of Cornwall (for heir to the throne Prince William, 42) and the Duchy of Lancaster (for King Charles). According to official financial reports, £21 million before tax flowed into William's pocket last year, while his father made £27.4 million in profits.

If Republic is to be believed, the two duchies deprive the state of revenue amounting to almost 100 million pounds. The group denies that the income is private wealth. It is demanding that expenditure for the royal family should be reduced to between 5 and 10 million pounds. As head of state, King Charles should be content with an annual salary of 189,000 pounds, they say.

SDA