The price of a taxpayer-funded grant for the UK monarchy will improve by over 45 million kilos within the 2026-2027 12 months, sparking renewed controversy in regards to the royal family’s spending.
The sovereign grant, which pays for the royal household’s duties, will improve from £86.3 million in 2024-25 to £132 million in 2025-26.
Right here’s a more in-depth have a look at how a lot the royal household prices the UK.
How a lot does the royal household value the UK?
The royal household’s spending is tracked by the Keeper of the Privy Purse, Sir Michael Stevens, who takes care of the King‘s monetary affairs and all state funding for the Royal Family, which is named the Sovereign Grant.
Within the 12 months 2024-2025, the annual Sovereign Grant was reported at £86.3 million. This included £41.2 million spent on property upkeep and £34 million spent on payroll and related prices.
Nonetheless, based on The Republic, an anti-monarchy group, the Sovereign Grant doesn’t consider prices equivalent to safety charges, and the precise value of the royal household to taxpayers is way increased. It estimates that the actual value is £510 million per 12 months.
The annual value of the royals, based on The Republic
Expenditure from Sovereign Grant and Surplus: £108.9 million
State buildings utilized by royal household: £96.3 million
Duchy of Cornwall earnings/features: £65.3 million
Duchy of Lancaster earnings/features: £33.8 million
Royal Assortment web surplus: £11.8 million
Value to native councils: £31.9 million
Safety: £150.0 million
Prices met by Authorities Departments and the Crown Property: £7.5 million
Bona vacantia proceeds – Duchy of Cornwall: £0.1 million
Bona vacantia proceeds – Duchy of Lancaste: £4.8 million
Complete value: £510.4 million
“The half a billion pound value of the royals represents a scandalous abuse of public cash. It’s the results of royal corruption and secrecy, a household that believes it could spend public cash with impunity,” Republic’s Chief Govt Graham Smith mentioned in a press release.
“How can we discuss reducing the winter gas allowance whereas losing half a billion kilos on the royals?”
How a lot does the royal household usher in?
Whether or not or not — and to what extent — the royal household advantages the UK financial system general is debatable.
In keeping with The Impartial, the Home of Windsor helps earn a whole lot of thousands and thousands for Britain’s financial system yearly, with Windsor Castle and Frogmore House reporting roughly 426,000 paying guests between April 2021 and March 2022.
Different monarchy properties, equivalent to Buckingham Palace and the Royal Mews, are additionally profitable.
An grownup ticket for Windsor Fort and Buckingham Palace prices £35 if purchased on the day, whereas a ticket for the Royal Mews is £19. Memento gross sales additionally assist generate earnings.
The royal household additionally generates vacationer income from the royal assortment and the crown’s property.
One examine from Sheffield Hallam documenting the size of the impact of the royal family on UK tourism estimated the capital worth of the UK monarchy at £67.5 billion in 2022. That included an annual contribution to the UK financial system of £1.8 billion, encompassing oblique financial results on tourism, commerce, media, and humanities.
Over 1,000 folks employed by the royal household
The British royals make use of over 1,000 folks, which spans every thing from communications staff to gardeners for the properties.
There are additionally some very distinctive positions, such because the Royal Astronomer, a place that’s been held since 1675, in addition to a devoted cellphone operator for Buckingham Palace to handle the estimated 7,000 cellphone calls made to the palace every week.
What number of royals are there?
In 2025, there are 11 working royals, together with:
- King Charles
- Queen Camilla
- Prince William, Prince of Wales
- Princess Catherine, Princess of Wales
- Princess Anne, Princess Royales
- Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh
- Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh
- Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester
- Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester
- Prince Edward, Duke of Kent
- Princess Alexandra
