The price of a taxpayer-funded grant for the UK monarchy will improve by over 45 million kilos within the 2026-2027 yr, 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 take 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 yr 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, in accordance with The Republic, an anti-monarchy group, the Sovereign Grant doesn’t think about prices comparable to safety charges, and the precise value of the royal household to taxpayers is way greater. It estimates that the actual value is £510 million per yr.
The annual value of the royals, in accordance with The Republic
Expenditure from Sovereign Grant and Surplus: £108.9 million
State buildings utilized by royal household: £96.3 million
Duchy of Cornwall income/features: £65.3 million
Duchy of Lancaster income/features: £33.8 million
Royal Assortment internet 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
Whole 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 may spend public cash with impunity,” Republic’s Chief Govt Graham Smith mentioned in an announcement.
“How can we speak about slicing the winter gasoline 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 economic system general is debatable.
In keeping with The Unbiased, the Home of Windsor helps earn tons of of tens of millions for Britain’s economic system yearly, with Windsor Castle and Frogmore House reporting roughly 426,000 paying guests between April 2021 and March 2022.
Different monarchy properties, comparable to Buckingham Palace and the Royal Mews, are additionally profitable.
An grownup ticket for Windsor Fortress 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 economic 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 little thing from communications workers 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 telephone operator for Buckingham Palace to handle the estimated 7,000 telephone 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
