The annual Sovereign Grant report, which details taxpayer-funded royal income and spending, notes that the monarch had ordered heating down to 19 degrees Celsius to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, in line with his environmental campaign of long standing
“I need not remind you that the report refers to a year in which inflationary pressures caused the price of many goods and services to rise for all organizations, particularly the cost of fuel and energy,” he said. Michael Stevens, Royal Treasurer.
As one of the busiest years for the royal family, the report says the royals spent 1.6 million pounds ($2 million) on the queen’s funeral and related events.
Royal spending increased by 5% to £107.5m, with an increase in staff costs, while the Sovereign Grant – based on a portfolio of royal property – stood at £86.3m and revenue additional ones fell to 9.8 million.
The report also notes that the proportion of employees belonging to ethnic minorities has remained at 9.7%, missing its target of reaching 10% by the end of 2022. However, a new target of 14% has been set for 2025.
Stevens said gas and heating emissions were down 19%, partly because the king had turned down thermostats and emissions from travel were down 43%.
Critics of the royals said the monarchy cost far more than the report suggested, saying Prince William, who received £6m from his inherited estate from the Duchy of Cornwall, should publish full details of his annual accounts. .
“The royals have long hidden their true cost, which we have estimated to be at least £345m. That’s enough to pay 13,000 new nurses or teachers,” said Graham Smith, managing director of campaign group Republic.
Stevens also said Prince Harry, and his wife Meghan, vacated their home from Frogmore Cottage, on the Windsor Castle estate, and reimbursed all taxpayer-funded expenses for the property, “leaving the Crown with quite a reinforced”.
