The British royal family sees plenty of greenery in 2025.
In April, the Sovereign Grant, which helps fund their operations, will increase by more than $56 million. People magazine reported. This will result in a staggering $165 million.
The newspaper noted that the Sovereign Grant is the amount paid to the monarchy by the British Treasury. The pay rise has already been described as ‘outrageous’ by critics as the British government struggles to find funding for other budget items.
The British monarchy is facing more criticism this new year as the Sovereign Grant, which funds their activities, is set to receive a significant increase. (Getty Images)
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
“It is accepted that the funding will be used to repair Buckingham Palace, but in reality the royal family’s potential private wealth could collectively cover the costs,” royal expert Ian Pelham Turner told Fox News Digital.
“It’s another nail in the coffin for the Royal Family… especially now that many have lost their winter fuel allowance from the government. Many have to decide whether to eat or heat their homes in winter.”
Refurbishment work on Buckingham Palace is expected to be completed in 2027. (Pawel Libera/LightRocket via Getty Images)
The increase was announced last year, according to People magazine. At the time, Buckingham Palace made it clear that much of the money would be spent on the property’s ongoing $462 million renovations. Repairs are expected to be completed in 2027.
However, the palace did not specify how much money would be put into the renovations.
“This is public money,” said Republic CEO Graham Smith City & Country. The organization “campaigns for the abolition of the monarchy”, per its website.
“All this money is coming from the government at a time when the government is unable to properly fund schools, hospitals, police… it’s outrageous,” Smith said. “Not only should it not rise at all, it should fall.”
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King Charles III was crowned in May 2023. (Getty Images)
British royal expert Hilary Fordwich emphasized to Fox News Digital that the pay increase is not for King Charles III.
“That is absolutely not the case,” she explained, noting that it funds all the working offices at Buckingham Palace and their staff.
Other expenses include state banquets, entertaining foreign heads of state, the maintenance costs of royal palaces used for state purposes, running the royal household in general, including all staff required for diplomatic functions, as well as garden parties to which the public is invited and maintenance of royal properties.”
“Other funds are donated to their projects and charities for the greater good,” she said. “None of this is personal to King Charles III.”
British royal expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital that the renovation of Buckingham Palace was initiated by Queen Elizabeth II. England’s longest-reigning monarch died in 2022 at the age of 96. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Still, Pelham Turner said the pay increase is not a good prospect for the royal family after Charles and Prince William came under fire in November.
The Sunday Times and a television program entitled “The King, The Prince & Their Secret Millions” claimed that the king and his heir were quietly raising money through their royal estates, the Duchy of Lancaster and the Duchy of Cornwall.
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King Charles and Prince William came under fire in November after an investigation focused on their private properties. (Karwai Tang/WireImage via Getty Images)
The investigation shows that the private estates have raked in millions from government agencies, including the National Health Service and state-funded schools, as well as the British armed forces, the New York Post reported.
The Duchy of Lancaster is a private estate of 44,748 hectares in England and Wales, owned by the King as sovereign.
“The Duchy of Lancaster controls a wide range of land and property assets,” a spokesperson explained to Fox News Digital.
Prince William is heir to the British throne. (Mikolaj Barbanell/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
“It is self-financing and receives no public funds in connection with its activities,” the spokesperson said. “It publishes an annual report and accounts that are independently audited and available for viewing on its website and that comply with all relevant UK legislation and regulatory standards applicable to its range of business activities.”
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The Duchy of Cornwall is a private estate of almost 130,000 hectares in the South West of England, owned by William as the Prince of Wales. A spokesperson also emphasized the private status to Fox News Digital.
“The Duchy of Cornwall is a private estate with a commercial need that we achieve alongside our commitment to restoring the natural environment and generating positive social impact for our communities,” the spokesperson said.
King Charles and Queen Camilla mainly stay at Clarence House. (Victoria Jones-WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Prince William became Duke of Cornwall in September 2022 and has since committed to a comprehensive transformation of the Duchy. This includes a significant investment to make the estate net zero by the end of 2032, as well as establishing targeted mental health services for our tenants and working with local partners to help tackle homelessness in Cornwall.”
Prince William and his family live in Adelaide Cottage on the grounds of Windsor. (Jonathan Brady – Pool/Getty Images)
The Sunday Times claimed that a five-month investigation found that the Duchies make millions by “charging government departments, councils, corporations, mining companies and the general public through a range of commercial rents and feudal levies on land that was largely confiscated taken by medieval monarchs. “
People magazine noted that the arrangement is problematic because the royals would operate as “commercial landlords” while benefiting from a special agreement “that exempts them from paying taxes on their business profits.”
The Republic campaign, which has been critical of the funding of the Sovereign Grant, wants the British monarchy abolished. (Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images)
“If the Sovereign Grant increases so significantly it will cause more public uproar… especially after the Duchy of Lancaster and Cornwall, which belonged to Charles and William, caused public outrage,” Pelham Turner said.
Still, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams noted that repairs to Buckingham Palace are needed. Fordwich pointed out that the renovations were initiated by Queen Elizabeth II, who died in 2022 at the age of 96.
Buckingham Palace was the Queen’s main residence during her reign until March 2020. At the time, she moved to Windsor Castle during the coronavirus pandemic. People magazine reported that the palace was the official residence of British monarchs in London as early as 1837.
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The British Royal Family is seen on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for Trooping the Colour. (Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
“The renovation of Buckingham Palace was essential because much of it, the most famous headquarters of any institution in the world except the White House, was outdated and had not been renovated for decades,” he explained. “It should be noted that it is a working palace with staff. The ceremonies, such as the changing of the guard, attract tourists. It is also the beautiful processional avenue for the Trooping of Colour, as well as state visits and the opening of Parliament.”
Catherine, Princess of Wales, is seen at the state banquet at Buckingham Palace in London on November 22, 2022. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
“It will be renovated over a 10-year period, it is on budget and on schedule,” Fitzwilliams continued. “Buckingham Palace is the undisputed headquarters of the monarchy. It will remain that way. The renovation will continue until 2027… The cost of the Monarchy is… a bargain in my opinion: £1.29 per person. They are the highest in the world. -profile monarchy and the most prestigious projection of soft power in Britain. It (also) attracts enormous media attention and countless tourists worldwide.
Queen Elizabeth II and the former Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, attend the State Opening of Parliament in London on October 14, 2019. (Victoria Jones – WPA Pool / Getty Images)
People magazine reported that Charles, 76, is personally financing the redecoration of his private suite of rooms at Buckingham Palace, which won’t be completed until 2027. A source previously told The Sunday Times that the monarchy “is aware that the public purse does not pay for personal touches.”
Charles is mainly based at Clarence House, which is “a short walk” from Buckingham Palace.
According to the palace’s websiteThe building accommodates almost 100,000 guests and attracts more than 15 million tourists annually. The electrical wiring, plumbing and heating have not been renewed since the 1950s.
A state banquet held at Buckingham Palace. (Fox Photos/Getty Images)
“The building’s infrastructure is in urgent need of a complete overhaul to prevent long-term damage to the building and its contents,” the report said. ‘The most cost-effective way to replace these essential services and ensure the Palace is fit for purpose for the next fifty years is to undertake a phased program of works over ten years.
“The program will deliver a range of long-term financial and environmental benefits, as well as improvements to visitor access. The Palace will remain occupied and fully operational for the duration.”
