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Spending on monarchy up by £900,000 to £33.3m | Spending on monarchy up by £900,000 to £33.3m |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Government spending on the monarchy rose by almost £1m to £33.3m in the last financial year, Buckingham Palace accounts have revealed. | Government spending on the monarchy rose by almost £1m to £33.3m in the last financial year, Buckingham Palace accounts have revealed. |
The Queen's official expenditure increased by £900,000 in 2012-13, compared to the previous 12 months. | The Queen's official expenditure increased by £900,000 in 2012-13, compared to the previous 12 months. |
Sir Alan Reid, Keeper of the Privy Purse, said the figure was a "real terms reduction". | Sir Alan Reid, Keeper of the Privy Purse, said the figure was a "real terms reduction". |
The grant paid to the monarchy is calculated as 15% of money paid by the Crown Estate to the government. | The grant paid to the monarchy is calculated as 15% of money paid by the Crown Estate to the government. |
The estate, which includes property across the UK, increased its profits by 5% to £252.6m in 2012-13. | The estate, which includes property across the UK, increased its profits by 5% to £252.6m in 2012-13. |
The Queen's official expenditure excludes the costs of police and Army security and armed services ceremonies. | The Queen's official expenditure excludes the costs of police and Army security and armed services ceremonies. |
Palace maintenance | Palace maintenance |
Royal staff costs rose from £17.5m to £18.3m in 2012-13, while the cost of maintaining royal buildings increased by £200,000 to £9.1m. | |
The most expensive royal trip was the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's Diamond Jubilee tour of South East Asia and the South Pacific, which cost almost £370,000, including a planning visit in advance by staff. | |
The accounts also revealed £1m had been spent repairing and refurbishing the Kensington Palace apartment where Prince William and his wife will live. | |
The overall cost of official air and rail travel at home and abroad fell by £500,000 to £4.5m. | |
Sir Alan said: "The royal household has continued to reduce its expenditure funded by the taxpayer in successive years since 2008-9, achieving a real terms reduction of 24% over the last five years." | Sir Alan said: "The royal household has continued to reduce its expenditure funded by the taxpayer in successive years since 2008-9, achieving a real terms reduction of 24% over the last five years." |
The 2.6% spending increase in 2012-13 represented a real terms decrease of 0.2%, he added. | The 2.6% spending increase in 2012-13 represented a real terms decrease of 0.2%, he added. |
Public money used to fund the Royal Family, known as the Sovereign Grant, is expected to rise to £36.1m in the current financial year and £37.9m in 2014-15. | Public money used to fund the Royal Family, known as the Sovereign Grant, is expected to rise to £36.1m in the current financial year and £37.9m in 2014-15. |
Sir Alan said a "significant part" of the increase for the current year will be used to "tackle a backlog in essential property maintenance at the working royal palaces". | Sir Alan said a "significant part" of the increase for the current year will be used to "tackle a backlog in essential property maintenance at the working royal palaces". |
Asked whether David Cameron supported the increase to the Sovereign Grant, a No 10 spokesman said: "There is a process that is gone through. I don't think the Prime Minister disagrees with that process." | Asked whether David Cameron supported the increase to the Sovereign Grant, a No 10 spokesman said: "There is a process that is gone through. I don't think the Prime Minister disagrees with that process." |
'Lavish lifestyle' | 'Lavish lifestyle' |
Graham Smith, chief executive of campaign group Republic, said it was "unbelievable" the Queen would "sit silently by as she is handed millions more in public money". | Graham Smith, chief executive of campaign group Republic, said it was "unbelievable" the Queen would "sit silently by as she is handed millions more in public money". |
He added: "The Crown Estate is not - and never has been - the personal property of the royals. | He added: "The Crown Estate is not - and never has been - the personal property of the royals. |
"The Windsors have no more right to its revenue than I do. To claim that it should fund their lavish lifestyle is deceitful and dishonest." | "The Windsors have no more right to its revenue than I do. To claim that it should fund their lavish lifestyle is deceitful and dishonest." |
The Crown Estate, now worth an estimated £8.1bn, does not include the private property of the Queen. | The Crown Estate, now worth an estimated £8.1bn, does not include the private property of the Queen. |
The estate owns a vast range of property, from large parts of London's West End to 15 retail parks in cities including Liverpool, Swansea and Nottingham. | The estate owns a vast range of property, from large parts of London's West End to 15 retail parks in cities including Liverpool, Swansea and Nottingham. |
It also manages the seabed around the UK to a 12-mile limit, and has been involved in the creation of offshore wind farms. | It also manages the seabed around the UK to a 12-mile limit, and has been involved in the creation of offshore wind farms. |
The Sovereign Grant is worked out as 15% of the Crown Estate profit from two years previously, so the estate's £240.2m profit in 2011-12 led to the £36.1m grant for the current year. | The Sovereign Grant is worked out as 15% of the Crown Estate profit from two years previously, so the estate's £240.2m profit in 2011-12 led to the £36.1m grant for the current year. |