Royal Family’s Annual Spending Revealed And People Are Seriously Unimpressed: ‘That’s Just Mad...’

The royal family has time and again come under immense scrutiny over their annual finances. The massive royal purse funded by hard-working taxpayers helps in the smooth running of the monarchy. As the exact numbers were revealed this week, netizens were horrified. What is more concerning is that King Charles's Sovereign Grant is set to increase by more than $61.5 million, despite the country's financial crisis.

According to Tyla, the Crown’s annual finances have been skyrocketing with every passing year. Under the Sovereign Grant Act 2011, the royal family receives an annual payment from the government to fund the monarch's official royal duties, including travel, engagements, and the maintenance of assets and properties. Funded entirely by taxpayers, the Sovereign Grant is reviewed every five years to ensure an appropriate level of funding is being offered to the monarchy. This funding is scheduled to see a 53% increase from 2024-2025 to 2026-2027. Between 2024-2025, the sum was a whopping $117.38 million, and is expected to reach $178.79 million, angering many. Besides the funding, the monarch also receives an annual income from the Duchy of Lancaster, while Prince William earns profits from the Duchy of Cornwall. The family earns an extra $28.6 million from visitors. These staggering figures have understandably stirred conversations among the public.

On X (formerly Twitter), unimpressed netizens slammed the increased royal spending. A person noted, “King Charles charges Coastal Wind Farms hundreds of millions of pounds a year to rent worthless seabed because he 'owns the sea.’ This money is added straight onto your energy bills, then sent straight to him, and he pays no tax on it.” Another furious netizen echoed, “This Absolutely! While the royals are living it up on taxpayer money, many Brits are struggling. Why should we foot the bill for lavish trips when the monarchy's wealth is untaxed and untouched?” In a similar vein, a comment also read, “That needs to stop.” Another opined, "They wouldn’t tolerate this obscenity in France. Let them keep their estates which are linked to their private residence, but otherwise all Crown assets should be surrendered to the state." A disappointed netizen agreed, "That’s just mad."

The sudden hike in funding has sparked conversations among different organizations that stand against monarchy. According to NBC, the chief executive of the anti-monarchy campaign group Republic, Graham Smith, said, "Half a billion could go a long way to relieving some of that poverty. That money is instead being spent on their personal lifestyles, helicopters, and two dozen palatial homes." He added, "It’s just criminal." Many are also comparing the royal family's funding to the lives of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who have chosen to pursue financial freedom with their move to the US.