WILLIAM & Kate's lavish three-day Caribbean trip cost £226,000, according to an eye-opening annual report on royal spending.
The Duke and Duchess' visit to Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas in March by the Voyager minister jet cost £226,383 and included the cost of planning a trip to the three countries by royal staff.
William and Kate received a warm welcome in the Caribbean but faced protests from those calling for an apology and reparations for slavery.
Sir Michael Stevens, Keeper of the Privy Purse, said as planned the shortfall between the £102.4 million spent on the monarchy and the £86.3 Sovereign Grant, used to fund official duties and building work, was met by drawing on reserves and supplementary income from sources like the Royal Collection Trust, which opens royal residences to the public.
Sir Michael, who is responsible for the financial management of the Royal Household, said: "The Sovereign Grant shows increased net expenditure at 102.4 million, up 17%, with the majority of the increased spend coming on the Buckingham Palace reservicing programme, which saw a 41% increase in spend to £54.6 million."
Republic, which campaigns for an elected head of state, has called for what it claims is the "true cost of the monarchy" to be reported in the accounts – an estimated £345 million a year.
The £369 million reservicing programme is updating the electrical cabling, plumbing and heating at Buckingham Palace over 10 years and the royal aide said they were "confident" they would be within budget.
A deadline was set last year to complete a number of projects to allow scaffolding to be removed from key areas so the palace could play its part in Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
He added: "Looking ahead, with the Sovereign Grant likely to be flat in the next couple of years, inflationary pressures on operating costs and our ability to grow supplementary income likely to be constrained in the short term, we will continue to deliver against our plans and manage these impacts through our own efforts and efficiencies."
Read our Royal Family live blog below for the latest news…
- Joseph Gamp
Meghan always wanted to be a princess like Kate, suggests resurfaced blog post
The Duchess of Sussex always has insisted she “didn’t know much” about the royal family before being involved.
Speaking to Oprah last year, she said: “Thank God I didn’t know a lot about the family.
“Thank God I hadn’t researched. I would’ve been so in my head about it.”
But in 2014, an old blog post from The Tig has resurfaced, where Meghan discusses Prince William’s marriage to Kate Middleton.
Meghan wrote: “Little girls dream of being princesses. I, for one, was all about She-Ra, Princess of Power.
“And grown women seem to retain this childhood fantasy.”
The Duchess went on to say: “Just look at the pomp and circumstance surrounding the royal wedding and endless conversation about Princess Kate.”
- Joseph Gamp
William & Kate's Caribbean trip cost more than £226,000
The most expensive official trip was the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's visit to Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas in March by the Voyager minister jet which cost £226,383 and included the cost of a planning trip to the three countries by royal staff.
William and Kate received a warm welcome in the Caribbean but faced protests from those calling for an apology and reparations for slavery, and were criticised for certain elements of the tour deemed to hark back to colonial days.
Sir Michael Stevens, Keeper of the Privy Purse, said as planned the shortfall between the £102.4 million spent on the monarchy and the £86.3 Sovereign Grant, used to fund official duties and building work, was met by drawing on reserves and supplementary income from sources like the Royal Collection Trust, which opens royal residences to the public.
Sir Michael, who is responsible for the financial management of the Royal Household, said: "The Sovereign Grant shows increased net expenditure at 102.4 million, up 17%, with the majority of the increased spend coming on the Buckingham Palace reservicing programme, which saw a 41% increase in spend to £54.6 million."
The £369 million reservicing programme is updating the electrical cabling, plumbing and heating at Buckingham Palace over 10 years and the royal aide said they were "confident" they would be within budget.
A deadline was set last year to complete a number of projects to allow scaffolding to be removed from key areas so the palace could play its part in Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
He added: "Looking ahead, with the Sovereign Grant likely to be flat in the next couple of years, inflationary pressures on operating costs and our ability to grow supplementary income likely to be constrained in the short term, we will continue to deliver against our plans and manage these impacts through our own efforts and efficiencies."
Republic, which campaigns for an elected head of state, has called for what it claims is the "true cost of the monarchy" to be reported in the accounts – an estimated £345 million a year.
- Joseph Gamp
Royal Household's HR policies 'improved after probe into Meghan bullying claims'
An investigation into the handling of bullying allegations made against the Duchess of Sussex has seen HR policies improved for royal staff – but the changes have not been made public.
A senior palace source cited the confidentiality of those who took part in the independent review as the reason why details were not released, after current and former workers were invited to speak about their experiences of working for Meghan.
Members of the royal family have been made aware of the changes to policies and procedures of the royal household's HR (Human Resources) department as have staff, said the source.
The issue was raised during a media briefing about the Sovereign Grant which showed the monarchy cost the taxpayer 102.4 million during 2021/22 – an increase of £14.9 million, or 17%, on the previous financial year.
Royal activity, curtailed by the pandemic, was beginning to pick up during the period and a number of expenditure areas have increased, with travel rising by £1.3 million to £4.5 million, and property maintenance soaring by £14.4 million to £63.9 million, as the 10-year project to renovate Buckingham Palace continued.
The Sovereign Grant increased marginally by £400,000 to £86.3 million during 2021/22. A core element of £51.8 million funds the Queen's official duties and her household, and an additional £34.5 million pays for ongoing reservicing costs for the palace.
Buckingham Palace launched the investigation in March 2021, and invited past and present employees to speak in confidence about their experiences of working for Meghan, after it was alleged she drove out two personal assistants and staff were "humiliated" on several occasions.
- Joseph Gamp
Government urged to 'de-dramatise' Republic moves by Commonwealth realms
The Government has been urged to "de-dramatise" the "impending and inevitable" move by Commonwealth nations to ditch the British monarch as head of state and become republics.
Arguing the royal family was in an "invidious" position over such a change, former Foreign Office chief Lord McDonald of Salford called on the UK administration to assist the transition.
The accession of a new sovereign to the throne would be a moment for the 14 remaining overseas realms – nations where the Queen is head of state – to "take stock", he said.
And it would be "monstrously unfair" for a series of breakaways to be portrayed "as a stampede for the exit or a personal rebuke to the new monarch", Lord McDonald told Parliament.
His comments at Westminster came after the Prince of Wales told a summit of Commonwealth leaders in Rwanda that decisions about whether they keep the British monarchy or become a republic were "a matter for each member country to decide".
Charles, who will succeed the Queen as head of the Commonwealth, also said such changes in constitutional arrangements could be made "calmly and without rancour".
Barbados took the historic move of replacing the Queen as head of state in November last year and elected its first president during a ceremony witnessed by the prince.
During the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's March visit to the Caribbean, Jamaica's Prime Minister Andrew Holness suggested to the royal couple his country may follow suit.
Meanwhile, Australia has appointed the country's first minister tasked with overseeing a transition to a republic.
- Joseph Gamp
Prince Charles picks up new title in the wake of his father’s death
The late Prince Philip passed away a year ago and was the patron for the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.
Prince Philip was highly regarded for his role as patron which has now been given to Charles.
Reportedly, Michael Griffin, who is the President of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, said having Prince Charles as the new patron is a “privilege”.
- Joseph Gamp
Could Meghan Markle pursue a career in politics?
Experts think she is on the right path.
Royal expert Russel Myers said Meghan is making “all the right noises” to get into politics.
Speaking on Lorraine this morning, he explained how Meghan sharing her views on Roe vs Wade being overturned.
He told Lorraine: “Prince Harry and Megan have moved over to the United States.
“They’ve got their financial freedom. They’ve got their essential freedom from the royal family so they can speak on political issues.
“And certainly, Megan was speaking to Vogue at the weekend, talking about Roe versus Wade, a very, very controversial abortion law that has been repealed in the US.”
Russel continued: “Now Megan has said, you know, that [she] might be in Washington very soon.
“So does she have political ambitions? I do think she does. And she’s certainly rubbing shoulders with the right people and making the right noises.”
- Joseph Gamp
Queen, 96, beams in blue as she steps out with Prince Charles
THE Queen was all smiles today as she stepped out with Prince Charles for a military parade at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
Her Majesty, 96, wore a dusty blue coat and matching hat as she watched more than 300 officers and archers from the Queen’s Body Guard for Scotland take part in the the Reddendo parade.
The monarch has recently cut back on the number of engagements she carries out since experiencing episodic mobility problems.
But she appeared in fine spirits today as she completed the third event she has taken part in during her visit to Scotland this week.
While the Queen watched from a chair at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Prince of Wales, known in Scotland as the Duke of Rothesay, greeted members of the parade, shaking hands with some of the archers.
He inspected the royal company with the parade Commander, while the Queen was presented with a Reddendo – a gift from the officers and archers marking the Bicentenary of the Queen’s Body Guard for Scotland.
- Lauren Lomas
‘It’s not right’: The cost of the Royal Family amid living cost crisis
The Royal family costed a whopping £102.4 million last year, a recent report has revealed.
Royal finances expert Norman Baker told The Mirror: “It’s not right,” while many British families are struggling to make ends meet.
He said: “The Government should have a complete rethink of how taxpayers’ money is allocated to the Royal Family.”
- Lauren Lomas
Prince Charles special bond with baby Lilibet
It has been claimed by a source that the Prince of Wales was “absolutely thrilled” to see Harry and Meghan and family.
A senior royal source spooke during the Clarence House’s annual review, said it was ‘wonderful’ to have the Sussexes back in the UK during the Jubilee in June.
They said: “It was fantastic to see them. It was wonderful to have them back in Britain.
“The prince, of course, hasn’t seen his grandson Archie for a bit of time and so it was very, very, very special to have some time with him.
“He hadn’t met Lili, his granddaughter, and so to meet her was very emotional, a very, very wonderful thing.”
- Lauren Lomas
Prince William accused photographer of ‘stalking’ his children
The Duke of Cambridge fumes in the viral video, telling the pap off for following his family.
A three minute video shows him telling the photographer not to snap his children.
He tells the guy to stop “stalking around” his family.
The video was taken in 2021 but has only just surfaced.
- Lauren Lomas
Meghan always wanted to be a princess like Kate, suggests resurfaced blog post
The Duchess of Sussex always has insisted she “didn’t know much” about the royal family before being involved.
Speaking to Oprah last year, she said: “Thank God I didn’t know a lot about the family.
“Thank God I hadn’t researched. I would’ve been so in my head about it.”
But in 2014, an old blog post from The Tig has resurfaced, where Meghan discusses Prince William’s marriage to Kate Middleton.
Meghan wrote: “Little girls dream of being princesses. I, for one, was all about She-Ra, Princess of Power.
“And grown women seem to retain this childhood fantasy.”
The Duchess went on to say: “Just look at the pomp and circumstance surrounding the royal wedding and endless conversation about Princess Kate.”
- Lauren Lomas
The Queen’s bedtime routine
Queen Elizabeth sticks to a very strict schedule.
It is understood that the Queen goes to bed at around 11pm every night, and sleeps for around 8.5 hours.
The Queen and her late husband Prince Philip slept in different bedrooms so that they could both get a better nights sleep.
- Lauren Lomas
Prince Charles won’t accept any more big cash donations to charities
It has been reported he will not be taking further huge amounts of money for his charities.
Reportedly Prince Charles will no longer take big cash sums for his charities.
The Guardian has reported that a source has said he “operates on advice” and that the incident where he accepted millions of pounds from a Sheikh “will not happen again.”
- Lauren Lomas
Prince Andrew should be ‘concerned’ over FBI hit list
Ghislaine Maxwell has been convicted for 20 years for sex trafficking, and lawyers have warned Andrew he could be next.
Following her sentencing, Brad Edwards, who bagged Virginia Giuffre’s £12 million in settlement fees from Andrew, urged the FBI to investigate the Prince.
The attorney told The Mirror: “Obviously, Andrew is one of the targets they will be looking into.
“He should definitely be concerned about it.”
- Lauren Lomas
In pictures: The Order of the Thistle service
Prince Charles and the Princess Royal were snapped entering the service earlier today (30 June).
The Prince of Wales is known as the Duke of Rothesay while in Scotland, during the Holyrood week.
Part of Holyrood week saw the Order of the Thistle, which is the highest order of chivalry in Scotland, the equivalent to the Order of the Garter which was held in Windsor recently.
Himself and his sister, Princess Anne, were spotted wearing the traditional dress for the installation of The Right Honourable Dame Elish Angiolini and The Right Honourable Sir George Reid, at St Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh.
Credit: PA
- Lauren Lomas
Prince Charles picks up new title in the wake of his father’s death
The late Prince Philip passed away a year ago and was the patron for the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.
Prince Philip was highly regarded for his role as patron which has now been given to Charles.
Reportedly, Michael Griffin, who is the President of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, said having Prince Charles as the new patron is a “privilege”.
- Lauren Lomas
In pictures: Crowds of people wait for a glimpse of the Royals in Scotland
Scots lined the streets of the Royal Mile in wait of Prince Charles and Princess Anne.
Prince Charles is known as the Duke of Rothesay while he is in Scotland.
Fans waited patiently to see Prince Charles and Princess Anne as they made their way to The Order of the Thistle.
The Order of the Thistle is the Scottish version of the Order of the Garter.
Credit: PA - Lauren Lomas
‘It’s not right’: The cost of the Royal Family amid living cost crisis
The Royal family costed a whopping £102.4 million last year, a recent report has revealed.
Royal finances expert Norman Baker told The Mirror: “It’s not right,” while many British families are struggling to make ends meet.
He said: “The Government should have a complete rethink of how taxpayers’ money is allocated to the Royal Family.”
- Louis Allwood
Could Meghan Markle pursue a career in politics?
Experts think she is on the right path.
Royal expert Russel Myers said Meghan is making "all the right noises" to get into politics.
Speaking on Lorraine this morning, he explained how Meghan sharing her views on Roe vs Wade being overturned.
He told Lorraine: "Prince Harry and Megan have moved over to the United States.
"They've got their financial freedom. They've got their essential freedom from the royal family so they can speak on political issues.
"And certainly, Megan was speaking to Vogue at the weekend, talking about Roe versus Wade, a very, very controversial abortion law that has been repealed in the US."
Russel continued: "Now Megan has said, you know, that [she] might be in Washington very soon.
"So does she have political ambitions? I do think she does. And she's certainly rubbing shoulders with the right people and making the right noises."
- Louis Allwood
Meghan Markle SLAMMED by Republicans for standing up to women's rights
The actress and Duchess was criticised by right wing politicians for speaking up about Roe vs Wade being overturned.
Feminist activist Gloria Steinem spoke to the Duchess and Vogue's Jessica Yellin about the Supreme Court decision.
Rep. Lisa McClain (R-MI) shockingly said: "This is just another attempt from the ex-royals to insert their British drama in American politics."
Rep. Buddy Carter added: "I think Americans made it pretty clear in 1776 that they don’t want members of the British Royal Family making decisions for them."
This comes after the Duchess boldly told Gloria: "It seems as though you and I will be taking a trip to DC together soon."
- Louis Allwood
Buckingham Palace has revised policies following Meghan Markle investigation
After bullying claims were made after staff said Meghan "humiliated" them at work, the firm is to make some big changes.
HR policies will be amended for Palace aides and staff, but The Firm will not reveal the findings of the report.
A senior palace source reportedly said: "Because of the confidentiality of the discussions we have not communicated the detailed recommendations.
"The recommendations have been incorporated within policies and procedures wherever appropriate and policies and procedures have changed."
- Louis Allwood
Prince Harry and Meghan applauded for being financially independent
When the couple left the Royal family to live in the US they vowed to become fully self reliant.
The Duke and Duchess have now achieved their goal of being fully self reliant.
Reportedly they no longer need funds from Prince Charles.
According to The Mirror: "A source close to Prince Charles said the Duke and Duchess 'should be congratulated on achieving their goal' in raking in millions from the private sector."
- Louis Allwood
Queen, 96, beams in blue as she steps out with Prince Charles
THE Queen was all smiles today as she stepped out with Prince Charles for a military parade at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
Her Majesty, 96, wore a dusty blue coat and matching hat as she watched more than 300 officers and archers from the Queen's Body Guard for Scotland take part in the the Reddendo parade.
The monarch has recently cut back on the number of engagements she carries out since experiencing episodic mobility problems.
But she appeared in fine spirits today as she completed the third event she has taken part in during her visit to Scotland this week.
While the Queen watched from a chair at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Prince of Wales, known in Scotland as the Duke of Rothesay, greeted members of the parade, shaking hands with some of the archers.
He inspected the royal company with the parade Commander, while the Queen was presented with a Reddendo – a gift from the officers and archers marking the Bicentenary of the Queen's Body Guard for Scotland.
- Lauren Lomas
Prince Charles special bond with baby Lilibet
It has been claimed by a source that the Prince of Wales was “absolutely thrilled” to see Harry and Meghan and family.
A senior royal source spooke during the Clarence House’s annual review, said it was ‘wonderful’ to have the Sussexes back in the UK during the Jubilee in June.
They said: “It was fantastic to see them. It was wonderful to have them back in Britain.
“The prince, of course, hasn’t seen his grandson Archie for a bit of time and so it was very, very, very special to have some time with him.
“He hadn’t met Lili, his granddaughter, and so to meet her was very emotional, a very, very wonderful thing.”
- Lauren Lomas
Queen praises 'loyal' Camilla
The Queen praised Camilla for her dedication to her role in the royal family and to domestic abuse charities.
It is reported by the Express that the Queen said: "I would like to express my thanks to you all for your support.
"I remain eternally grateful for, and humbled by, the loyalty and affection that you continue to give me.
"And when, in the fullness of time, my son Charles becomes King, I know you will give him and his wife Camilla the same support that you have given me; and it is my sincere wish that, when that time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service."
The quotes were relayed by Principal Private Secretary Sir Clive Alderton.
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