The Chancellor has been urged by an anti-monarchy not-for profit company to make cuts to the royal budget which is more than half a billion a year as cuts should “start at the top.”
The group called Republic has said that MPs have a “woeful lack of understanding” of how much the royal purse receives and highlighted their concerns over cuts to welfare and public services.
The Republic CEO Graham Smith said in a letter to Rachel Reeves, “It is difficult to have a serious debate about the out-of-control costs of the royals when MPs are so poorly informed.
“Republic recently published a report which demonstrates the monarchy costs the country more than half a billion pounds a year. Contrary to the claims made by some in your own party, none of that is funded by the Crown Estate.
“The Crown Estate makes no contribution toward the monarchy, although its profits are used to calculate increases in the Sovereign Grant.
“It is worth noting the Irish head of state costs around £4 million excluding security. How can half a billion pounds for Britain’s head of state be justified?
“If the government is considering cuts to vital public services, there is no justification for the royals being handed half a billion pounds per year.
“If painful decisions are required, as you have said, shouldn’t those cuts start at the top?
“I am asking for the royal budget to be slashed, for the monarch to be put on an annual salary and for there to be an enquiry into royal costs.
“Such an inquiry should look to clarify the funding and costs of the monarchy, review the status of the Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall and consider scrapping the Sovereign Grant.”
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