Spending For UK Royals Up 5%; Taxpayers' Share Is £86.3-M

The Royal Household's official spending rose by 5% last year to £107.5 million while its funding from taxpayers remained at £86.3 million, annual accounts have revealed, Sean Coughlan reported for BBC News.

Photo Insert: The running costs of the monarchy - such as for official visits and residences - are funded by the "Sovereign Grant," currently calculated as being 25% of the profits of the Crown Estate.

This meant drawing on reserves for what royal officials called an "exceptional period of transition" following Elizabeth II's death. It was also confirmed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have vacated Frogmore Cottage, in Windsor, Berkshire.

The accounts also show royal heating is kept at 19C - to cut energy use. To help save the planet as well as bills, the accounts report a "concerted effort" by staff in royal residences to set the winter heating to 19C, while any empty rooms were kept at 16C.

The running costs of the monarchy - such as for official visits and residences - are funded by the "Sovereign Grant," currently calculated as being 25% of the profits of the Crown Estate.

The annual accounts for 2022-23 show this funding was £86.3 million, the same as the previous year. But spending was almost £21 million higher than the Sovereign Grant.

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