Updated
Updated · Express · Jun 25
Royal Family Cost £552.6 Million in 2025-26 as King and Prince Paid Over £50 Million Tax
Updated
Updated · Express · Jun 25

Royal Family Cost £552.6 Million in 2025-26 as King and Prince Paid Over £50 Million Tax

1 articles · Updated · Express · Jun 25

Summary

  • £552.6 million was the Royal Family’s total cost in 2025-26, with the taxpayer-funded Sovereign Grant rising to £132.1 million from £86.3 million a year earlier.
  • £117.2 million in official net expenditure was driven by higher palace upkeep and staffing, including £67.5 million for property maintenance and a £33.7 million wage bill.
  • £50 million-plus in tax has been paid by the King and Prince of Wales during the Carolean era; newly disclosed 2024-25 bills showed £12.9 million from the King and £7.76 million from William.
  • £99.9 million is the grant projected for 2027-28, down from £132 million in 2025-26, under a new 20.5% formula applied to £487 million in Crown Estate profits.

Insights

With royal spending up and Crown Estate profits down, is the monarchy's funding formula now broken?
King Charles paid £12.9m in tax, but does this justify a taxpayer grant ten times larger?
Can Prince William's plan to tackle homelessness truly transform the Duchy of Cornwall's centuries-old purpose?