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Cost of Royal Family rises £1.5m Cost of Royal Family rises £1.5m
(10 minutes later)
The Queen and the Royal Family cost every taxpayer 69p last year - an increase of 3p on the previous year, Buckingham Palace accounts show.The Queen and the Royal Family cost every taxpayer 69p last year - an increase of 3p on the previous year, Buckingham Palace accounts show.
The total cost to the taxpayer of keeping the monarchy increased by £1.5m to £41.5m in the 2008/9 financial year.The total cost to the taxpayer of keeping the monarchy increased by £1.5m to £41.5m in the 2008/9 financial year.
Palace accounts also show that the Queen dipped into a reserve fund to boost by £6m her Civil List, which pays for the running of the Royal household.Palace accounts also show that the Queen dipped into a reserve fund to boost by £6m her Civil List, which pays for the running of the Royal household.
It is the largest sum ever drawn from the reserve built up in the 1990s.It is the largest sum ever drawn from the reserve built up in the 1990s.

ROYAL PUBLIC FINANCES

Financial summary, year to 31 March 2009

2009 (£m) 2008 (£m) The Queen's civil list 13.9 12.7 Parliamentary annuities 0.4 0.4 Grants-in-aid 22.6 22.0 Expenditure met by gov depts 4.6 4.9 Total 41.5 40.0
The Queen's Civil List, which also covers Royal household staff salaries, cost £13.9m in 2007/8 - this comprised £7.9m from government coffers and £6m from the reserve.The Queen's Civil List, which also covers Royal household staff salaries, cost £13.9m in 2007/8 - this comprised £7.9m from government coffers and £6m from the reserve.
If the Queen continues to spend money from the reserve at the rate she is now, it will be used up by the start of her Diamond Jubilee year in 2012.If the Queen continues to spend money from the reserve at the rate she is now, it will be used up by the start of her Diamond Jubilee year in 2012.
BBC royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell said nearly £10m went on staff salaries.BBC royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell said nearly £10m went on staff salaries.
He added that the recession had raised questions over how much the Royal Family would be able to ask for in funding from the government.He added that the recession had raised questions over how much the Royal Family would be able to ask for in funding from the government.