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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 Royal Family cost every person in the UK 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 public 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.
Peter Hunt, BBC royal correspondent 69p is an eye-catching figure. It's the sum royal officials proudly say the monarchy costs each person in the country. However, this headline amount doesn't include the large, but never disclosed security bill for protecting the royals around the clock. It's clear from these accounts that by next year, the Queen will have to go cap in hand to the government seeking an increased income. One of her annual pots of money, the Civil List, has been set at £7.9m for 20 years. In the good times, a surplus built up. For the past eight years, it's been raided and is dwindling. The £7.9m Civil List funds, among other things, £11m of salaries and catering. In a recession, with cuts on the agenda and an election looming, the royals face difficult financial negotiations in 2010.
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.
Peter Hunt, BBC royal correspondent 69p is an eye-catching figure. It's the sum royal officials proudly say the monarchy costs each person in the country. However, this headline amount doesn't include the large, but never disclosed security bill for protecting the royals around the clock. It's clear from these accounts that by next year, the Queen will have to go cap in hand to the government seeking an increased income. One of her annual pots of money, the Civil List, has been set at £7.9m for 20 years. In the good times, a surplus built up. For the past eight years, it's been raided and is dwindling. The £7.9m Civil List funds, among other things, £11m of salaries and catering. In a recession, with cuts on the agenda and an election looming, the royals face difficult financial negotiations in 2010.
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.
Of the £13.9m nearly £10m went on staff salaries.Of the £13.9m nearly £10m went on staff salaries.
The £7.9m figure has been frozen for 19 years and will be up for re-negotiation at the end of 2010.The £7.9m figure has been frozen for 19 years and will be up for re-negotiation at the end of 2010.
The current deal was agreed by Sir John Major in 1990.The current deal was agreed by Sir John Major in 1990.
The shortfall has led to questions about how much Buckingham Palace will be able to ask for from the government during a recession.The shortfall has led to questions about how much Buckingham Palace will be able to ask for from the government during a recession.
Last year Buckingham Palace officials described the cost of the Royal Family to taxpayers as less than the price of two pints of milk or an MP3 player download.Last year Buckingham Palace officials described the cost of the Royal Family to taxpayers as less than the price of two pints of milk or an MP3 player download.
The cost of travel is not included in the Civil List figure and is provided by the government separately. The £41m total does not include security provided by the police and Army or the ceremonial duties performed by the Armed Forces.
The cost of Royal travel, which is also paid by the taxpayer, increased by £300,000 from £6.2m to £6.5m.
The most expensive journeys were the long-haul overseas tours of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.