Andy Burnham is facing renewed pressure to further reduce taxpayer funding for the royal family, as Parliament prepares to approve an annual Sovereign Grant of nearly £100 million.
The Treasury is due to table legislation on Tuesday that would cut the grant by almost £40 million from its current level. However, the proposed sum of £99.9 million for 2027–28 – intended to cover the monarch’s official duties and palace maintenance – has drawn criticism from republican campaigners and some politicians who argue it remains excessive.
The grant has risen sharply since its introduction in 2012–13, when it stood at £31 million. The increase had been claimed to be largely driven by a decade-long refurbishment of Buckingham Palace, costing £369 million. This year’s grant reached £137.9 million, but the new legislation would bring it down as that temporary work concludes.
Critics point out that the number of working royals has declined in recent years, with Prince Andrew stripped of titles and Prince Harry and Meghan stepping back from royal duties. Former Liberal Democrat minister Norman Baker called on the Prime Minister to “stop this royal rip-off now,” while campaign group Labour for a Republic argued the grant should be no more than £45 million in real terms, given the government’s spending constraints on poverty reduction.
The group also urged a complete overhaul of the funding mechanism, breaking the link between Crown Estate profits and the grant, and called for the King’s private income from the Duchy of Lancaster to be taken into account.
Official accounts for the past year show £5.1 million spent on travel, £33.7 million on payroll, and £67.5 million on property maintenance. Helicopter flights and charter travel accounted for over £1.5 million.
Buckingham Palace defended the grant, stating it does not provide personal income to royals and is subject to strict value-for-money oversight, independent audit, and Treasury scrutiny. The Palace also noted that the King has voluntarily paid more than £30 million in tax since his accession.
A Treasury spokesperson said the grant would fall by over 25% next year as palace renovation costs end, and that the settlement reflects increased core activities such as state visits, which support UK foreign policy objectives.