More than half of British voters want to slash the amount of funding for the Royal Family, a new poll has revealed. Data from the House of Commons Library last year showed that the Sovereign Grant, which provides state funding for the official duties of the Royal Family and the maintenance of the occupied palaces, had tripled since its introduction in 2012.
The Sovereign Grant used to be £31million per year in 2012, but this year, it reached nearly £138million, up from £132million last year. Royal aides said the increase was due to refurbishment work at Buckingham Palace and that the grand will be reduced again once the building is completed.
James Chalmers, the Keeper of the Privy Purse, James Chalmers, said last year: “Soft power is hard to measure but its value is, I believe, now firmly understood at home and abroad, as the core themes of the new reign have come into even sharper focus, and the Royal Family have continued in their service to the nation, Realms and Commonwealth.”
Now, a new poll conducted for the Mirror found that 54% of voters would like to see the grant reduced.
The poll by Deltapoll also found that more than six in three Brits think that their opinion of the Royal Family had stayed the same since Charles became King. One in five said it had got worse.
A Treasury spokesman told the outlet: “The next review of the Sovereign Grant is taking place this year. It will ensure that it is set at an appropriate level.”
No date for the decision has been set.
In March, Treasury Minister Lord Livermore said in a written answer: “The Government is committed to bringing forward legislation to reset the Grant to a lower level from 2027-28 once Buckingham Palace reservicing works are completed.”
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said last month: “The Sovereign Grant is reviewed every five years by the Royal Trustees, which include the Chancellor, to ensure the level of funding for the Royal Household remains appropriate to support the official duties of The Sovereign in his roles as Head of State, Nation and the Commonwealth.
“Each year the Royal Household publishes a report setting out how the Sovereign Grant is spent, and the Sovereign Grant accounts are audited by the National Audit Office.”
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