In an explosive speech criticising the royals, former Cabinet member and Labour peer Lord George Foulkes said King Charles and co do no “real work” as he blasted the Sovereign Grant settlement
A Labour peer blasted the £100million grant being given to the royals – saying most of them do no ‘real work’(Image: LUDOVIC MARIN, AFP via Getty Images)
A Labour peer has lashed out at a £100million grant handed over to the Royals – saying they do “no real work”.
Former Cabinet minister Lord George Foulkes told peers The Firm offer poor value for money as he criticised the vast sum set to be handed over next year.
King Charles will be given £99.9m in the Sovereign Grant by the Treasury in 2027-28. This funds the monarch’s official duties, staff and upkeep of royal palaces – and the government says it offers good value for money.
But former Scotland Secretary Lord Foulkes said: “While European neighbours have streamlined their monarchies, we continue to fund a sprawling network of so-called working royals.
“Working royals – this ribbon-cutting duties of pulling open a slate, a tableau . That is not real work, not like a teacher who works five days a week, or a nurse in a geriatric hospital might be working a 12-hour shift. It’s not real work that they do.”
Lord Faulkes praises ‘notable exception’
He went on to exclude Princess Anne as a “notable exception”, stating: “Perhaps that’s an example that other members of the royal family might think about.”
The £99.9m settlement is down from £137.9m because a decade-long, £369m refurbishment of Buckingham Palace is finished. But the sum is three times the £31m awarded when the Sovereign Grant was created by Tory austerity Chancellor George Osborne in 2012/13.
Lashing out at the government, Lord Foulkes said: “At a time where sadly we know many of the people in this country face severe pressure on their household budgets, we here have a duty to ask two fundamental questions . First of all, are we getting value for money? And secondly, do the actions of the institution match the values that it preaches?
“I would argue that in both cases, the answer is no. We hear glorious announcements on climate change, yet official reports reveal hundreds of private jet and helicopter flights for short domestic trips – one recently to the races, where the royal concerned could have easily gone by car.
“And the taxpayer has funded two new helicopters for the royal family, whereas mountain rescue for their helicopters have to raise money through charitable efforts . Now, is that right in the 21st century?”
Sovereign Grant set to nearly double
In the year to March 31, the royal annual financial report showed £5.1m was spent on travel, £33.7m on payroll and £3.5m on housekeeping and hospitality. Property maintenance totalled £67.5m.
Nearly £127,000 was spent on travel for the King and Queen to make an official visit to Rome last April. Documents show £733,000 was spent on 177 helicopter flights over 12 months. And 60 charter flights cost £837,000 in that time.
Fellow Labour peer Lord Prem Sikka said: “Under this bill, the core funding of the Royal Household — that is, after ignoring the money allocated for refurbishment of Buckingham Palace — rises from £51.8 m for 2024–25 to £99.9m for 2027–28.
“That is an increase of 97%. I’m not aware of any ordinary household that has secured an increase of this magnitude in its income to discharge its essential duties.
“The average real wage of workers has barely changed since 2008. Some 25.3 million people live below the minimum income standard. Around 300,000 people a year are dying while waiting for NHS hospital appointments.
“But here we are giving away a large chunk of money. This massive increase is being given to a family which, according to Forbes magazine, could be worth £21billion.”
And he continued: “Under this bill, a mega-rich family would continue to receive public money. Many people would not be happy with that arrangement at all, and clearly the government must notice that issue.”
Treasury minister Lord David Pitt-Watson told the House that the settlement is justified. He said: “The Sovereign Grant supports the monarch’s official duties, so it funds the staff, the official travel, the property maintenance, the essential services required for the sovereign to fulfil their unique constitutional role .
“That role, it extends beyond ceremonial functions; it includes hosting heads of state, supporting diplomatic engagement, representing the United Kingdom overseas, and strengthening our relationships across the Commonwealth and the world .
“These activities support UK interests, including trade, investment, security, and diplomacy . At home, the grant supports the sovereign’s significant role, from recognizing charitable and voluntary service to bringing communities together across the United Kingdom . I would also note that with a new and younger monarch, there have been more activities than in the immediate past.”
And he added: “The grant level provided for by this bill therefore ensures value for money for taxpayers and that the Royal Household can continue to discharge its functions effectively . In conclusion, then, I think this bill delivers a fair and proportionate funding settlement.”
