LONDON — Public funding for Queen Elizabeth II and the royal family cost British taxpayers the equivalent of $1.14 each last year, according to accounts published Monday.
The queen’s office said that the costs incurred by the royal family were $68.6 million in the year to March 31, an increase of $2.48 million from the previous year.
It means supporting the royal family cost British taxpayers the equivalent of an extra five U.S. cents each last year.
Public money is used to pay the costs of travel and operating and staffing homes used by the royal family, including the queen’s Buckingham Palace residence.
Sir Alan Reid, the Keeper of the Privy Purse said travel costs rose because fewer aircraft were available from the air force, meaning that members of the royal family needed to charter commercial aircraft for overseas visits, often at short notice.
Figures showed that royal family travel costs rose to $10.76 million from $10.26 million. The queen visited Slovenia and Slovakia last year, while her son Prince Charles toured Japan and Indonesia.
Graham Smith, campaign manager for republic, an anti-monarchy group, said the costs can’t be justified.
"Very obviously they have no regard for public finances at all. There’s no reason why the queen can’t be paid a salary and a few million be spent on the staff,” Smith said.
Costs of security for the royal family provided by the police and army are not included in the accounts.
by the associated press
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