Labour peer attacks £100m royal grant as poor value for money

Summarised from 2 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 15 Oct, 10:08 · Archive

A Labour peer has condemned the £99.9 million sovereign grant to King Charles, arguing the royals do not offer value for money.

The House of Lords has approved a £99.9 million sovereign grant for the monarchy in 2027-28 to cover King Charles's official duties and the upkeep of royal palaces. The sum is down from £137.9 million in 2026-27, as a decade-long refurbishment of Buckingham Palace nears completion. The grant comes from a percentage of Crown Estate profits, with remaining revenues going to the Exchequer.

Labour peer Lord George Foulkes has launched a sharp attack on the funding. In a speech to the House of Lords, the former Cabinet minister and former Scotland Secretary said the royal family does not offer value for money, particularly at a time when many people face severe pressure on household budgets. He argued that most royals do 'real work', describing ribbon-cutting duties as insufficient compared to the work of teachers or nurses. Foulkes called on the Public Accounts Committee to conduct a root-and-branch review of all royal funding.

Foulkes did exempt Princess Anne from his criticism, calling her a 'notable exception'. He also criticised the royal family's use of private jets and helicopters for short domestic trips despite speaking out about climate change. The Mirror's royal editor Russell Myers noted that greater transparency about royal finances would help the public form an informed view, describing the £100 million grant as 'a bitter pill to swallow for a lot of people' given King Charles's estimated net worth of £2 billion.

How it is being reported

• Labour peer claims royal family not doing ‘real work’ as £100m funding questionedLabour peer Lord Foulkes of Cumnock argued that the monarchy is not providing value for moneyThe Independent · 15 Oct, 09:49
• Should the Royal Family receive less public funding? Take our poll and have your sayFormer Cabinet minister Lord George Foulkes has launched a blistering attack against the £100 million Sovereign Grant, arguing the royals do not offer value for moneyThe Mirror · 15 Oct, 09:12
• 'It's a bitter pill to swallow' - Truth behind King Charles' £100m taxpayer-funded grantWith former Cabinet minister Lord George Foulkes questioning government funding for the monarchy, the Mirror’s Pod Save the King royal YouTube show delves into the debate on public funding for the FirmThe Mirror · 14 Oct, 19:24
• Most royals 'do no real work' fumes peer as he slams £100million grant to King CharlesIn 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 settlementThe Mirror · 14 Oct, 18:38

In this story: Lord George Foulkes · King Charles · Princess Anne · Crown Estate · House of Lords · Labour · Buckingham Palace · United Kingdom

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