Allocating the cash from Crown Estate to the royals is itself controversial because it’s basically a special public corporation these days, unlike the private Royal Estates of Sandringham and Balmoral which the royals actually manage. Like, why exactly should the royal family be considered to own and exploit reclaimed land and the sea bed? It’s a strange throwback to the dark ages.
Also, “stipend” usually means only the Sovereign Grant, which funds only the monarch’s official duties and not all the other associated costs incurred by the royals. Some of the extra is paid for by the Duchies of Lancaster (for Charles III) and Cornwall (for William), but not all. Their police, armed services, various ceremonies and some visit costs (including road closures) are paid for from general taxation. I suspect that’s what this complaint is based on.
But in short, royal finances are a mess and almost like someone doesn’t want a simple easy-to-read budget allocated, but it’s almost certain some taxes paid for some of Andrew’s policing and pomp, and there have been recent reports he asked his police to work against his accuser, which does seem a bit like misconduct in public office.
I don’t expect this case to be allowed, unless Andrew has really really upset Charles III, but it’s not a completely ridiculous argument.
alexc@lemmy.world 7 hours ago
There are studies that go both ways on their net gain/ net cost. the “net gain” crowed tend to suggest that no-one would visit the UK if it wasn’t for them.
I don’t buy it.
And if they’re such as net gain, why do they continue to claim money from the Royal List? Can’t they just AirBNB the palace? Or Windsor? They have a lot of properties and don’t really pay taxes either.
ohulancutash@feddit.uk 1 hour ago
There’s no “they”. The King claims money from the government in the form of the Sovereign Grant. He then disburses that money among the working royals as he sees fit.
The Sovereign Grant is in return for the King signing over the entire income of the Crown Estate to the government. The Sovereign Grant is pegged nominally at 15% of the income of the Crown Estate (currently 25% to fund the restoration of Buckingham Palace which is in bery poor condition).
So it’s a net gain as the government currently keeps 75% of the income from the Crown Estate.
mjr@infosec.pub 6 hours ago
The Civil List, if that’s what you mean, was abolished in 2011, but they claim grants instead now.