A huge £4bn invoice has been handed in at the gates of Buckingham Palace this morning.
 
The invoice was handed in by activists from anti-monarchy campaign Republic, to highlight the huge annual cost of the monarchy.
 
The stunt comes in advance of the latest annual report from Buckingham Palace, which Republic has described as 'inaccurate, incomplete and misleading.'
 
Republic released a report last year setting out the full half a billion pound annual cost of the royals.
 
The invoice handed in today was asking Charles to repay the last eight years of costs as a down payment on a full refund.
 
The invoice tells Charles to pay the Treasury, adding: "The Treasury does not accept cash payments made in carrier bags or any other receptacle." 
 
Speaking for Republic today, Graham Smith said:
 
"This is tongue-in-cheek stunt designed to raise a very serious issue."
 
"The monarchy is dishonest when setting out their annual costs. They end up costing the public more than half a billion pounds a year."
 
"The Duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster are clearly public property, yet all the profits go to Charles and William. The security cost is out of control and local councils are hit with bills wherever the royals go."
 
"So we're sending an invoice to Charles, demanding repayment of that half a billion cost for the past eight years, subject to a full inquiry into royal abuse of public money."
 
"In April this year that cost went up a further £45m due to rising profits from the Crown Estate."
 
"When the Irish presidency costs just £5m a year, why does our head of state cost another half billion pounds?"
 
PHOTOS and VIDEOS of today's stunt can be found here. 
 
Republic's Half a Billion Royals Report can be found here. 
 
Republic's Ditch the Duchies Report can be found here.