Campaigners have welcomed the National Audit Office report into royal residences, but have slammed the royals for flagrant abuse of public property.
 
Campaign group Republic has said that while serious concerns remain about Andrew's use of publicly owned property, the whole family is benefiting from a multi-billion pound public housing scheme.
 
The royals, including those who do few public engagements, are benefiting from free palatial homes in Kensington Palace and St James's Palace. 
 
Others are getting massively subsidised rents which are paid for by Charles's Duchy income.
 
Republic will be writing to MPs on the Public Accounts Committee, reminding them that all these properties are public owned and funded.
 
The so-called 'privy purse' which the royals use to pay for some of these palatial homes is also funded by public funds, drawn from the state owned Duchy of Lancaster.
 
Speaking for Republic, Graham Smith said:
 
"Royal funding is a scandal, and their use of public property is wilful abuse of privilege and public office."
 
"Eleven royals get free homes in Kensington Palace and St James's Palace. That cannot be justified. They say it's in exchange for carrying out official duties, but that is an exorbitant price for so few engagements."
 
"The British taxpayer does not owe palatial homes to Charles's extended family. Why are we making homes available at huge discounts to Andrew's daughters, or the late Queen's cousins?"
 
"Charles and William are billionaires, avoiding inheritance and other taxes, taking personal incomes from public property portfolios in excess of £50m a year. The royals can pay for their own homes."
 
"The Crown Estate and royal palace property portfolio is state property. It should all be used for the benefit of the public, not the private enrichment of the royals."
 
"The NAO's report raises far more questions than it answers. MPs need to seize this moment to push for radical reform, including removing all royals but the monarch from publicly owned accommodation."
 
NOTES
 
The monarchy costs at least £555m a year when including all costs. See https://www.republic.org.uk/half_billion_royals

The Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall are state assets, which means the taxpayer is effectively paying Charles and William a combined annual income of more than £50m a year. See https://www.republic.org.uk/duchies 
 
The royals do very little in terms of public engagements. A significant proportion are very brief, and are at or near home. 
 
Free palatial accommodation is justified on the basis of carrying out public duties. This is a tally of the number of engagements carried out by senior royals in 2025.
 
Royal engagements as full time equivalent 2025*
  Number of engagements 7 hour days 5 day weeks 30 day months
Charles 532 76 15 3
Camilla 228 33 7 1
William 202 29 6 1
Kate 68 10 2 0
Anne 478 68 14 2
Edward 313 45 9 1
Sophie 235 34 7 1
         
Assuming an average one hour, although many are 20-30 minutes.