Republic has called on the Queen to reject announced funding increases after it was revealed she is to get a 5% raise. The deal struck by the government two years ago doesn't allow royal funding to go down but does mean it will continue to rise year-on-year in line with crown estate profits. Current funding is pegged at 15% of profits from the Crown Estate, a public property portfolio that provides funds to the treasury.

Republic's chief executive officer Graham Smith said today: "We said from the start that this was a bad deal for the taxpayers and no way to fund a public institution. Clearly we were right." "As everyone else is seeing cuts to services and jobs it is unbelievable that our head of state will sit silently by as she is handed millions more in public money." "We've had two years of royal celebrations that have cost the taxpayers millions - surely it's time the Queen gave something back." "The elected Irish head of state volunteered a pay cut - our head of state keeps raking it in without a word of protest." "The Crown Estate is not – and never has been – the personal property of the royals. The Windsors have no more right to its revenue than I do. To claim that it should fund their lavish lifestyle is deceitful and dishonest." "The office of the head of state should be funded like every other public body– through a budget agreed by Parliament and based on need." "And let's not forget that this funding that is to rise by 5% is just one part of a total annual cost of well over £200m." "The royals have got to be told: enough is enough."