A new report has outlined the shocking details of royal funding arrangements, including dodging scrutiny, avoiding personal taxes and falling short of standards required of other public bodies.
 
The report - A Scandal in Plain Sight - is available here and published by campaign group Republic.
 
Research shows that official royal funding has increased by 565% in real terms since the late queen came to the throne;
 
The report shows how the Sovereign Grant:
  • Obscures the true half a billion pound cost of the monarchy;
  • Questions why the royals get so many unique privileges in public funding;
  • Raises doubts about excuses for the recent massive £50m increase in the core grant;
  • Questions why so many details are murky or ill-defined;
  • Challenges MPs to increase scrutiny of royal finances.
Speaking in response to the report's release Republic's CEO Graham Smith said today:
 
"At a time when UK public bodies are being challenged to do more with less, the Royal Household is doing less with more."
 
"People who are struggling financially are often told to ask three questions before spending money: Do I need it? Can I afford it? Can I get it cheaper elsewhere? The monarchy fails all three tests. We don’t need it, we can’t afford it and there are cheaper and better alternatives."
 
"How can it be right that when a lower paid worker travels from home to work the expense is deemed to be a private expense but when the royals travel from one home to another home it is deemed to be official and eligible for public funding? 
 
"People in a position of power and privilege should be subject to more scrutiny than others, not less."
 
"You can have deference or you can have accountability but you can’t have both."
 
"The latest voting on the Sovereign Grant and the lack of serious scrutiny was disgraceful. It's time MPs upped their game and took these issues seriously."

Legislation is currently going through parliament which will increase the core Sovereign Grant from £50m to £100m a year. 

Read the report HERE. 
See also Republic's reports on the Duchies and Royal Finances.