New light has been shed on the accounts of the British monarchy and it appears that Prince Charles is footing the bill.
Charles pays for the staff, travel and official wardrobes of his sons William and Harry, and daughter-in-law Kate, with a budget to the tune of just under R60 million.
Those expenses, however, barely make a dent in Charles’ personal fortune. According to an annual report issued by his Clarence House office, the 66-year-old king-in-waiting draws a substantial income from the Duchy of Cornwall - over R370 million in the year up to March 31.
The Duchy of Cornwall is an estate bequeathed to the royal heir to fund his lifestyle.
The budget Charles allocated to William and Harry to run their Kensington Palace office rose by a relatively modest R729 000, with the bulk of the expenses accounted for by travel.
William’s week-long tour of China and Japan in February cost R1.3-million in scheduled flights, while his trip to New York with Kate in March cost a further R316 000.
Meanwhile, Harry’s trip to Brazil and Chile last year (including chartered flights and tickets for staff), cost R1.6 million.
Entertainment Reporter