Funding of monarchy recalculated after Crown Estate’s boost from wind farm deals
The Sovereign Grant – used to fund the monarchy’s official duties – will be 12% of the Crown Estate’s net profits next year, down from 25%, the Treasury has announced.
The change has been introduced following a significant boost in the Crown Estate’s profits from offshore wind deals.
The Treasury said the Royal Household’s budget will be £24 million lower next year and £130 million lower in both 2025 and 2026, than if the rate remained at 25%.
The total Sovereign Grant for 2024/25 will remain flat at £86.3 million.
The King asked in January for the wind farm profits to be used for the wider public good instead.
The reduction came out of a review by Royal Trustees, which was published on Thursday, and sets out the new proportion of the Crown Estate’s net profits used to calculate the amount of Government funding to support the King.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt and Keeper of the Privy Purse Sir Michael Stevens are the royal trustees.
The Treasury said: “Cutting the rate to 12% is expected to reduce the Sovereign Grant by £24 million in 2024/25, compared with the rate staying at 25%, and over £130 million lower in each of 2025 and 2026.
“This money will instead be used to fund vital public services, for the benefit of the nation.”
Record profit
In June, the Crown Estate announced a record £442.6 million net revenue profit, £129.9 million higher than the previous year.
A spokesperson said this increase primarily reflects option fee income from the signing of Agreements for Lease for six offshore wind farms through the Round 4 leasing programme and revenue resilience in its other lines of business.
Plaid Cymru has long called for the management of the Crown Estate to be devolved to Wales, as is the case in Scotland.
The estate’s holdings were devolved to Scotland in 2016, and its revenue now goes to the Scottish Government.
A poll published in May revealed an overwhelming majority of people are in support of Welsh ownership of the Crown Estate.
The YouGov poll commissioned by YesCymru, asked Welsh residents if they would support or oppose Welsh management of Crown Estate assets in Wales with all income accruing to Wales.
The poll surveyed 1049 people aged 16 and over between April 28 2023 and May 3.
The results showed that over 75% of those polled expressed a preference in favour of full Welsh control of these assets.
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The lie that Wales cannot survive on its own when we haemorrhage billions of pounds that goes directly into the coffers of Whitehall’s English Treasury and English Monarchy with the Crown Estate laughable. The reality the English rightwing press media omit that England is so dependent on Wales for its water and power. Never believe the propaganda that we are too poor, too small or too stupid to run our own affairs. So ask yourselves this question. Why does Scotland have control of its Crown Estate and Wales not? It’s like Scotland paying no tax and Wales effectively 100% of… Read more »
So any further revenue from Welsh resources is once again used to increase profits outside our country. Never ending abuse. It had to stop and though independence it will, especially as 52% of young people in Wales now believe in self determination.
The monarchy – a classic example of saesnegau taking wealth from Cymru for their personal conspicuous consumption.
The crown estates in Wales should be handed back. We are being robbed.
Well here is twist to the situation. The income from the Crown Estate far outweighs what is spent on maintaining the monachy. A complicated financial arrangement little to known to most.