British Royal Family Set for Staggering Pay Increase This Year from the U.K. Treasury

Mar. 15, 2025

Exterior of Buckingham Palace.Photo: (Photo: Jimmy Harris/flickr)

The amount of money the British royal family receives from the U.K. Treasury will increase substantially in 2025.

“This is public money, all of this money comes from the government, at a time when the government is not able to properly fund schools, hospitals, police,” CEO of Republic Graham Smith said, perTown & Country.

“It is scandalous. Not only should it not be going up at all, it should be going down,” Smith added.

Princess Charlotte, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Camilla, Queen Consort, Prince Louis, Prince George, King Charles III and Prince William, Prince of Wales attend the Christmas Day service at Sandringham Church on Dec. 25, 2022 in Sandringham, Norfolk.Samir Hussein/WireImage

Samir Hussein/WireImage

The palace made it clear when the increase was announced in 2024 that much of the money would be put towards the $462 million (£369 million) ongoing renovations to Buckingham Palace, expected to be completed in 2027. The palace didn’t specify exactly how much money would be going to the renovations, however.

This comes after the documentaryThe King, The Prince and Their Secret Millionswas released in November, callingKing Charles’ andPrince William’s “private” incomes from the Duchy of Lancaster and the Duchy of Cornwall, respectively, into question. The NovemberDispatchesdocumentary revealed that the Duchies are charging the NHS, armed forces and charities rent to generate private income for members of the royal family.

Standing in front of an Apache Helicopter King Charles III and Prince William, Prince of Wales smile during the official handover in which King Charles III passes the role of Colonel-in-Chief of the Army air corps to Prince William, Prince of Wales at the Army Aviation Centre on May 13, 2024 in Stockbridge, Hampshire.Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Chris Jackson/Getty Images

The Duchies are land and property portfolios that provide the monarch and the heir to the throne with an income. The Duchy of Lancaster paid the King, 76, $34.3 million (£27.4 million) pounds in the last financial year, and the Duchy of Cornwall paid Prince William, 42, $29.5 million (£23.6 million).

“In 2025 we’re going to be launching a campaign to have the Duchies abolished,” Smith said, perTown & Country. “I think that theDispatchesdocumentary really hit a nerve. I think people were really quite angry about it.”

Those arguing against the Duchies say that they belong to the State, and therefore money should go to the U.K. Treasury for public good.

In statements shared with PEOPLE in November, spokespersons for both the Duchy of Lancaster and the Duchy of Cornwall emphasized each estate’s private status.

“The Duchy of Lancaster manages a broad range of land and property assets. It is self-financing and does not receive any public funds in connection with its activities,” said a spokesperson. “It publishes an Annual Report and Accounts that is independently audited and available to view on its website and complies with all relevant U.K. legislation and regulatory standards applicable to its range of business activities.”

Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

Prince William, Prince of Wales takes part in a panel discussion during Earthshot+ at Portside Tower on Nov. 5, 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa.Phil Noble - Pool/Getty

Phil Noble - Pool/Getty

Per theDuchy of Cornwall’s FAQ, Prince William chooses to use its revenue to pay for his public, private and charitable activities, and last summer the future kingcaused a stirafter he declined to disclose how much he paid in taxes on the Duchy of Cornwall’s $30 million payday for the 2023-2024 financial year.

source: people.com