Royal flush: Prince Charles gets 12% pay rise while rest of us suffer credit crunchThe future king and his household received £2.1million from the taxpayer during the 2011/12 financial year Thanks a million: Prince Charles received £2.1m from the taxpayer in 2011-12Reuters One mustn’t grumble – especially after being given a taxpayer-funded pay rise to the princely sum of £230,000. Accounts published yesterday show that while most Government departments slash their budgets, the public purse for Prince Charles has had to find an extra 12%. The future king and his household received £2.1million from the taxpayer during the 2011/12 financial year. This was up from £1.9million the year before. His total income of £20.48million – mostly £18.3million from his private Duchy of Cornwall estate – was only taxed at 22% once official business spending was deducted. Yesterday’s budget figures for the Prince’s private secretaries’ office also revealed it costs Brits much more to ferry Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall around the globe. They covered 48,000 miles by air and rail for official engagements, which totalled £1.3million, up from £1.08million. A Palace insider said: “Most of the travel the Duchess has done has been with her husband, so there’s no extra cost. "They share an administrative staff of 134 and use the Prince’s staff for events at Clarence House.†However, there were few details about how much was spent on Prince William’s wedding to Kate Middleton. Price tag: Designer dress costs £3,750Getty Clarence House said the costs were a “private matter†but Charles had split the bill with the Queen and the Middletons. Public funds paid for the security. Earlier this week it was revealed that Charles picks up the bill for his daughter-in-law's clothes. The debate: Is he worth it? Charles and Camilla’s popularity is now at an all-time high after a rough ride in the court of public opinion, says Phil Dampier, author of What’s in the Queen’s Handbag. They did 804 engagements for UK PLC last year and £131million was raised for charity. They are worth it. The Prince is spending ever more public money on travel, much of it for personal trips, says Graham Smith, campaigns director for Republic. While the country is experiencing sweeping cuts, Charles must not be free to spend whatever he wants. Royal spending must be controlled.
ROYAL FLUSH!!!! sry mate never read it, was looking for some poker talk....Katy's looking auld tho eh!
ROYAL FLUSH!!!! lol its just about them robing tw@t royal taking pay rise off tax payers wen we are in the **** £ wise.
ROYAL FLUSH!!!! When visiting London all those tens of thousands of foreigners spending cash are there for "Anything Royal". I don't mind the direct Royals, but I don't wanna pay for second cousins thrice removed etc. Beats having Blair or Cameron on the banknotes too.
ROYAL FLUSH!!!! The 'royals' that annoy me the most are the Kents; she was allegedly bonking some ruskie, & he pimps himself out to whoever. But of course I don't believe a word of it!!!
ROYAL FLUSH!!!! I reckon Kate's ok, not some freeloader, like so many of 'em. She seems like a regular girl the sort I meet all the time.........
