While other people make pay claims the Queen sends a Gracious Message to the
Commons. But the object is the same.
Mr. Heath is expected to set up a Select Committee to examine the royal
finances and Mr. Wilson, who originally undertook to institute a review this
year, is expected to be a member.
Another Labour Party man who would very much like to be included is Mr.
William Hamilton who makes no secret of his republican leanings. He would like
the committee to sit in public.
The Civil List was fixed at £ 475,000 when the Queen came to the throne in
1952. Since this system of payment was instituted in the reign of George III no
monarch has asked for a rise during his lifetime.
The Queen's allowance is only £ 3,000 more than that paid to Edward VII. The
first hint of royal hardship was given by the Duke of Edinburgh in the United
States 18 months ago. He said the royal budget would run into the red at the end
of 1971 and recalled that he had recently sold his yacht 'Bloodhound'.
Over the years, however, certain royal bills have been taken over by the
State. The postal and telephone account, which before the recent price rises was
averaging £ 57,000, has been shouldered by the Post Office. The Queen, of
course, has no use for all those stamps with her head on. Her letters go
OHMS.
The £ 55,000 a year for the royal trains, the £ 500,000 operating costs of
the royal yacht Britannia are met by the Government. Income from the Queen's
Duchy of Lancaster estates has considerably increased as property values have
risen. The Queen's personal fortune is exempt from death duties. Her personal
share of the Civil List, in effect her salary, is 56 60,000. Under the List the
allocation for household salaries is £ 105,000; expenses of the household £
121,800; royal bounty and alms £ 13,000; and supplenentary provisions
95,000.
The separate Consolidated Fund provides sums for the Queen Mother, the Duke
of Edinburgh, the Duke of Gloucester, the Princess Margaret. The Prince of Wales
has £ 220,000 a year from Duchy of Cornwall revenues but gives half of it to the
Consolidated Fund. The other royal children will receive State allowances when
they are 21, and more when they marry.
Th.Abrahamsen, R.Christophersen,
R.Nesshein. Day-to-Day Britain.
