The Royal Family has benefited from a wide array of unique and extravagant perks. These perks are often funded by the Sovereign Grant, which is a grant provided by the government in order to support the Queen’s official duties. The state pays all of the perks that the Royal Family enjoys. Many of the perks are extravagant, but there are a few unique perks that you may have never even thought of, like having your shoelaces ironed. The perks covered throughout this article provide a glimpse into the amazing and lavish lifestyle the British Royal Family enjoys.
Financial Perks
The financial perks of the British Royal Family come from three major sources: the Sovereign Grant, the Crown Estate, and personal income from private estates.
The Sovereign Grant is an annual funding mechanism for the monarchy, which covers the work of the Royal Family in support of the monarch. This includes expenses to maintain official residencies and workspaces. For the 2022 – 2023 fiscal year, the Sovereign Grant amounted to £86.3 million, which is made up of a core grant of £51.8 million that funds official travel, property maintenance, and the operating costs of the Sovereign’s Furthermore, the Sovereign Grant also includes £34.5 million for Reservicing.
The Crown Estate is a collection of lands and holdings within the United Kingdom which belongs to the British monarch as a corporation sole. The Crown Estate is the largest property manager in the United Kingdom, administering property worth £15.6 billion. The revenue from the Crown Estate is worth an astounding £312m a year.
In addition, the Royal Household offers many benefits to its employees. These benefits include a pension scheme, life assurance, death-in-service benefits, complimentary lunch, and subsidized accommodation for those who have to live on-site.
Legal and Official Privileges
The British Royal Family has a high number of legal and official privileges, which are rooted in the doctrine of sovereign immunity. The legal principle ensures that a monarch is not able to be prosecuted or subject to civil legal action under the law. This even extends to more than 30 different laws that bar the police from entering private royal estates without the sovereign’s permission to investigate suspected crimes.
When it comes to travel, King Charles III does not require a British passport in order to travel internationally. This is due to the fact that the passport is actually issued in the monarch’s name. Furthermore, the King is the only person in Britain who is able to drive without a license.
The British monarchy is even exempt from certain taxes. Despite this fact, the Duke of Edinburgh and Prince William voluntarily pay income tax on revenue that is not used in the performance of their official duties. However, other members of the Royal Family are required to pay taxes, with the cost of their official duties allowed against the tax.
The British Royal Family is also exempt from the Freedom of Information Act, which allows them to exercise much more privacy in their day-to-day duties.
The monarch even has the privilege of granting Royal Warrants to companies or tradespeople who supply goods and services to the Royal Household. Furthermore, the monarch has automatic legal custody of all of their descendants and minor grandchildren.
Personal Perks
Unsurprisingly, the British Royal Family enjoys a high number of personal perks and privileges that are unique to their status. The following perks are some of the most notable:
H4 Accommodation and Living Expenses
Virtually all of the members of the Royal Family live in historic properties, with the bills covered by the Sovereign Grant. An example of this would be Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip living in Buckingham Palace. Even the staff working for the Royal Household has the ability to live on-site in London, with their meals and subsidized accommodation included.
Personal Services
The Royal Family has access to a wide array of personal services. The following are some of the most notable:
- Prince Charles has three personal valets dedicated to his wardrobe and even picks his attire
- One of Prince Charles’s valets is responsible for ironing his shoelaces on every pair of shoes he owns.
- A valet for Prince Charles is even responsible for squeezing toothpaste onto his toothbrush each night.
- Queen Elizabeth hired someone to break into her shoes to make sure they were comfortable.
- Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla have their clothes hand-washed instead of in the washing machines.
- The Queen has the right to commandeer any British ship.
Financial Support
The British government supports both the monarch and a lot of the Royal Family financially through the Sovereign Grant. The living costs of the members of the Royal Family, which carries out official duties, have been met through the sovereign income from the Duchy of Lancaster. Both the King and Prince William receive the profits from the duchies personally and can spend the money as they wish.
Other Perks
Each worker employed by the Royal Household receives a 20% discount at Royal Collection Trust Shops, in addition to royal warrant holder discounts. Furthermore, they also receive complimentary Royal Collection Trust admission tickets. The Royal Family even has access to hundreds of priceless jewelry, crowns, and opulent gowns.
Oddest Royal Perks
- The Queen technically owns all dolphins, whales, and porpoises that are within three miles of Britain’s shores.
- Every potato is measured before they are served at Buckingham Palace to ensure the dimensions do not throw off the appearance of the dinner plate.
- The Queen celebrates two birthdays: her real birthday (April 21st) and her royal birthday, the second Saturday in June.
- The Queen is woken up by Scottish bagpipes each morning from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.
- The board game Monopoly is forbidden in the royal household.
- Two heirs are not allowed to travel together in order to protect their lineage.
- Once Queen Elizabeth II died, the people of Britain were banned from being funny on public television for the 12 days between her death and funeral. BBC isn’t allowed to air anything humorous during this period.
- Prince Charles enjoys warm cheese and biscuits towards the end of his meals, which requires the staff to keep them at the perfect temperature throughout the day.
Oldest of the Royal Perks
The oldest Royal part of the British Royal Family dates back to the 12th century, the ownership of swans. The Queen of England owns a majority of the swans in the United Kingdom and shares ownership of all swans on the River Thames with the Worshipful Companies of Dyers and Vintners. This unconventional perk is a symbol of the monarchy’s historic rights and privileges. There is even a tradition of “Swan Upping,” where the swans are counted and checked for any injuries. Furthermore, the Queen is the only person in Britain who is able to eat swans.
Evolution of the British Royal Perks
Given the fact that the British Royal Family has been around for generations, the perks have evolved, ultimately reflecting the changes in financial arrangements, public perception, and cultural significance. The financial support for the royal family moved from parliamentary annuities to the Sovereign Grant. The public attitudes towards the monarchy and the economic impact of the royal perks have been debated for years over the costs and benefits. Furthermore, historical traditions and customs, like the Queen owning swans, have continued to be upheld.
Comparing British Royalty Perks with Other Royal Families
The British Royal Family enjoys many different perks, ranging from the regular perks like having a driver to the more eccentric and unusual, like having your shoelaces ironed. The extravagant perks of the British Royal Family stand out when compared to other royal families, mostly due to their historical significance and the particular traditions associated with the British monarchy.
Royal families in other countries have a different set of privileges and traditions that reflect their cultural and historical contexts. The financial arrangements and public funding of the British Royal Family set them apart from other monarchies in terms of the management of the royal finances. Ultimately, all royal families have their own privileges and traditions; the perks of the British monarchy, in particular, are distinctive within their own historical, cultural, and financial contexts.
Britishly Royal Benefits
The perks of the British royal family have been the subject of both fascination and debate. The perks ultimately reflect the never-ending cultural significance and historical traditions linked to the monarchy. Despite the fact that the perks come at a high cost, the royal family holds a constant significant place in British society, reflecting a complex combination of historical, cultural, and financial considerations. The enduring loyalty and fascination with the monarchy among the British public underscore the ongoing relevance and impact of the perks of the royal family in contemporary society.
