Meghan Markle, Prince Harry Wasting Taxpayers' Money? Six-Week Break IS COSTLY!
The British royal family receives £67 million from taxpayers' money every year. The Sovereign Grant is paid to the British monarch and all working royals who go on official engagements in behalf of the Queen. It was increased by 25 percent in 2017 to fund refurbishments at Buckingham Palace.
The royal funds are now in question, as several senior royals have been acting up. A YouGov poll for The Sun on Sunday revealed that while majority of Britons who took the poll wanted the British monarchy to stay, a large majority believed it is time to slash the sum.
Taxpayers Want to Stop Funding These Royals
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are currently on a six-week break from royal duties. In their absence, almost half of Briton's taxpayers want to stop public funding their lavish lifestyles.
Meghan Markle recently drew flak for spending £800,000 during her pregnancy and £15,000 for her birth of Baby Archie. Add to that the hundreds of thousands of dollars she reportedly spent on the baby shower and private jet expenses.
Moreover, the poll revealed that Britons are no longer fans of Prince Andrew. He is currently under fire for his association with the convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein and is facing allegations of his own for coercing with a minor.
The Duke of York has since announced he will "step back from royal duties." More than half of the taxpayers who participated in the poll no longer want the Duke to receive funding from the Sovereign Grant.
However, Prince Andrew will still receive money from the Queen's Privy Purse. It is the British monarch's private income from the Duchy of Lancaster estate, which nets approximately £20.1 million a year.
Public Funding Based on Popularity
The Duke of York and the Duchess of Sussex have been branded as royal rebels. Both have had controversial interviews this year. The Duchess first made revelations on an ITV documentary that shocked other royals and Britons as well.
However, it was the Duke of York that had a major falling out with Britons. In his scandalous interview with BBC News Night, he showed no remorse over his association with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
The more-behaved royals won the trust of taxpayers. Most popular was Queen Elizabeth II, whom the public wants to continue funding. The hardworking monarch has carried out over a hundred engagements this year despite already being 93 years old.
In contrast, Markle took on less than 50 engagements and Prince Andrew managed to handle at least a hundred engagements this year.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are the second-most popular among taxpayers next to the Queen. According to the poll, people want to continue funding Prince William and Kate Middleton.
With the heir to the throne Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, taxpayers are on the fence on whether they should continue to receive public funds.
Meg could still gain trust from the public if she learns to live by the rules. According to royal author Phil Dampier, the Sussex Royal's popularity suffered so the people want them to pay their own way.
Apparently, it does not sit well with the public that the Sussexes "lecture about climate change yet take private jets" neither do the public like being "told they cannot see Baby Archie's christening when [taxpayers] paid to have Frogmore Cottage renovated." The nursery alone reportedly cost £50,000.
