Taxpayers forked out $14,000 for Governor General Sam Mostyn to meet King Charles before she was sworn in

Taxpayers forked more than $14,000 for Governor-General Sam Mostyn to “get to know” King Charles before she took up the top job representing him in Australia.

Taxpayers forked out more than $14k for Governor-General Sam Mostyn to be flown to London on business-class flights and stay in a five-star hotel in a four-day jaunt to “get to know” King Charles before she took up the top job representing him in Australia.

Newly released Freedom of Information Request documents confirmed taxpayers were charged $14,472.59 for the Governor-General to travel on business-class Etihad Airways flights to London in May, as well as transfers to and from Heathrow Airport to her accommodation and the Australian High Commission.

Britain's King Charles III meets Governor-General Designate of the Commonwealth of Australia, Samantha Mostyn during a private audience at Buckingham Palace in London on May 29, 2024. (Photo by Jordan Pettitt / POOL / AFP)

The documents, revealed Ms Mostyn stayed at the five-star Great Scotland Yard Hotel, ordering continental buffets, an “Eggs Royale”, as well as fish and chips throughout her stay.

Mostyn stayed at the five-star Great Scotland Yard Hotel in the heart of London, just several hundred metres from Buckingham Palace throughout her stay.

Inside the Great Scotland Yard Hotel.

Inside the Great Scotland Yard Hotel.

Inside the Great Scotland Yard Hotel.

Australian taxpayers also funded from the Governor-General’s diplomatic passport, to the tune of $346.

The almost $15,000 sum charged to Australian taxpayers was for just four days on British soil, and came after Buckingham Palace aids summoned Ms Mostyn to an open audience with the king as part of a meet-and-greet.

business class - in Etihad flights between Sydney and London Heathrow via Abu Dhabi. Supplied by Etihad Airways Ltd.

At the time of the visit a palace source said the King meets with “all governor-generals to go over their credentials”.

“He very much wanted to meet with her,” the source said.

A spokeswoman for Prime Minister and Cabinet said “travel is arranged for the incoming Governor-General to meet with the monarch of Australia”, which was “consistent with past practice”.

“This travel was arranged consistently with the Department’s official travel guidelines and the whole-of-Australian Government travel management arrangements, which aim to maximise overall value for money,” she said.

“The Australian Government pays for official and diplomatic passports when an individual is required to travel internationally for official or diplomatic purposes.”

Originally published as Taxpayers forked out $14,000 for Governor General Sam Mostyn to meet King Charles before she was sworn in