British taxpayers forked out millions to keep royal households running

Queen Elizabeth has released her annual report revealing the hefty sum British taxpayers forked out to keep royal households running, with millions more allocated to a huge renovation project.

The cost of the royal households to British taxpayers has been revealed, as a massive 10-year upgrade of Buckingham Palace adds millions to the bill.

The Queen has released this morning her annual report, detailing the £82.2 million ($A150 million) she received from British taxpayers in 2018/19.

That was up from £76.1 million ($A139 million) the year before, or an increase of eight per cent.

The Queen received $A150 million from British taxpayers in 2018/19, up from $A139 million the year before. Picture: Getty Images

The extra costs have been put down to the refurbishment of Buckingham Palace, which was allocated £32.9 million ($A60 million).

The work done this year centred on the East Wing, which required moving all of the staff out of the area and shifting 3000 works of art that were stored there.

Buckingham Palace pointed out that the cash, which was a dividend from earnings from the government-linked royal property portfolio, was £1.24 ($A2.27) per person in the UK.

Sir Michael Stevens, the Royal family’s money man officially described as the Keeper of the Privy Purse, said the Queen had a busy year.

“The year under review has been another busy period for the Royal Household with The Queen undertaking 140 official engagements in the United Kingdom, including the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting at Buckingham Palace and the visit of the President of the United States to Windsor,” he said.

“In addition, the programme of other Members of the Royal Family who support The Queen helped the Royal Family deliver over 3200 official engagements across the UK and overseas.”

The extra taxpayer dollars the Queen received were put down to the refurbishment of Buckingham Palace. Picture: iStock

Sir Michael added that the Buckingham Palace costs were being spaced out to keep the building operational.

“The ten year Reservicing programme presents a unique opportunity for innovation and investment in one of the world’s most prestigious and iconic historic buildings, thereby preserving it for future generations,” he said.

“The work is sequenced so as to enable the Palace to remain occupied and fully operational and The Queen’s programme to continue to be delivered without interruption.”

United States president Donald Trump stayed at the Ambassador’s house in Regent’s Park because of the Buckingham Palace renovations.

Originally published as British taxpayers forked out millions to keep royal households running