Government Reveals £72 Million Taxpayer Cost for King Charles’s Coronation

Government data indicates that the King’s Coronation incurred a cost of £72 million to taxpayers. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), responsible for organizing the event, expended just over £50 million, while the Home Office covered nearly £22 million in policing expenses. The DCMS characterized the Coronation as a “once-in-a-generation” moment, noting that the reported costs largely aligned with unofficial projections ranging from £50 million to £100 million. The Coronation, held in May 2023, was previously referred to as a “slimmed down affair,” with the guest list at Westminster Abbey being a quarter of the size of Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation, which took place at the identical location in 1953. As a state event, the Coronation received funding from the UK government. Additionally, a minor portion of the expenses was covered by the Sovereign Grant, which constitutes the yearly taxpayer funding allocated to the monarchy. The public funding of the Coronation drew criticism, particularly as it occurred amidst a cost-of-living crisis across the UK. A YouGov poll conducted one month prior to the Coronation indicated that 52% of London residents did not think taxpayers should cover the Coronation’s expenses. Significant speculation surrounded the cost to the public purse, a figure the DCMS had stated would not be disclosed until after the event concluded. According to the DCMS annual accounts report published on Thursday, the Coronation garnered an estimated global audience of two billion individuals across 125 countries. The report stated that it “offered a unique opportunity to celebrate and strengthen our national identity and showcase the UK to the world”. The campaign group Republic labeled the Coronation a “pointless, archaic parade,” suggesting that the funds expended could have been used for free school meals. Graham Smith, the chief executive, commented: “At a time when so many people are struggling with the cost of living crisis, it is shameful that Charles insisted on this pointless extravaganza.” King Charles received his crown at Westminster Abbey on 6 May 2023, during a ceremony attended by dignitaries globally. Prince Harry, the King’s youngest son, traveled from California to attend the ceremony; however, his wife Meghan and their two children were not present with him. Among the celebrity attendees within the Abbey were British acting figures Emma Thompson, Judi Dench, and Stephen Fry, alongside international personalities like US singers Lionel Richie and Katy Perry. The Foreign Office reported a total attendance of 90 heads of state, in addition to the first ladies of the United States and Ukraine, who represented the presidents of their nations. Despite the rain, thousands of individuals gathered along the Mall to observe the procession as it moved through London. A concert featuring numerous stars, including Perry, Richie, and Take That, among others, was held at Windsor Castle on the subsequent evening. The original publication includes an invitation to subscribe to its Royal Watch newsletter for weekly updates on royal stories and analysis. Options for signing up are provided for readers both within and outside the UK. The text concludes with a copyright notice for BBC, 2024, stating all rights are reserved. It also mentions that the BBC bears no responsibility for the content of external sites and directs readers to information regarding its external linking policy.