King Charles’s Coronation Sparks Outrage Over £72m Price Tag
Official figures reveal that the May 2023 coronation of King Charles III cost UK taxpayers at least £72 million, with £21.7 million allocated for policing and £50.3 million spent by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). Critics argue that the true cost may be significantly higher, with some estimates placing the total between £100 million and £250 million, factoring in additional expenses by other government departments and agencies.
The event, which featured a ceremony at Westminster Abbey and a star-studded concert at Windsor Castle, was described by the DCMS as a “once-in-a-generation moment” celebrating national identity and showcasing the UK globally. Approximately 20 million Britons tuned in to watch the coronation on television, far fewer than the 29 million who viewed Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in 2022.
Republic, an organization advocating for a democratic alternative to the monarchy, labeled the expenditure “obscene.” Graham Smith, CEO of Republic, criticized the coronation as an unnecessary and extravagant use of public funds during a cost-of-living crisis. “It’s a huge amount of money to spend on one person’s parade,” Smith said, highlighting that there was no constitutional or legal obligation to hold a coronation.
Smith also pointed to King Charles’s exemption from inheritance tax on his substantial wealth, a privilege granted under a 1993 agreement by then-Prime Minister John Major. “This extravagance was completely unnecessary and wasteful,” he said, adding that it was “outrageous” given the backdrop of child poverty and cuts to essential public services.
The debate over the coronation’s cost has reignited calls for greater accountability and transparency regarding royal finances, with critics questioning the monarchy’s relevance in modern Britain.
