Royal finances - our money and theirs

Some angry British taxpayers are using the term “crowdfunding” to explain their view of how the royal family is funded. This is in the context of growing public disgust at the thought the Queen might help Prince Andrew pay off Virginia Giuffre, a woman he claimed never to have met.

Check out this tweet railing against “the most abhorrent crowdfunder I never asked to be part of”.

As a UK tax payer, whose taxes fund the Royal family, that 12 million quid is the most abhorrent crowd-funder I never asked to be part of…

- Tc Thomas (@T_C_Thomas)  February 15, 2022

The funny bit in  that tweet is the terminology, fusing the 21st century with a bygone era. Today’s crowdfunder was yesterday’s royal right. Once upon a time, a hereditary monarchy provided stability in a settled form of government. In return, the monarch was able to levy a tax on their subjects, which was paid in grain, farm products, services and suchlike.

The question to ask is not about the Queen’s alleged decision to spend or not…