£600 for low income earners
Charles should give energy bonus to employees

11/12/2022 5:51 pm

Even in Great Britain, the cost of living is currently rising rapidly. According to media reports, King Charles wants to support low-income palace staff with energy bonuses. So the surcharge is not financed by taxpayers’ money: the king reaches in his pocket.

According to media reports, King Charles III gives bonuses out of his own pocket to his low-income employees. The Sun newspaper reported that the purpose of the lump-sum payment is to mitigate the consequences of rising living costs. Employees with an annual income of up to £30,000 will receive a bonus of £600 (€685), those earning up to £40,000 will receive a bonus of £400 (€456) and those earning up to £45,000 will receive a bonus. of £350 (€399). In total, this is about tens of thousands of pounds.

As the BBC pointed out, no tax money is used for this. Instead, the bonus is paid out of the king’s personal income, known as the privy purse. In the fiscal year 2021/22 (31 March 2022), the Monarch receives substantial annual income from the Duchy of Lancaster’s land and real estate holdings, amounting to £24m. There were 491 full-time jobs in the royal household in 2020/21. According to the Sun, Clarence House, the former residence of King Charles, also employs 101 people. Wages and salaries of £23.7 million were paid from the so-called sovereign grant. It is the tax money that pays for the livelihood of the royal family and the maintenance of the royal land.

A palace source told The Sun that the bonus reflects the reality of the country’s economic situation. “Very aware of the rising cost of energy for the people, the king is concerned about the economic well-being of the loyal palace staff and is doing what he can.” Energy costs in Great Britain have been rising significantly for months, with inflation exceeding 10 per cent most recently.