King Charles and Queen Camilla’s state visit to Kenya in October 2023 was the Royal Family’s costliest overseas trip of the year, according to the latest Sovereign Grant report. The four-day tour, which included a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, cost £167,000 (KES 28.5 million).
The Kenya visit topped the list of 24 royal trips with travel costs exceeding £17,000 in 2023-24. It was followed by a state visit to France at £123,000 and Princess Anne’s official trip to Sri Lanka at £48,000.
Overall royal travel declined in the last quarter due to health issues affecting King Charles and the Princess of Wales. The number of official engagements fell to 2,327 from 2,710 the previous year.
“Safety, security, the need to minimise disruption for others, the effective use of time, environmental impact and cost are taken into account when deciding on the most appropriate means of travel,” the report stated.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office determines and approves overseas visits funded by the Sovereign Grant, except for trips to Commonwealth realms. Some additional government-requested trips, including King Charles’ attendance at COP28 in the UAE, were funded separately by the FCDO.
Despite the high-profile Kenya visit, overall royal travel costs appear to have moderated. The report listed 24 trips costing over £17,000 in 2023-24, down from 31 such journeys the previous year.
The Sovereign Grant, which funds the monarch’s official duties, remained unchanged at £86.3 million for the third consecutive year. However, the Royal Household supplemented this with £19.8 million in self-generated income, more than double the previous year’s figure.
Total expenditure decreased by £8.4 million to £108.9 million (KES 18.6 billion), primarily due to reduced spending on property maintenance. The Buckingham Palace reservicing programme saw planned reductions in spending to £30.4 million, down from £43 million, to align with available funding.
The report highlighted the success of Coronation-related events, including the Big Help Out volunteering initiative. “An estimated 7 million people took part in over 30,000 volunteering opportunities. 70% of those who took part said it made their neighbourhood feel more united,” the report noted.
