Charles Windsor, hereditary heir to Britain’s chief public office, increased his direct take from the taxpayers by £575,000 last year, a 23.5% increase in a time of financial crisis.
Most of the increase was accounted for by an extra £550,000 spent on travel, including two overseas tours.
In all the feudal ruler took £3m from the people in the form of grants and payments by government departments.
This expenditure financed by taxes is only a small part of the cost to the people of maintaining Windsor’s lavish living standard. Another £16.4m was paid to him last year from the Duchy of Cornwall, a public real estate holding.