William’s £130K Saudi Arabia Tour Tops Royal Travel Costs Since Charles Became King
Figures released in the Royal Family’s annual financial report reveal significant expenditures on official engagements, with Prince William’s recent trip to Saudi Arabia emerging as the most expensive. The report, covering the fiscal year ending March 2026, indicates that the Royal Family spent over £3 million on travel, including £160,733 on just four journeys aboard the Royal Train.
Prince William’s Costly Engagements
The Prince of Wales has topped the list of the most expensive royal trips for the first time since his father ascended to the throne. His official three-day visit to Saudi Arabia in February 2026, undertaken on behalf of the UK government, incurred costs totaling £130,106. This figure includes expenses related to two additional planning trips conducted by staff prior to the official visit.
Following closely was the King and Queen’s four-day state visit to Italy in April 2025, which cost £126,946. Additionally, Prince William’s tour of Brazil for the Earthshot Awards and the COP summit amounted to £79,000.
Breakdown of Travel Costs
The report outlines a total of 37 journeys made by members of the Royal Family during the year. Of these, 13 involved the King, with 11 taking place within the UK. Notable domestic trips included four journeys on the Royal Train to various locations, such as Lancaster, Staffordshire, Dartmouth, and Clitheroe, with costs ranging from £34,109 to £48,460.
Buckingham Palace announced plans to retire the Royal Train by 2027 to reduce expenses.
International Engagements
The King and Queen’s overseas travel included a state visit to Italy and a trip to the Vatican City in October 2025, where they met Pope Leo XIV. The travel costs for the Vatican visit reached £75,371, making it the fourth most expensive trip of the fiscal year. This was just behind Prince William’s two-day visit to Brazil for the COP30 climate summit, which cost £78,542.
Additional Travel Insights
The report also notes that the King’s travel expenses primarily consisted of chartered flights within the UK. A planning visit to the United States and Bermuda, conducted by staff in preparation for a royal visit, incurred costs of £66,060. Actual expenses for the upcoming visit by King Charles and Queen Camilla will be documented in the 2026/27 report.
In total, members of the Royal Family undertook 177 helicopter journeys, costing £733,063. Overall, the total expenditure on travel for the year amounted to £3,316,024.
Funding Increases for the Monarchy
The report highlights a significant increase in the monarchy’s core funding, which is set to rise to £100 million annually, nearly doubling within three years. The Royal Household will receive £99.9 million as a core grant for 2027-28, an increase of £48.1 million compared to the £51.8 million grant for 2024-25.
This adjustment was approved by Royal Trustees, including outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves. The additional funding will address maintenance backlogs at royal residences, enhance cybersecurity, and install energy-efficient heating systems, with £11 million allocated for replacing aging boilers at Windsor Castle.
As reported by www.mirror.co.uk.
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Published on 2026-06-26 20:09:00 • By FAME Delivered News Desk