The Monarchy Today > Royal finances > Sources of funding

Details of Civil List expenditure can be viewed in the annual Royal financial report

THE CIVIL LIST

The Civil List is the sum provided by Parliament to meet the official expenses of The Queen’s Household so that Her Majesty can fulfil her role as Head of State and Head of the Commonwealth.

It is not in any sense ‘pay’ for The Queen, but funding for her official work.

The Civil List dates back to the Restoration of the Monarchy in 1660, but the current system was created on the accession of George III in 1760.

In that year it was decided that the whole cost of civil government should be provided by Parliament in return for the surrender of the hereditary revenues (mainly the net surplus of the Crown Estate) by the Sovereign.

In the financial year 2005-06 the revenue surplus from the Crown Estate paid to the Treasury amounted to £190.8 million.

As a result of Royal Household efficiency savings and lower than expected inflation during the period up to December 2000, a reserve of £35.3 million was carried forward. The annual amount of the Civil List for the next 10 years for the period up to December 2010 remained fixed at £7.9 million.

In 2005, Civil List expenditure amounted to £11.2m. Since the transfer of additional expenditure to the Civil List with effect from 1 April 2001, Civil List expenditure exceeds the annual £7.9 million payment, and amounts are therefore now withdrawn from the reserve each year, rather than being paid into it.

The budget for each year’s projected net Civil List spending is reviewed by the Treasury, which audits the accounts and verifies that the Household’s financial management is in line with best practice.

About 70 per cent of Civil List expenditure goes to pay the salaries of staff working directly for The Queen.


	Details of Civil List expenditure can be viewed in the annual Royal financial report THE CIVIL LIST The Civil List is the sum provided by Parliament to meet the official expenses of The Queen’s Household so that Her Majesty can fulfil her role as Head of State and Head of the Commonwealth. It is not in any sense ‘pay’ for The Queen, but funding for her official work. The Civil List dates back to the Restoration of the Monarchy in 1660, but the current system was created on the accession of George III in 1760. In that year it was decided that the whole cost of civil government should be provided by Parliament in return for the surrender of the hereditary revenues (mainly the net surplus of the Crown Estate) by the Sovereign. In the financial year 2005-06 the revenue surplus from the Crown Estate paid to the Treasury amounted to £190.8 million. As a result of Royal Household efficiency savings and lower than expected inflation during the period up to December 2000, a reserve of £35.3 million was carried forward. The annual amount of the Civil List for the next 10 years for the period up to December 2010 remained fixed at £7.9 million. In 2005, Civil List expenditure amounted to £11.2m. Since the transfer of additional expenditure to the Civil List with effect from 1 April 2001, Civil List expenditure exceeds the annual £7.9 million payment, and amounts are therefore now withdrawn from the reserve each year, rather than being paid into it. The budget for each year’s projected net Civil List spending is reviewed by the Treasury, which audits the accounts and verifies that the Household’s financial management is in line with best practice. About 70 per cent of Civil List expenditure goes to pay the salaries of staff working directly for The Queen.
	In 2005 the Civil List amounted to £11.2m. Only The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh receive funding from the Civil List. The Queen reimburses the annual parliamentary allowances received by other members of the Royal Family. Their duties include dealing with State papers, organising public engagements and arranging meetings and receptions undertaken by The Queen. The Civil List also meets the costs of functions such as Royal garden parties and receptions and official entertainment during State Visits. Her Majesty entertains over 48,000 people each year. Details of expenditure are published in an Annual Summary and in the Annual Report. Civil List figures (unlike financial data for the Grants-in-Aid) cover a calendar year rather than a financial year. Download the Civil List report for 2005 (1.6MB) Privy Purse and Treasurer’s Office The department responsible for Royal finances SUGGESTED LINKS Parliament Crown Estate