David Dimbleby rages at the ‘absurd’ Royal Family for not paying tax | Royal | News
David Dimbleby has criticized the Royal Family’s “outdated” privileges, including not being legally required to pay taxes. The former BBC Question Time presenter said it was “absurd” that the royal family “remains outside the tax laws” despite their huge fortune.
Although the Royal Family is not legally liable to pay income or capital gains tax on the Sovereign Grant as it is not considered private income, the Monarch and the Prince of Wales have been paying tax voluntarily since 1993. This includes capital gains and inheritance taxes, as well as income from their own private estates. But Mr Dimbleby, 87, called out the Royal Family’s financial and legal affairs.
To talk TelegramHe said: “They’re not bound by the Equality Act or the Race Relations Act. They can hide their investments. I think people are completely amazed by these things. Even staunch monarchists say, ‘Really? I didn’t realize that.’
“They have enormous privileges, and there’s this accumulated wealth because they don’t pay death taxes and they don’t have to declare their wills. There are all kinds of privileges that I think are outdated. It’s ridiculous that they can get around tax laws and other things.”
The journalist added that he was “pro-monarchy if it is in the spirit of the times”. But he added: “I’m not in favor of the argument that he’s bringing in American tourists, it’s one of the worst arguments.”
Like Elizabeth II, King Charles pays income tax and capital gains tax on his personal income. Although the King and Prince William are exempt from corporate taxes, they voluntarily pay income tax on the income they earn.
However, they do not pay capital gains tax because they do not personally benefit from any increase in assets. King Charles does not have to pay inheritance tax because of the “sovereign to sovereign” exemption adopted in 1993.
The Government Grant funding official duties in 2025-26 has increased to £132.1 million. This figure rose to £32 million a year when it was introduced in 2012 and £86.3 million in 2024/25.
Official figures show public funding for the Royal Family has tripled since 2012. However, due to record numbers of visitors to Buckingham Palace, additional income also rose to £21.5 million.
All the Crown Estate’s profits go directly to the Treasury. In 2023/24 the estate had assets worth £15bn, including high-end properties in London and land along the coasts of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
