Queen Elizabeth gets a $10 million pay rise

The Queen is set to receive a $10m (£6m) “pay rise” from the UK taxpayer after the Crown Estate recorded a $40m increase in income. 

The taxpayer-funded Sovereign Grant, which pays for royal household salaries, official travel and the upkeep of royal palaces, is expected to be $138.5m in 2018/19, up just over $10m.

First in line to the throne Prince Charles will also receive a 1.2 per cent pay increase to $34.9m, while his tax bill has been cut 5.1 per cent to $7.9m.

A major chunk of the money spent by the royal family goes on travel, with Prince Charles spending $28,000 on a private plane between two of his residences. Last year, the The Royal Family made 14 trips costing more than $25,000 each on the Royal Train in 2016-2017, totalling $486,000. 

However, a royal source says the Queen insists on signing off all travel costs, and is careful to speak with her family if she thinks they are spending too much.