CAMPAIGNERS have called for the UK Government to “slash” the estimated “half-a billion-pound” cost of the royal family, saying it is a “waste” of public money.

The pressure group Republic has written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, claiming members of parliament from “all sides” do not have a good grasp of the “huge costs” of the royals.

Campaigners from the group have “called out” MPs for their “woeful” understanding of royal funding and have questioned why so much public money has been wasted on one institution.

Republic's CEO Graham Smith wrote: “I am concerned that while you are reportedly preparing to cut funding to public services and welfare, the huge cost of the monarchy will continue to rise.”

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He continued: “If 'painful' decisions are required, as you have said, shouldn't those cuts start at the top? I am asking for the royal budget to be slashed, for the monarch to be put on an annual salary and for there to be an inquiry into royal costs.”

Campaigners from the group have previously called for the abolition of the monarchy and for it to be replaced with a directly elected head of state.

They claim that the royals do not provide any stability in the UK or contribute any economic benefits.

The royals have cost taxpayers around £345m a year, money they say should be spent on public services instead, according to the group's figures.

According to the latest accounts for the Sovereign Grant, published in July, state funding for the Royal Household will remain at £86.3m for 2024-25 and rise to £132m in 2025-26.

The group has called for the Sovereign Grant to be scrapped and that a head of state should be paid a salary, just like everyone else, with the budget for the institution being no greater than £10m.

Smith added: “The cost of the monarchy is out of control. It cannot be justified, it is the result of corruption and abuse of public funds by a family with a deep sense of entitlement.

“The whole system of funding the royals needs to be scrapped, including the Sovereign Grant, the duchies and local councils having to pay for royal visits.

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“We want the monarchy gone for good, but in the meantime the head of state should be paid a salary just like everyone else, the household given an annual budget, just like any other institution. That budget could be slashed to less than £10m.

“Yet that debate cannot happen if MPs are woefully misinformed about the funding of the royals. Hundreds of people have written to their MPs in recent weeks, and the replies suggest members of parliament from all sides do not have a good grasp of the huge costs of the royals.”