The Duke and Duchess of Sussex meet a group of dancers in Cape Town, South Africa (Dominic Lipinski / PA)
The excursion of the high-profile family circle of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in southern Africa charges the taxpayer almost 246,000 euros, according to new accounts.
Harry and Meghan took their four-month-old baby, Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, to South Africa in September last year for their first royalty abroad, and the duke also travelled alone to Angola, Malawi and Botswana.
Flights amounted to nearly a quarter of a million pounds and were the actual estimated maximum of 2019-20, according to real monetary records.
Republic, who is campaigning for an elected head of state, criticized the position as an “shameful abuse of public money” and said there was no justification at a time when jobs were being lost and cut in the public sector.
They have become debatable after Meghan introduced legal action opposed to a newspaper and Harry introduced a scathing attack on the tabloid press while the tour was still underway.
A high-level royal source insisted that the couple was not required to pay after pronouncing their resolve to leave their duties as members of the royal circle of relatives only 3 months later.
The source under pressure that this is a key scale passed through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and helped highlight the paintings of many charities.
“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have made more than 20 commitments, drawing attention to a number of valid causes, in particular through raising awareness of the work and legacy of the Halo Trust,” he said.
“Thus, the visit, as an official government-funded visit, met the objectives set for it and there would be no legal responsibility or legal responsibility for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to make invoices in connection with this official visit. “
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Archie met with Archbishop Desmond Tutu in Cape Town (Toby Melville / PA)
Other costly trips through members of the royal circle of relatives included a two-day stopover through the Prince of Wales to Oman to offer their condolences for the death of Sultan Qaboos bin Said, with a charter flight cost of 210,345 euros.
The source stated that it took place in a very short time and that no advertising flights were available.
The Duke of York took a charter flight to Northern Ireland to attend the Royal Portrush Golf Club Open Championship, which amounted to 15,848 euros.
The Royal Source defended Andrew’s use of a charter rather than a scheduled flight, stating, “In this specific case, we conclude that, in fact, the use of charter is the only way to get him to fulfill his commitments to integrate with his other programs. . »
Andrew, formerly known as Air Miles Andy for his generous use of helicopters and planes at the state’s expense, has since given up his royal duties due to his former friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
The Duke of York (right) no longer has real duties (Joe Giddens / PA)
The Royal Princess flew to Rome to watch the Italy-Scotland rugby match of the Six Nations for a price of 16,440 euros.
For a holiday in Pakistan, the expenses of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are $117,116.
The total charge for official royal family travel, at the taxpayer’s expense, was 5. 3 million pounds in the last monetary year, an accumulation of 15% or 700,000 euros compared to 4. 6 million pounds in 2018/2019.
The Buckingham Palace Sovereign Grant monetary report found that Sussex’s prices to southern Africa were $245,643, adding normal flights to and from South Africa, Harry’s charter flights for his solo trips, and scheduled flights for a staff planning the visit.
Graham Smith of Republic said: “At a time when jobs are being lost in the public sector and facilities are being cut, these numbers constitute an embarrassing abuse of public money through the royal family. There is no justification for spending a quarter of a million pounds. “Africa or more than 200,000 pounds to Oman.
“And they’re all in. Thousands of pounds have been spent on trips for Anne and Andrew, so they can attend sporting events. It’s not a public service, it’s daylight robbery. “
He added: “A 15% increase in prices when hospitals can’t provide the most productive care to everyone in need, when teachers are suffering to pay for mandatory books and equipment, and the police reach the limit, is outrageous. “. . »
During the 10-day tour of Sussex, Meghan gave an exciting speech to young people in a municipality and also addressed the factor of gender-based violence in South Africa, while Archie met with Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Harry recalled the story of his mother Diana, princess of Wales in Angola, as he crossed a minefield in Dirico to see the paintings of a demining charity.
But the trip, made at the request of the government, was overshadowed in the end when the Duchess announced on Sunday an anti-Mail legal action for a letter she had written to her father.
While still on tour, Harry introduced a scathing attack on the British tabloid press, accusing them of a “ruthless campaign” opposite his wife, adding, “I lost my mother and now I see my wife fall victim to the same hard forces. “”
He then filed his own lawsuit against News Group Newspapers and Reach plc for alleged old phone hacking.
Harry and Meghan also filmed an ITV documentary about the holidays in which they talked about their struggles as members of the royal family.
The two men resigned as members of the royal circle of relatives just a few months later and now live in the United States, where they are financially independent after signing a multi-million pound deal with Netflix.
Only 3 trips were made in the actual financial year in 2019/2020, however, the total charge exceeds 63,000 euros.
It is the Voyage of the Prince of Wales from Kemble to Carlisle with a stopover in Pirelli Tyres and a mountain rescue team, among others, at a cost of 20,822 euros; The Queen of London’s trip to Edinburgh for Royal Week at Holyroodhouse Palace at 22,696 euros, and the Prince of Wales’ Journey from London to Severn Tunnel Junction with stopover in Newport and Penarth, for a payment of 19,737 euros.
The source said the Royal Train was an Array’s “efficient and efficient” medium that provides a safe night that reduces safety prices and allows the royal circle of relatives to maximize the day’s commitments.