King Chills

Palaces told to turn heating down as expenses hit £107m

-  RUSSELL MYERS

THE King ordered staff in the palaces to turn the heating down as royal expenses soared to £107million last year.

Guests, staff and the Royal Family were living with temperatures set at 19C in winter and a few degrees lower when rooms were empty, an official report reveals.

Charles has also urged the royal household to get behind a sustainability drive amid Britain's cost of living crisis - even turning the heating off in the Buckingham Palace pool.

Last night, he and Camilla received a warm reception when they wore masks to the Animal Ball, at Lancaster House, in Central London. The event marks the 20th anniversary of wildlife charity Elephant Family, established by Camilla's late brother Mark Shand.

The Sovereign Grant Report, which is published today, shows that expenses for the Royal Family, funded by taxpayers, rose by 5% on last year and broke £100m for the second time in history. The Sovereign Grant for 2022/23 amounted to £86.3m, the same as the previous year.

But more than £20m also needed to be taken from the Government's reserve funds to meet the royals' costs.