Khaberni - In an unprecedented move in the history of the British monarchy, Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles III will disclose to the public next Thursday the amount of taxes he pays as a king, in an effort led by the palace to "enhance the principles of transparency and financial accountability to the British public."
A palace spokesperson said that the decision came "based on an explicit desire from the king himself," and according to the British Broadcasting Corporation "this is the first time a British monarch has announced details of his personal tax obligations."
The announcement coincides with circulating questions on social media about the motives and timing of the move, at a time when the United Kingdom is experiencing political tension following media reports stating that Andy Burnham, the prime minister's rival within the ruling Labour Party, has given him until tomorrow, Tuesday, to present a timeline for his resignation.
Starmer's Tempest
The debate intensified after comments by US President Donald Trump, who said that Starmer "will fail and resign," criticizing his performance on immigration and energy issues, while Reuters reported from a knowledgeable source that "the British Prime Minister may resolve his position within days, whether by facing a leadership challenge or by paving the way for his departure."
According to analysts, "the simultaneity of these files reflects the level of scrutiny that now extends to British governance institutions, whether in political files related to the future of the government or financial issues concerning the royal institution."
The law does not oblige King Charles to pay income tax, capital gains tax, or inheritance tax on what he inherited from Queen Elizabeth II, yet he continues the approach followed by the royal family since 1993, voluntarily paying income and capital gains taxes despite being legally exempt from them, according to "Reuters."
Since 1993, the royal family began paying some taxes in response to public pressure on issues related to the royal family's wealth and the costs of maintaining the palaces, in addition to the controversy that arose around the funding of the restoration works of Windsor Castle after the famous fire it suffered in 1992.
As the tax data is awaited, attention also turns to the private income sources of the British monarch, after official accounts showed that the Duchy of Lancaster, the monarch's private real estate and investment arm, generated revenues of 26.8 million pounds during the fiscal year 2024-2025.
The King's Wealth
The Duchy includes agricultural lands, residential and commercial properties, and diverse investments across England, and is considered the main source of private income for the British monarch, according to the official accounts of the Duchy.
King Charles also owns the Balmoral and Sandringham properties, which he inherited after his mother Queen Elizabeth II's death, along with other private assets and investments that the anticipated disclosure may reveal more details of.
In addition to his private income, the royal institution benefits from "the Sovereign Grant," which are annual government allocations designated to fund the official activities and duties of the royal family members.
The value of this grant reached 132.1 million pounds during the fiscal year 2025-2026, compared to 86.3 million pounds in the previous year, according to data conveyed by the "Agence France-Presse."
