Royal Family buys two new helicopters for £8m each in major transport refresh
The helicopters will provide access to remote parts of the UK, replacing the existing Sikorsky helicopters, according to officials.
The globe-trotting Royals have placed orders for two new helicopters and pledged to convert the State Bentleys to run on biofuels.
The Sovereign Grant has unveiled plans to replace the current 15 year old choppers with AgustaWestland AW139s, which are deemed a "key component" in facilitating the King and Royal family in fulfilling their duties.
These helicopters will provide access to remote parts of the UK, replacing the existing Sikorsky helicopters, according to officials. However, it was revealed that over £1million was spent last year on 170 helicopter trips for Royal Family members, each costing nearly £17,000, reports the Mirror.
The Royal coffers are set to swell by a staggering £45million, with the monarchy's official annual income skyrocketing by 53 per cent to over £130million. Thanks to the Crown Estate's profits soaring to £1.1billion, the taxpayer-funded Sovereign Grant, which bankrolls the Royal family's official duties, is poised to leap from £86.3million in 2024/2025 to a whopping £132million in 2025/2026.
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Palace officials have earmarked this hefty increase to cover the final stages of Buckingham Palace's monumental £369million refurbishment, ensuring the project remains on track and within budget.
Come 2026/27, this financial uplift will undergo a legislative review to ensure the funding of the Royal household reflects a "more appropriate" level, according to a Palace spokesperson. Meanwhile, a recent National Audit Office report released on Tuesday has praised the management of the Palace's renovation, despite noting that setbacks such as structural damage and unexpected asbestos, which bumped up costs, "could have been foreseen".
