THE Queen is tightening her belt amid devastating Covid-19 cuts across the country and refusing to take an annual pay rise.
Buckingham Palace figures reveal the 94-year-old monarch will receive an £85.9million Sovereign Grant next year — which includes £33million to repair her palaces.
But faced with a £35million shortfall in personal income due to coronavirus affecting Crown Estates rents and tourism, the grant will be frozen at £86.3million for 2021/22 and 2022/23.
The Royal Household said it is not furloughing or laying off any staff but looking to make savings through “efforts and efficiencies”.
A Palace source said: “Her Majesty understands that families across the country are having to make things go further and that should be the same for the Palace.
“The expected shortfalls will not see any calls for extra money but just a determination to be visible and carry on.”
The Sovereign Grant is calculated as 25 per cent of the total Crown Estates income.
But royals yesterday estimated a £20million fall in receipts because of Covid-19.
And tourist income via the Royal Collection Trust paid to the Queen will be £5million down every year for the next three years.
Last year the Queen received £82.4million from the public purse.
This included £49.4million for the core funding and an extra £33million on repairs.
The annual taxpayer-funded Sovereign Grant of £85.9million in 2020/21 is the equivalent of £1.23 for every Brit.
That will be frozen for the following two years, when the full impact of Covid-19 hits.
This means, taking inflation into account, it will be the first time in living memory the Queen will not get a pay rise as her taxpayer- funded contribution could fall.
Sir Michael Stevens, Keeper of the Privy Purse, said: “We have no intention of asking for extra funding and will look to manage the impact through our own efforts and efficiencies.”
Fewer public duties could also save the Queen money. She carried out 296 last year.
A source said: “There are more video engagements. We are adapting.”
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