Amid the pandemic-driven crisis, households and businesses are running on a shoestring. Posing risks both to human health and national economies, COVID-19 does not differentiate between the wealthy and ordinary people.
The UK is among the hardest-hit European economies with both a high mortality rate and soaring numbers of infection cases. Besides, rigid restrictive measures dealt a blow to personal finances. Even the House of Windsor has fallen prey to the coronavirus crisis. Incomes of the Royal family have been in a tailspin. Their heavy losses have been already measured at millions of the British pounds. Here comes the litmus test for how the British monarchy is actually treating the nationals. In fact, apart from various sources of the Royal finances, the government supports the members of the House of Windsor financially. In the face of the tough challenge, admired and respected Queen Elizabeth and her family members found it appropriate to share the burden with their nationals. Feeling responsibility towards the whole nation, the Royal family stated that they are ready to shift to a tight budget and rejected extra funds from the UK public budget.
Importantly, the Royal Household income is generated through the Sovereign Grant, a fixed interest on annual profits of the Crown Estate, the commercial organization managing the Royal lands and properties. This year, the Windsor Castle, the landmark Royal property, is visited by much fewer tourists due to travel restrictions.
