While visiting Suffolk this week, King Charles III gave an unexpectedly brief reply when confronted by a member of the public about the royal family’s cost to taxpayers.

The 76-year-old monarch was joined by Queen Camilla on July 22, as they toured the town of Newmarket. The royal couple visited The National Stud and several racecourses near Cambridge, engaging with representatives from various horse racing charities.

A Question from the Crowd

Earlier in the day, while walking along Newmarket High Street en route to meet Ipswich Town CEO Mark Ashton, the King and Queen stopped to greet members of the public.

As Charles made his way past the crowd, one man loudly asked: “Why does your family cost us half a billion pounds a year, Charles?”

The King, barely breaking stride, replied with just two words: “Ah, yes,” and continued along the line of well-wishers.

The same individual followed up with another question: “Why do you only pay your gardeners minimum wage?”
But by then, Charles had moved on and was engaged with someone else, likely not hearing the second comment.

In a separate moment captured on video, a woman was heard shouting: “Do you think it’s fair we pay you £27 million a year from the Duchy of Lancaster?”

Again, there was no response from the King, who kept walking and did not visibly acknowledge the remark.