King Charles Blocks Brother's 'Bizarre' £32,000 Request
King Charles III once intervened to stop a 'bizarre' £32,000 request from his brother, Prince Andrew, which would have funded spiritual Indian gurus to provide treatment at his home. According to royal biographer Robert Jobson, the King was 'horrified' by the proposal and moved immediately to block it, despite the late Queen Elizabeth II having previously given it her approval.
A New Era of Financial Discipline
This refusal is presented as a clear signal of King Charles's new, more business-like approach to managing royal funds. In his new book, 'The Windsor Legacy: A Royal Dynasty', Jobson writes that a quiet but unmistakable shift began at the palace. A senior insider explained, 'This isn’t about financial cuts. It’s about getting value for money and efficiency. Sometimes less truly is more.'
This incident is part of a broader effort by the monarch to reshape the Royal Household and enforce financial discipline among family members. Another source was blunt, stating, 'The King isn’t running a housing association for distant relatives,' highlighting his determination to reduce the number of royals reliant on his patronage.
Distancing from Controversy and Cutting Costs
Charles's firm stance on Andrew also reflects a continued effort to distance the monarchy from the controversies surrounding the former Duke of York. This was made starkly clear when, on Thursday, November 6, the King officially stripped his brother of his HRH style and princely title following allegations linked to Jeffrey Epstein.
The push for accountability extends beyond Prince Andrew. The eviction of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex from Frogmore Cottage, a property gifted to them by the late Queen, is also cited as part of this tightening of royal resources. Their loss of a UK base is described as 'the tip of the iceberg' in a clear message that there is no room for freeloaders in the modern monarchy.
King Charles has reportedly instructed aides to rein in spending from both the Duchy of Lancaster and the Sovereign Grant, focusing on a smarter use of resources. His priority is to direct funds towards areas that strengthen the institution, such as competitive pay and pensions to retain top-tier staff.
A senior source confirmed there have been staff cutbacks, with the new buzzphrase in the household being 'value for money.' This new fiscal approach has yielded tangible results. In the 2023–24 financial year, the overall net expenditure funded by the Sovereign Grant fell by 17 percent to £89.1 million, down from a record high the previous year. For 2024–25, the Royal Family's official net expenditure decreased a further 4 percent to £85.2 million, saving the public purse millions and fulfilling the King's promise of a slimmed-down monarchy.
