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The True Cost of the Royal Family Explained

CGP Grey1 HN recommender · recommended in 1 month, 2013–2022
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explainer · general · 2013–2022 on HN

CGP Grey breaks down what the British Royal Family costs the UK versus what it brings in, including income from royal-owned land. He concludes the government nets a profit from the arrangement.

HN commenters cite it in monarchy debates as the explainer claiming the royals make money for the UK, with some disputing it.

10 comments from Hacker News

@TamDenholm2013-04 · in “Things that Americans find incomprehensible about the UK”

Pretty interesting and i agree with all the points. One thing about the monarchy is the argument that they cost a lot. CGP Grey did a video explaining the true cost of the monarchy. ▶ this video Also, check out his channel, he does loads of amazing videos. link

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@hateful2022-09 · in “People Are Being Arrested in the UK for Protesting Against the Monarchy”

From what I understand, if the royal family was abolished, taxes would go up, not down according to this video. ▶ this video

@afiori2022-07 · in “Revealed: Queen’s sweeping immunity from more than 160 laws”

The crown as a private entity gives more money to the state than it receives ▶ this video I do not have primary sources but according to GPC Grey in the video the royal family receives £45 millions and gives ~£200 millions In the same sense that the queen is the richest person in the UK it is also true that almost the entirety of her possession are handled (and profited) by the state. Quoting Wikipedia: link > On his accession, the Crown lands produced relatively little income; most revenue was generated through taxes and excise duties. George surrendered the Crown Estate to Parliamentary control in return for a civil list annuity for the support of his household and the expenses of civil government I have no opinion on the british royal family and honestly I don't see them keeping the title for more than two other generations, but it does not look like they are (currently) bleeding the country

@throwaway_20472021-02 · in “The Queen has more power over British law than we thought”

According to ▶ this video , the royal family brings in 160M pound from land property with a maintenance cost of 40M pound, and an additional 7000M pound from tourism

@GarrisonPrime2019-11 · in “How to Hide a Billion Dollars”

The True Cost of the Royal Family Explained, video by CGP Grey: ▶ this video too long; didn't watch: The royal family likely contributes quite significantly to the popularity of the UK tourism industry, which brings in FAR more money to the country than the institution costs to maintain, even considering all the royal salaries to pay, the palaces to maintain, public events to produce, security, etc. They also lease out a great amount of land to the country - to the wide benefit of the entire populace - for pennies of what it would cost the nation to purchase such land and resources outright.