According to sources, King Charles III will hand staff on lower wages a bonus out of his own pocket to help them to get through the cost of living crisis.
A newspaper outlet reported that the new ruler has told hundreds of royal employees that they will be given up to £600 on top of their pay this month.
As winter draws in and fears of a recession loom, the one-off sum is expected to go towards covering rising energy bills and mortgage costs.
The staff members who will be receiving the financial boost are said to include cleaners, footmen and servants.
Over the summer, Charles, then Prince of Wales, asked MoneySavingExpert Martin Lewis, who he awarded a CBE, for a brief to try to understand how rising energy bills were impacting people.
As part of the Palace’s reported scheme, staff making less than £30,000 a year will receive £600, while those on higher wages will get one-off payments ranging from £200-£400 depending on their earnings.
Rather than coming from the taxpayer, the bonuses are expected to come from the King’s personal income.
Single workers living in accommodation supplied by the Royal Household are expected to receive £200 each. Meanwhile, those with earnings between £30,000 and £40,000 will receive £400 extra.
Figures recently revealed that there are 491 full-time staff employed at the inhabited royal palaces, which include Buckingham Palace, Balmoral and Windsor Castle.
It comes ahead of next week’s budget, in which Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is expected to limit public sector pay rises.
Buckingham Palace has been contacted for comment.
This is an extremely nice gesture from King Charles, although I suspect he will get a lot of criticism, whatever he does, but no matter how large or little it is, every bit benefits, but typically only envy will come from those who don’t receive it.
However, if the King actually wanted to be plentiful, he would be giving his workers a permanent pay rise. He’s a multi-billionaire, he should pay them a proper wage in the first place, so that they don’t need handouts, but then let’s not forget that he paid his staff their full wages out of his own funds during the lockdown when they couldn’t work, and he didn’t take the Government furlough payments.
The King didn’t have to do that, and it’s a very thoughtful gesture, and how many other men of means would do that? Hey Rishi Sunak, perhaps he should be taking a gold leaf out of the King’s book and supporting those out there that are becoming destitute!
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