King Charles to disclose personal tax details for first time as monarch

LONDON: King Charles III will for the first time make public details of his personal tax payments as monarch, Buckingham Palace has confirmed, in a move presented as part of a broader push for greater transparency around royal finances.

British monarchs are legally exempt from some taxes, although they have voluntarily paid certain duties for decades. They are not required to publish details of their personal tax liabilities. Charles had released information on his personal taxes when he was heir to the throne, but Buckingham Palace said he will now become the first reigning monarch to do so.

A palace spokesperson said in a statement issued on Saturday to a limited number of British media organisations that the decision was taken at the king’s own initiative.

"The decision to do so as Sovereign has come at the express wish of the King himself,"

The spokesperson said the step was among the changes introduced since Charles became king in 2022.

“Our aim is to explain all elements of royal finances in a way that further enhances clarity and accessibility, while also placing it in its historical and constitutional context.

"To put it simply: we continue to modernise and evolve."

Accounts due this week

The BBC reported that Charles’s tax details will be released on Thursday alongside the annual royal financial accounts. The announcement comes at a time of heightened attention in Britain on the finances of the royal family.

Recent scandals involving Prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor have intensified scrutiny of royal finances. That scrutiny has also prompted calls from critics for arrangements beyond voluntary disclosure.

Campaign group seeks outside oversight

Anti-monarchy group Republic said the king’s decision to disclose the information voluntarily did not go far enough, and called for royal taxes and income to be audited and published by independent authorities.

In a statement, Republic head Graham Smith said:

"The royals can’t be allowed to self-declare their tax,"

He added that Charles’s decision to release the information voluntarily still left major questions unresolved.