Britain forked out $91 million for King Charles’ coronation in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis

The coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla held in May last year cost British taxpayers £72 million ($91 million), an amount some have labeled excessive.

The coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla held in May last year cost British taxpayers £72 million ($91 million), an amount some have labeled excessive. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport said in its annual accounts released Thursday that it had spent just over £50 million ($63 million) to coordinate the “once-in-a-generation” event, while the Home Office spent nearly £22 million ($28 million) on its policing. Last year’s coronation was the first in the United Kingdom since Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne in 1953. “(The 2023 coronation) provided an occasion for the entire country to come together in celebration, and offered a unique opportunity to celebrate and strengthen our national identity and showcase the UK to the world,” the culture department said in its accounts, noting that the event reached an estimated audience of 2 billion people across 125 countries. Royal fans often argue the monarchy offers good value to British taxpayers because it boosts tourism and consumer spending, particularly during big events. But some people criticized the lavish affair — which included a gold carriage procession and a display of the monarchy’s jewels — as an insensitive extravagance while millions across the country were struggling financially. At the time, Britons were still in the throes of a cost-of-living crisis marked by soaring energy and grocery bills, which had started in late 2021.