Spain's Royal Family Sees Its Budget Cut Once More

Princess Cristina

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The Spanish royal household has seen its budget cut for the fourth consecutive year, as it unveiled the accounts of senior royals in a bid for greater transparency amid faltering public support.

Damaged by a series of scandals and ahead of the appearance on Saturday of the King's youngest daughter in court to answer financial fraud allegations, Spain's Royal Palace on Monday published a breakdown of its annual spending in an attempt to stem growing criticism of the monarchy.

The belt-tightening has seen Spain's royal budget slashed from nearly €9.4 million (£7.8m) five years ago to €7.78 million (£6.44m) in 2014 – a cut of two per cent from last year under the state-spending plan approved by parliament.

The salary of King Juan Carlos has been frozen for the third year running at €140,519 plus a further €152,233 to cover the "cost of representation" including the wardrobe needed for official functions.

The 76-year-old monarch's medical bill for three surgical operations at a private clinic during 2013 amounted to €165,189, a figure that also came out of the palace budget.

Crown Prince Felipe who has increasingly stepped in to represent the Crown during the past year while his father battled with ill health, is again to receive an amount equal to half his father's salary and expenses. » | Fiona Govan, Madrid | Tuesday, February 04, 2014