Royal travel bill over $11mil

Prince Harry recently visited New Zealand. Photo / Lawrence Smith

The Royal family spent NZ$11.6 million on travel last year, with Prince Charles spending almost NZ$1 million an official visit to Latin America alone.

In all Charles spent more than £1.5million (NZ$3.4mil) of public money, largely on private jets - up 14 per cent from the previous year.

His globe-trotting also resulted in a spike in his greenhouse gas emissions, something of an embarrassment for the environmental campaigner.

However, Clarence House was at pains to point out the increased costs were down to three long-haul trips Charles and Camilla were asked to conduct by the Government as he shoulders more of his 89-year-old mother's official duties.

Charles did his best to balance his official responsibilities with his green credentials, they said.

His private office spent £446,159 (NZ$1,058,000) on a plane to take him and Camilla to Colombia and Mexico last autumn.

A further £25,767 (NZ$58,484) was spent by his staff on reconnaissance visits. And Charles's visit to the Middle East - seen as a diplomatic coup by the Foreign Office - set taxpayers back by £262,212 (NZ$595,000)

Prince Harry's combined trip to Brazil, coinciding with the World Cup, and an official visit to Chile last year cost £100,000 (NZ$226,974) including £20,000 (NZ$45,394) for his retinue to travel out in advance.

The Prince and his entourage also spent £43,872 (NZ$99,578) on scheduled flights during the visit itself plus a further £41,754 (NZ$94,770) chartering a private jet.

Harry visited Brazil at the request of the Foreign Office and in support of his charities, working with underprivileged children and the military, although he also attended two World Cup matches. A spokesman for Harry said using the chartered jet was the best way to travel around Brazil during the World Cup.

Figures also revealed that Prince Andrew - dubbed Air Miles Andy for his love of foreign travel - chartered a jet to take him to Kuwait in May last year, leaving taxpayers with a bill for £63,000 (NZ$142,993). Another charter to the Middle East in November cost £43,000 (NZ$97,599).

More than 4,000 official engagements were undertaken by the Royal Family last year. Of that some 63 journeys cost more than £10,000 (NZ$22,697).

Buckingham Palace said the travel "needed to be undertaken in a way which met efficiency, security and presentational requirements and minimal disruption to the public".

It said all foreign visits were at the request of the Government and approved by the Royal Visits committee to ensure the best use of public money.

- Daily Mail