Prince Charles Given Increase In Government Grants And Expenses

Britain's Prince Charles was given over Ł3 million [$5 million] in Government grants and expenses in the past year. The astonishing figure is almost a quarter more than the previous year - rising from under Ł2.5 million [$4 million] - with his rocketing traveling costs cited as the main reason.

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The bill for journeys of more than 50,000 miles rose from Ł1,157,000 to Ł1,710,000 [$1.9 million to $2.8 million], with Ł1 million [$1.7 million] spent on just two long-haul trips by private jet - one to Japan, Brunei and Indonesia in November and one to South America earlier this year.

Charles' private secretary Sir Michael Peat defended the rise - insisting the prince is "busier than ever" with his rainforest and climate change campaigning.

Sir Michael said: "While many people would be slowing down, he seems to be going faster and faster. It's easy to underestimate the importance and success of these tours."

A spokesperson for the prince - who carried out 658 official engagements last year - added: "The foreign tours carried out are done so at the request of the Foreign Office."

Meanwhile, Charles' Duchy of Cornwall estate - from which he gets a private income - saw his return rise by Ł185,000 [$306,000] to nearly Ł16.5 million [$27 million].

His official expenditure rose by nearly a fifth from Ł10,451,000 to Ł12,513,000 [$17.3 million to $20.7 million].

Charles and wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, managed to save Ł500,000 by [$800,000] shunning parties, holidaying in the U.K. and slashing expenses such as their cleaning bill - which dropped by Ł27,000 to Ł105,000 [$45,000 to $174,000].

Sir Michael said: "We are very conscious of the recession and we are by no means immune to it."

"It's a recession and we have to say that we've looked at all costs very carefully. The Duchy of Cornwall is a ship built to sail in all weather. We are not suffering any particular bust at the moment."