King Charles plans to convert his two state Bentleys to run on biofuel within the next year as part of his broader eco-friendly initiatives. According to the annual Sovereign Grant report, which details taxpayer funding for the monarchy, these luxury vehicles will eventually be replaced with electric cars. The Palace stated that the biofuel conversion is a temporary step as they begin discussions about fully electrifying the next generation of state vehicles.
A Palace spokesperson mentioned that the specific make of the future electric cars has not been decided yet. One of the Bentley state limousines was a gift to the late Queen Elizabeth II from the car manufacturer for her Golden Jubilee in 2002. These two custom-made Bentleys, painted in the royal livery of claret and black, are primarily used for state and ceremonial events.
King Charles is also focusing on making the royal helicopters more environmentally friendly. The Palace plans to replace two 15-year-old Sikorsky S-76 helicopters with AgustaWestland AW139s, which can run on up to 50% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). These new helicopters are expected to arrive in 2024-25, with plans approved by the Treasury. A temporary SAF tank has been installed at RAF Odiham in Hampshire to facilitate this transition.
A palace official highlighted the importance of maximising the use of the new helicopters for cost-effectiveness, noting their crucial role in enabling the royal family to travel throughout the UK. In 2023-24, nearly £1.1 million was spent on 170 helicopter journeys, each costing less than £17,000.
Efforts to increase sustainability within the royal estate include installing solar panels on Windsor Castle during recent renovations. Sir Michael Stevens, Keeper of the Privy Purse, mentioned that the new solar panels replaced a leaking lead roof, part of a broader initiative to prioritise sustainability inspired by King Charles. Additionally, Buckingham Palace’s gas lanterns are being retrofitted with custom electrical fittings to enhance energy efficiency while maintaining their historic look. These lanterns were also turned off during the recent energy crisis to save costs.
In 2023, King Charles appointed a new head of sustainability to accelerate efforts to reduce the royal carbon footprint. This led to a 3% reduction in natural gas and heating emissions across the Royal Estate, although total greenhouse gas emissions slightly increased due to more business travel.
The Sovereign Grant, funded by taxpayers, supports official royal activities and residences in exchange for the King’s revenue from the Crown Estate. Profits from the Crown Estate more than doubled to a record £1.1 billion, driven by offshore wind farms. Earnings surged by £658 million last year due to increased leasing of seabed areas for future wind turbine construction. Currently, the Crown Estate has over 11 gigawatts of generating capacity from 36 offshore wind farms, with plans to add 20 to 30 gigawatts by 2030. Chief Executive Dan Labbad attributed these record results to years of commitment and investment in the sector.
