Windsor Bills a Royal Pain for Taxpayers

Britain’s royal family is facing the effects of tough financial times, ABC News reports—but it's easier to cope when you have taxpayers to foot the monarchy's $80 million in annual expenses. While that’s just $1.30 per taxpayer, Buckingham Palace says, critics note unnecessary expenses, like a $44,000 helicopter trip to the Kentucky Derby.

Still, some subjects think $1.30 is “quite good value for money. It could be worse,” said one. And though travel costs jumped 10% this year, the royals are working to save money elsewhere: the queen shrunk her electric bill 11% and her gas bill 26% this year by making sure lights were turned out. Overall, the monarchy’s real costs have dropped 3% in the past 7 years. (More British royals stories.)