There may be a certain amount of resentment in Britain. But if there is, its is misplaced. The British Taxpayer actually gets a pretty good deal from Elizabeth II & Co.
In addition to the billions of pounds in tourist revenue Britain gets courtesy of having the Royal Family, there is also the financial windfall the Exchequer gets courtesy of the
Crown Estate.
All those fancy department stores up and down Picadilly? At one time that land (plus a few thousand acres of other prime British property) was owned personally by the British Sovereign. But good old King George III (the mad one, who lost the American Colonies) ran a little short of cash in the late 18th century. So he made a deal with Parliament, swapping all that property in exchange for an annual payment (known as the Civil List) to keep the family in style.
In fiscal 2012 the Crown Estate had revenues (paid into the general tax fund) of approximately £250 million. The Civil List (ie. the money paid to the Queen and her family) was comfortably under £10 million. Even allowing for the other expenses of keeping the Monarchy (ie. police, security, etc.) - the British taxpayer still comes out way ahead.
