A PLAN by the Prince of Wales to make the British royal family self financing, part of proposed reforms to revolutionise the monarchy, was yesterday criticised by politicians.
Under the proposal the £8.9 million Civil List, which pays living expenses for certain members of the royal family's from public funds, would be abolished in return for the restoration of the "crown estates" to the royals.
The "crown estates", which includes prime sites such as London's Regent Street and Trafalgar Square and over 300,000 acres of land, produce an annual income of almost £100 million for the British treasury.
However, politicians from all sides pointed out that the estates belong to Queen Elizabeth in name only and that the income was surrendered to the government in 1760.
Mr Alan Williams, the Labour MP for Swansea West, described the suggestion bat the estates still belonged to the monarchy as "ludicrous". If such a change was implemented, then the royal family would have to fund Whitehall and the judiciary.
"When parliament took over the crown estates in the 18th century, responsibility for financing the civil service and the judiciary was switched from the monarchy to government. If the palace is prepared to absorb the costs of the judiciary and the civil service once more in return for the crown estates, so be it. The royal family might become value for money again."
This proposal is one of several under discussion by "The Way Ahead Group", made up of senior royals and their advisers, as part of a major review of the monarchy's role. However it is understood that Prince Charles is the driving force behind the radical reforms which he regards as his personal manifesto for when he succeeds to the throne.
Other proposed reforms are to allow the eldest daughter to succeed to the throne; removing the monarch as head of the Church of England; allowing the monarch to marry a Roman Catholic; and reducing the size of the royal family to the monarch's most immediate relatives.
Although Buckingham Palace stressed that no changes are imminent, several of the reforms would enable Prince Charles to marry his mistress Mrs Camilla Parker Bowles without any constitutional debate.
However, several Tory MPs have warned that the reforms would not be acceptable to parliament if they were solely designed to allow Prince Charles to remarry. "There should first be extensive consultation before any of this happens," said Sir George Gardiner, a leading right wing Tory MP.
. Two of the reforms of the monarchy being considered do not meet popular approval, judging by a Sun readers' poll yesterday. The queen should not abolish her role as head of the Church of England and should keep the ban on the heir to the throne marrying a Roman Catholic.