The British royal family is taking significant steps to reduce its carbon footprint by electrifying its vehicle fleet, installing solar panels on its castles, and using sustainable fuel for its helicopters, as announced by Buckingham Palace on Wednesday.
Before ascending the throne, King Charles III had already shown a keen interest in ecology. He famously converted his 1970 Aston Martin DB6 to run on biofuel. Now, from his position as king, he aims to extend such initiatives to the royal residences and the means of transportation used by his family.
In the 2023-24 annual spending report, the monarchy revealed plans to adapt its Bentley limousines to run on biofuel starting next year. They also intend to electrify their car fleet over the long term and switch to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for their helicopters as soon as possible.
Moreover, royal properties in London will be connected to urban heating networks and equipped with heat pumps in the coming years. In this journey toward carbon neutrality, Windsor Castle has already installed solar panels on its roofs.
All these projects, which are scheduled to launch between 2023 and 2024, are expected to "accelerate" in the next year, according to a statement from the royal family.
The report also noted that the revenue generated from the royal family’s lands and properties reached a record £1.1 billion (about $1.42 billion) last year, more than double the previous year’s earnings. This increase is largely attributed to the rise of wind farms across the United Kingdom.
The royal estate includes a significant portion of the UK’s marine assets, allowing the Crown to grant permissions for the construction of offshore wind farms. The revenue generated from the Crown estate is directed to the British public purse in exchange for an annual grant, which funds staff salaries, palace maintenance, official travel, and royal receptions.
This move towards sustainability reflects a broader commitment to environmental responsibility while also ensuring the financial stability of the monarchy. As the royal family continues to embrace these initiatives, they might set a precedent for other institutions to follow suit in the fight against climate change.
You can read more about the royal family’s green initiatives here.
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