Historic Royal Palaces
Analysis
Historic Royal Palaces is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in East Molesey. It was registered in March 1998, 28 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, arts/culture/heritage/science and environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. It says it provides buildings/facilities/open space, provides services and sponsors or undertakes research.
In the financial year ending March 2025, Historic Royal Palaces reported income of £138.6m and spending of £108.4m, leaving 22% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £32.7m to £138.6m (+324%), an average of +44% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2023, when income rose by 88%. Over the whole period it spent 86% of the income it received.
Among 17,634 England and Wales charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, Historic Royal Palaces sits at the 100th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 100th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The Royal Horticultural Society (£133.7m), The English Heritage Trust (£155.2m) and The Royal National Theatre (£128.7m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 68%, trading 25%, investments 4.5% and donations and legacies 2.8%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £19k. Charitable activities took 84% of spending and raising funds 16%. Reserves of £20.0m would cover about 2 months of spending at that rate. It employed 910 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 2.8%
- Legacies 0.0%
- Charitable activities 68%
- Trading 25%
- Investments 4.5%
In the charity's own words
a)to manage, conserve, renovate and repair the Palaces (Hampton Court, Tower of London, Kensington Palace, Kew Palace, Banqueting House, Hillsborough Castle) to a high standard consistent with their status; b)to help everyone to learn about the Palaces, the skills required for their conservation and the wider story of how monarchs and people together have shaped society, by all appropriate means
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| The Royal Horticultural Society | London | £133.7m |
| The English Heritage Trust | London | £155.2m |
| The Royal National Theatre | London | £128.7m |
| Royal Opera House Covent Garden Foundation | London | £182.1m |