Philippa Gregory Advocates for Abolishing Monarchy While Backing Royal Charity
Philippa Gregory, the acclaimed historical author behind bestselling Plantagenet and Tudor novels including The Other Boleyn Girl—which was adapted into a Hollywood film starring Scarlett Johansson and Natalie Portman—has publicly declared that the British monarchy should be consigned to history. This stance comes despite her active support for Queen Camilla's reading initiatives, highlighting a complex relationship with the institution.
Financial Concerns and Modern Relevance
Gregory, aged 72, expressed her views on Radio 3's Private Passions programme, stating, 'I just don't think it's really appropriate in the modern world, and I object if it's particularly expensive.' She elaborated that her criticism is not personal but questions the necessity of a royal family in a mature democracy. Her comments coincide with heightened scrutiny over royal finances and recent scandals.
Last year, the Royal Family received £86.3 million from taxpayers via the Sovereign Grant. Additionally, King Charles obtained £27.4 million from the Duchy of Lancaster in 2024, while Prince William was handed £22.9 million from the Duchy of Cornwall in 2025. Taxpayers also covered millions in undisclosed security costs, adding to public debate about the monarchy's expense.
Support for Queen Camilla's Literacy Efforts
Despite her anti-monarchy stance, Gregory has been a key supporter of Queen Camilla's literary projects. She helped launch the Queen's Reading Room Festival in 2023 and served as a judge at the Commonwealth essay writing competition the following year. Gregory acknowledges Camilla's contributions, saying, 'What Queen Camilla has done for reading, and for literature and for literacy in this country is really, really significant.' She praises the Queen's efforts to encourage reading, especially among children, while maintaining her broader constitutional objections.
Royal Scandals and Public Perception
Gregory's remarks emerge amid turmoil within the Royal Family, notably the scandal involving Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Last week, the King's brother became the first royal in nearly 400 years to be arrested when police officers swooped on his temporary home on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk. This incident has fueled discussions about the monarchy's role and accountability in contemporary society.
Other Royal and Celebrity News Highlights
In related news, Olivia Buckingham, stylist to Princess Beatrice, has announced her pregnancy at age 43, calling it the 'best birthday gift.' Meanwhile, Sam Waley-Cohen, a friend of the Prince and Princess of Wales, is competing in the Gaucho Derby in Argentina to raise funds for Oxford Children's Hospital. Ceramicist Sir Grayson Perry is recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon, humorously noting his fashion dilemmas with a surgical boot.
Cookery writer Dame Prue Leith has endorsed Reform UK, citing dissatisfaction with other political parties, while tennis legend Boris Becker introduced his three-month-old daughter to the sport. Additionally, John Cleese criticizes the BBC's diversity initiatives, and actress Erin Doherty's ex-partner, Lee Braithwaite, shares updates on gender reassignment surgery.
These stories collectively underscore ongoing debates about tradition, cost, and relevance in modern Britain, with Gregory's views adding a prominent voice to the conversation on the monarchy's future.
