Anti-monarchist group launches new push for greater transparency
An anti-monarchist organisation has launched a fresh campaign urging an end to what it describes as deep-rooted secrecy around the British royal family.
Republic, the group behind the effort, argued in its statement that the monarchy has long operated behind closed doors. It said the royals secured exemptions from freedom of information laws, keep wills sealed for decades and engage in private lobbying that the public knows nothing about.
The group also claimed that official accounts do not offer a full view of royal spending, with many travel costs and security-related expenses falling to police forces, councils and local communities without clear reporting.
According to the campaign, large numbers of official papers from the United Kingdom and Commonwealth remain locked away in the royal archive, preventing the public from seeing historical documents relating to the late Queen, King Charles and other members of the family.
Citing Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, who recently lost his remaining royal titles following scrutiny of his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, the group said the government continues to refuse the release of documents from his time as trade ambassador.
Republic argued that no other public institution enjoys this level of protection, apart from the security services, and asked supporters to contribute funds to help push for change. In posts promoting the campaign, the group said the royals are “more secretive than MI5.”
