King Charles III’s five-day state visit to Kenya late last year has emerged as the most costly royal engagement of the past year, with British taxpayers shouldering a hefty bill of £166,557, or about Ksh28 million in the current exchange rates.
The financial disclosure, released on Tuesday, July 23, reveals the staggering costs associated with the King and Queen Camilla’s trip, which took place from October 31 to November 3, 2023.
The official report, detailing royal expenditures for the year ending March 2024, highlighted the Kenyan visit as the priciest of all the King’s international engagements.
The hefty expense of the trip points to the strategic charm offensive launched by King Charles III on behalf of the United Kingdom to woo Kenya. The visit was part of the UK's broader effort to strengthen ties with Kenya, a key player in East Africa. This diplomatic manoeuvre was aimed at countering the influence of the US and China, which have increasingly drawn Kenya's allegiance away from its former colonial power.
During their Kenyan sojourn, King Charles and Queen Camilla embarked on a series of high-profile activities. They engaged in pivotal bilateral discussions with President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto, followed by a formal bouquet presentation at State House.
The royal couple’s itinerary also included a tour of Nairobi National Park, where they observed conservation initiatives spearheaded by the Kenya Wildlife Service.
Their visit extended to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery, where they paid respects alongside British and Kenyan military personnel. This segment of their trip focused on commemorating the contributions of those who supported Britain during the World Wars.
A notable stop on the royal agenda was the United Nations Office in Nairobi, the sole UN headquarters within the Commonwealth. Here, King Charles and Queen Camilla gained insights into the work of UN-Habitat and the UN Environment Programme, reflecting their interest in global sustainability and environmental issues.
This Kenyan excursion stands out amidst a year of relatively subdued royal travel, particularly as the royal family faced a period of health challenges. Both King Charles and the Princess of Wales spent significant time in hospital for cancer treatment, potentially influencing the reduced frequency of overseas trips.
The report details 27 separate journeys by royal family members in the year to March 2024, with costs exceeding £17,000 for each. Among these, only eight trips involved King Charles, emphasising the rarity of his international engagements.
The Princess Royal undertook seven trips, while King Charles was involved in four, including joint ventures with Queen Camilla. Other notable travel included three journeys by the Prince of Wales, and a similar number by the Prince and Princess of Wales together. The Duke of Edinburgh completed two trips, and other royal members contributed with one or two journeys each.
The limited number of foreign visits in the year may reflect a period of necessary domestic focus due to the health issues faced by key members of the royal family.
