A civil list is a list of individuals to whom money is paid by the government.

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom the civil list is the list of recipients of taxpayers' money that is given to immediate members of the royal family so as to perform their state duties and keep the royal household. The civil list is effectively the royals' salary. In 2003, the civil list was £9,900,000 (GBP). The Queen and the Heir to the Throne do not receive civil list monies, having their incomes provided for by the Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall respectively.

The civil list is funded in accordance with a 1760 settlement in which the monarch hands over the income from the Crown estates (£170,800,000 in 2003).

Canada

In Canada the civil list was a common term during the pre-confederation period when it caused much controversy. The Canadian civil list referred to the payment for all officials on the government payroll. Great controversy arose as to whether the list would be controlled by the Governor or by the Legislative Assembly. The Assembly demanded control of all money matters, while the Governors worried that if the Assembly was given this power then certain positions would be delisted. Eventually under the Baldwin-Lafontaine government a compromise was reached with Lord Elgin.

The term civil list is no longer commonly used to describe the payment of civil servants in Canada.

External links

• BBC Royal Accounts 2002
• The price of monarchy: two pints of milk (Stephen Bates, Guardian, 25 June 2004)
• Royal financial reports 2003/2004 (royal.gov.uk)