King Charles' trip to Colchester cost taxpayer £6,000

A Freedom of Information request has revealed the total cost of the King’s trip last month was £5,928.50.

King Charles III and the Queen Consort Camilla visited Colchester Castle and Colchester Library before strolling down the High Street on March 7.

The historic occasion came after Colchester was awarded city status as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee last year.

Memorable day - the King speaks with children outside Colchester Castle (Image: Steve Brading)

The FOI has revealed the majority of the money spent by Colchester Council to facilitate the day was for parking restriction costs and pedestrian barriers for High Street.

These elements cost a cool £2,450 and £1,500 respectively.

Read our live blog from the royal visit: RECAP: King Charles in Colchester for historic visit to mark city status

First aid provided to the public during the day amounted to £858.40 and £387.90 was stumped up to cover catering for the event.

Further costs included £300 for photography, £167.99 for hand waving flags and £74.24 on unspecified gifts.

Good company - the King and Queen Consort are accompanied by mayor Tim Young and Lord Lieutenant of Essex Jennifer Tolhurst (Image: Steve Brading)

A £70 posy was bought for the Queen Consort while refreshments for the pre-visit by palace officials cost £65 and name badges were £54.97.

A council spokesman said the costs were charged to the budget held for the civic office and events.

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Colchester mayor Tim Young said the £6,000 bill was a snip for such a memorable day.

He said: “I think it is a small price to pay for the prestige and the profile it gave Colchester and to celebrate the city status given to us.

Unveiled - the King and Queen Consort reveal the name of a newborn baby rhino at Colchester Zoo (Image: Steve Brading)

“I think it would have been cheap at double the price. £6,000 is well within our compass and really good value.

“A lot of people enjoyed it, there were thousands of people who lined the streets.

“The King and Queen Consort brought pleasure to many people and money can’t buy that sort of thing.

“They were so friendly and engaging; we will remember it for the rest of our lives.

“I could not have imagined such a day when I was selected to be mayor.”

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