Royal Collection Trust reports income drop as visitor numbers fall
The Royal Collection Trust has made its £1 ticket scheme for low‑income visitors permanent at all its sites, extending the offer to people receiving Universal Credit and other named benefits. In the 2025‑26 financial year the Trust’s total income fell by £4.6 million to £85.3 million and net income dropped from £13.9 million to £3.5 million, a decline of more than £10 million that included a £3 million insurance repayment after a snuff box was recovered following a theft abroad. Retail sales decreased by £300,000 to £20.6 million and overall visitor numbers fell by 182,000 to 2.6 million, a 6 % drop, with Buckingham Palace, the Royal Mews and Windsor Castle all reporting lower attendance. Despite the decline, the Trust said public appetite remains strong and it launched a new exhibition, “Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life In Style,” at the start of the 2026‑27 season.
Entities: Buckingham Palace · Queen Elizabeth II · Royal Collection Trust · Universal Credit · Windsor Castle · £1 ticket scheme
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Total income for 2025‑26 fell to £85.3 million, a decrease of £4.6 million from the previous year. (Royal Collection Trust)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The decline in income and visitors was linked to adverse economic conditions, reduced travel, and building works at Buckingham Palace. (Royal Collection Trust)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Visitor numbers for 2025‑26 fell by 6% to 2.6 million, a drop of 182,000. (Royal Collection Trust)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Royal Collection Trust made its £1 ticket scheme for low‑income visitors permanent across all its sites. (Royal Collection Trust)
- [● 2 SOURCES] An exhibition titled “Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life In Style” opened at the London exhibition in early 2026/27. (Royal Collection Trust)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Retail sales fell by £300,000 to £20.6 million. (Royal Collection Trust)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Nearly 30,000 reduced‑price tickets were sold in the previous year. (Royal Collection Trust)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Net income fell from £13.9 million to £3.5 million, a drop of more than £10 million. (Royal Collection Trust)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Royal Collection Trust made its £1 ticket scheme for low‑income visitors permanent across all sites. (eafe5db7-4291-4457-bfa1-29ee0d590c64)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Net income dropped from £13.9 million to £3.5 million, a decline of over £10 million, including a £3 million insurance repayment for a stolen snuff box. (22bc94f9-563d-41e2-88e4-9eb4a0cc48b6)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Total income fell by £4.6 million to £85.3 million in the 2025‑26 financial year. (Royal Collection Trust annual report)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The scheme is available to individuals receiving Universal Credit and other named benefits. (eafe5db7-4291-4457-bfa1-29ee0d590c64)