Millions of people around the world watched Prince William and Kate Middleton's grand royal wedding in 2011. However, a Republican campaigner thinks that they should have had a smaller wedding like Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi's toned down secret ceremony last July 17.
Graham Smith, the CEO of the Republicans, largely known as an anti-monarchist group, told Daily Express that Prince William and Kate's private wedding was a "spectacle" that ended up costing the British public millions. He said that taxpayers shouldered the wedding's security cost and had to bear the disruption of business when the Cambridges could have opted for a "very private wedding" like Princess Beatrice and Edo's.
Prince William and Kate's wedding at Westminster Abbey reportedly ballooned to $34 million with $32 million for the security. Police had to be deployed in the streets since a massive crowd watched the ceremony in London and the royal affair was also attended by VIPs, celebrities and foreign dignitaries.
Princess Beatrice and Edo's wedding, on the other hand, was privately funded and needed very little security arrangements. Because their wedding had to follow the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, the couple only invited less than 30 guests, including Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.
Smith said that he doesn't owe his income to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge or the royal family. In general, the Republic head thinks that the monarchy cost the taxpayers more than they, apparently, care to admit.
The Republic has been calling for abolishing the monarchy and replacing the head of state with a duly elected official. Smith said that this alternative will be less costly to the taxpayers instead of supporting the lifestyles of the royals.
Smith, also, criticized the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. He questioned why the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who quit their royal duties in March 2020, continue to receive funding from Prince Charles.
Prince Charles receives money from the public as a senior working royal who carries out official duties for the Crown. The heir to the throne has a private income from the Duchy of Cornwall, which Smith said belongs to the people and not to the royals.
In July, Smith accused Prince William and Harry for misusing funds from their charities. Prince Harry lashed out at Smith's claims and said that the accusations against him were both defamatory and insulting to the organizations that they have worked with.
