The King's salary increases by 1.5% to 290,000 euros this year
King Felipe VI's salary increases to 290,000 euros, while the budget for the Royal Household remains unchanged at 8.4 million euros.
This year, King Felipe VI's salary has increased by 1.5% to 290,000 euros, reflecting the same percentage increase applied to public officials' wages. Alongside the King's salary, Queen Letizia will receive 160,000 euros and Queen Sofia 131,000 euros, according to the Royal Household's budget for 2026 published by La Zarzuela. Notably, neither the former King Juan Carlos, who had his official allocation withdrawn by his son in March 2020, nor the King's daughters, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia, are receiving direct salaries from the state budget.
The total allocation for the members of the Royal Family who do receive state funding amounts to 581,000 euros combined, which covers their personal expenses, including education costs for their daughters who are attending a boarding school in Wales. Despite the increase in salaries, the overall budget for the Royal Household has remained frozen at 8.4 million euros since 2021, indicating a commitment to financial prudence in the royal expenditures in light of the broader economic context.
This decision to adjust the salaries aligns with the increases seen in public sector wages, suggesting a move towards parity in compensation among public officials, even those within the royal family. The increase might be seen as a reflection of the government's approach towards maintaining the royal institution while also managing public perception regarding the spending of taxpayer resources on the monarchy.