The Royal Borough to be 'properly reimbursed' for Windsor state visits costs, council announces

The Royal Borough is set to be ‘properly reimbursed’ for hundreds of thousands of pounds spent on delivering Royal state visits at Windsor Castle.

Following the start of the refurbishment of Buckingham Palace, Windsor has become the focal point for major political events and state visits.

The town hosted three state visits last year, including French President Emmanuel Macron, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and a second state visit from US President Donald Trump.

Another state visit from Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will take place on Wednesday, March 18 and Thursday, March 19.

The council’s bill for hosting last year’s visits reached £350,000, but these costs had not been reimbursed by the Government.

The authority has previously spoken out over the ‘detrimental impact’ if these costs were not returned.

With the latest state visit imminent, pressure on the Government to reimburse these costs has been ramping up in recent weeks, with Windsor MP Jack Rankin and Maidenhead MP Josh Reynolds joining these calls.

Mr Reynolds tabled a written question on the matter in January and Mr Rankin wrote a letter to Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper.

Earlier today (Tuesday), Mr Rankin asked a question in Parliament reiterating calls for the costs to be reimbursed.

Chris Elmore MP, parliamentary under-secretary for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, said: “He and I have been in correspondence on this point, and discussions are indeed ongoing over those costs.”

In a latest update this afternoon, Royal Borough cabinet member and Lib Dem ward councillor for Clewer East announced in a video on Facebook that the council is being ‘properly reimbursed’ for these costs.

She said: “I’m pleased to announce that the Government have said that the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead will be properly reimbursed for the three state visits that took place last year and the upcoming Nigerian state visit later this month.

“This is really good news. Windsor residents are very proud of our town, and we want to show it off, but it shouldn’t come at the cost of local taxpayers.

“I’d like to thank officers and members who’ve done a great job in really pushing hard for this.

“They haven’t given up, and it’s the right outcome, and of course, we’ll continue to make sure that they’ve reimbursed us properly for any future state visits.

“It’s a good outcome.”

Reacting to the news, Mr Reynolds said on Facebook: “On January 8 I asked the Government when they will reimburse the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead for the £350,000 in costs incurred supporting the delivering of three state visits in 2025.

“I’m pleased the Government have today confirmed that money will be reimbursed to RBWM.”

Sharing the video of his question in Parliament, Mr Rankin said on Facebook: “UPDATE: The Government has subsequently confirmed that the Royal Borough has been reimbursed in full for last year’s State Visit costs.

“I have always been clear that Windsor is proud and delighted to host such important events, but these costs are properly national costs, not local.

“I thank the Government for listening.”

In an update to the Express last week, a Government spokesperson said funding arrangements 'have been agreed’ with the Royal Borough ‘to support local operations for the Nigeria state visit’.