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Why isn't Prince Andrew covering the cost of his daughter's entire wedding?

Wedding
Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank’s royal wedding will cost taxpayers an estimated £2 million [Photo: Getty]

Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank’s October 12 wedding is set to cost taxpayers an estimated £2 million – but why isn’t Prince Andrew footing the bill?

According to the Daily Mirror, the royal nuptials were expected to weigh in at approximately £750,000 but security measures have since more than doubled costs.

The extra fees will reportedly fund increased police presence due to heightened safety fears and Princess Eugenie’s planned carriage ride.

Unsurprisingly, the eye-watering price sparked widespread criticism with multiple MPs questioning why the royal’s father won’t pay out of his own back pocket.

From the Duke of York’s net worth to the price of past royal weddings, here’s the regal lowdown.

Royal backlash

Labour MP Chris Williamson was one of the first to speak out against the cost of Princess Eugenie’s upcoming wedding and questioned why her father was shying away from the bill.

In an interview with Sky News, he further explained: “There is no need to have such a glamorous event. Prince Andrew – who is fabulously wealthy with an estimated worth of £65m – should foot the bill himself.”

Wedding
Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank will tie the knot at St George’s Chapel in Windsor on October 12 2018 [Photo: Getty]

“Who’s heard of Princess Eugenie anyway?” he added. “She carries no royal functions, no useful purpose to the public sphere and yet we’re having to spend this kind of money.”

Labour MP for Kensington, Emma Dent Coad, also criticised the price of the nuptials.

“In these times of heightened security risks it is irresponsible for a minor member of the royal family to have a high profile, very public wedding,” she said. “This may be the time to review the role and cost of minor royals.”

What is Prince Andrew’s net worth?

Prince Andrew – who is currently seventh in line to the throne – is reportedly worth £65 million.

Meanwhile, his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson – who is no longer a member of the royal family – is reportedly worth $1 million (approximately £751,000) – partially courtesy of two autobiographies and a string of television appearances.

Despite divorcing over two decades ago, the former couple also invested in a £13 million chalet in Verbier together back in 2015.

Following their split in 1996, it is believed that their daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, received a large sum of money as a consequence.

Princess Eugenie, who works as an associate director at Hauser & Wirth, is reportedly worth £3.6 million while her elder sister sits on a similar sum.

How will Jack and Eugenie’s nuptials compare to other royal weddings?

The average British wedding is estimated to cost £17,913.

According to wedding planning website and app Bridebook.co.uk, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s May 19 wedding reportedly cost over £32 million.

Security measures weighed in at £30 million alone while catering for their 600-strong guest list set them back £286,000. Although it is rumoured that Meghan paid for her Givenchy dress, taxpayers covered the security bill.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s May 19 ceremony cost taxpayers £3 million in security measures [Photo: Getty]
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s May 19 ceremony cost taxpayers £3 million in security measures [Photo: Getty]

But some argue that the pomp and pageantry was to be expected at Prince Harry’s wedding, as his brother’s 2011 nuptials reportedly cost £23.7 million.

Interestingly, the bill was partly funded by the Duchess of Cambridge’s family alongside the Windsor clan.

Zara and Mike Tindall’s intimate wedding ceremony cost British taxpayers £400,000 in security fees [Photo: Getty]
Zara and Mike Tindall’s intimate wedding ceremony cost British taxpayers £400,000 in security fees [Photo: Getty]

As for those further down the royal pecking order, Zara and Mike Tindall’s 2011 wedding cost taxpayers £400,000 in security fees.

The decision was met with uproar, as members of the public were not allowed to attend the private nuptials nor was the service televised.

It’s also interesting to note that unlike Princess Eugenie, Zara does not have a royal title yet her wedding was still funded by the public.

Will Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank’s wedding be televised?

In stark comparison to Zara and Mike Tindall’s 2011 nuptials, Jack and Eugenie’s wedding – which is set to take place at Windsor Castle – is open to the public with 1,2000 tickets up for grabs.

It is not yet known whether or not the soon-to-be newlyweds’ service will be televised like the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s.

After more than 17.6 million people tuned in to watch the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge tie the knot and 11.5 million switched their televisions on for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, it seems there could be global interest in the Jack and Eugenie’s upcoming nuptials.

Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank will tie the knot on 12 October at St George’s Chapel in Windsor.

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Read more from Yahoo Style UK:

Princess Eugenie’s wedding: Who she’s marrying and all the latest news

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