£800,000 Taxpayer-Funded Study Examines Monarchy's Caribbean Future

A research project examining the legacy of Queen Elizabeth II in the Caribbean has received £825,417 in taxpayer funding, sparking debate about the allocation of public resources. The study, titled "The Visible Crown," aims to analyze the monarchy's role in the region from 1952 to the present day.

The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), a taxpayer-funded organization, has provided financial support for this initiative. The project's website states that its findings will be valuable not only to academics but also to those involved in or advocating for constitutional reform in the Caribbean and other Commonwealth realms.

Prof Anna May Whitelock of London's City University, the principal investigator, has expressed controversial views on the monarchy. In a newspaper column, she argued that the institution "sustains white inherited privilege" and owes its wealth and power to colonial history.

These statements have drawn criticism from some political figures. Andrew Griffith, the Conservative shadow science secretary, expressed concern about what he perceives as wasteful spending on "Left-wing nonsense at odds with British values." He suggested that public-sector research councils often prioritize issues that matter to their staff rather than the taxpaying public.

The study's funding comes from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), which has been allocated a budget of £207 million for the period from 2022 to 2025. This substantial investment in research has led to questions about the allocation of public funds and the nature of projects being supported.

"What if the King used his reported £1.8 billion fortune to make a real difference – spending it on community projects, on education around racial inequality and social injustice?"

Prof Whitelock has proposed radical ideas for the monarchy's future, including opening royal palaces to house homeless individuals. She argues that such actions could potentially delay the "demise" of the institution and reinvent it as a "welfare monarchy."

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is listed as a partner on the project's website, although it has not provided direct funding. The FCO had agreed in 2019 to host a workshop for diplomats to discuss their experiences in Commonwealth countries, but this event has yet to take place.

Defenders of the project emphasize its importance in exploring the political and cultural significance of Elizabeth II in the Caribbean. They argue that it provides valuable insights into the continued role of the British Crown in former colonies and informs debates about its future.

This research project is not unique in attracting scrutiny over its use of public funds. Other recent examples include a study on the "sustainable" lifestyle of Romani Gypsy communities and a project aimed at "decolonising" folk singing, both of which received substantial taxpayer funding.

As debates continue about the allocation of research funds and the relevance of such studies, the "Visible Crown" project highlights the ongoing complexities surrounding the monarchy's role in the Caribbean and the broader discussions about constitutional reform in the region.