Royal Borough MPs call for Government to reimburse council and police costs for Windsor state visits

The Royal Borough’s MPs are calling on the Government to reimburse money spent by the council and Thames Valley Police (TVP) on state visits at Windsor Castle.

Windsor has become a focal point for the visits and major political events while Buckingham Palace undergoes a refurbishment.

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

Ahead of a two-day state visit to Windsor by Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in March, the council and TVP have warned of the impact of the costs of the visits.

The council’s bill for hosting them has reached £350,000, with its costs for the last three state visits still not reimbursed.

Thames Valley Police has also stated the force was unable to reclaim around £900,000 for President Trump’s visit last year, with council taxpayers being ‘left short-changed as a result’.

Windsor’s MP Jack Rankin and Maidenhead’s MP Josh Reynolds are now lobbying the Government to reimburse the costs.

Mr Rankin has written to foreign secretary Yvette Cooper calling for the Government to ‘urgently address the matter’ and ensure ‘the council is fully reimbursed for all costs incurred’.

Mr Rankin told the Express: “Windsor is absolutely delighted to play host to such important events. It’s a great honour and a privilege.

“That having been said, the costs of hosting these events are substantial, and that’s to be expected, but they are properly national costs.

“They’re not local costs and it’s become apparent from both the Royal Borough and Thames Valley Police, that they do not feel they’re being fully compensated.”

Mr Rankin said both organisations are currently being ‘rebuffed’ by the Government on the matter and that is ‘not appropriate’.

“The cost shouldn’t be sat on the back of hard-pressed council taxpayers or precept payers, which will obviously mean a reduction in policing elsewhere in the town and in the Thames Valley Policing Area.

“We’re just trying to shake the tree down fully and properly, so that local council taxpayers are not carrying what is properly a national cost.”

He added: “Let’s just get round the table and make sure RBWM and TVP are made whole.”

While the matter of costs lies with the Government, Mr Rankin has thanked the Royal Household for their engagement on the matter.

Maidenhead’s MP Josh Reynolds tabled a written question in January asking for RBWM to be reimbursed for the £350,000 already spent.

He said: “The answer I got was that it was under review. Six weeks on, the council still has no assurance, another state visit is just weeks away, and local taxpayers are still being asked to carry costs that are the Government's responsibility."

In a statement given after the Express went to press a Government spokesperson, said: “Funding arrangements have been agreed with the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead to support local operations for the Nigeria State Visit.”