THE Duke of Rothesay travelled to his Scottish home of Birkhall the day before the UK went into lockdown at a cost of nearly £20,000 to taxpayers, it has emerged.

Prince Charles took a private jet from Brize Norton to Aberdeen on Sunday, March 22 and after displaying symptoms the following day was tested for coronavirus. 

He and the Duchess of Cornwall self-isolated at the Scottish residence after the positive test was returned.

The latest Sovereign Grant Report reveals some of the monarchy’s latest expenditure and has drawn criticism.

READ MORE: Coronavirus: Prince Charles out of self-isolation after fleeing to Scotland

Prince Andrew took a private flight to a golf tournament last July at a cost of £16,000 to the taxpayer.

Palace sources said there was no other way for him to make the trip, which came months before his car-crash Newsnight interview. Andrew was stripped off his Portrush patronage after the interview.

Princess Anne also took a £16,440 day trip to Rome to see Scotland play Italy in the Six Nations while serving as patron of the Scottish Rugby Association.

A palace source said that: "In this case the use of charter was deemed being the most appropriate ensuring the criteria security, efficiency and best value for money."

The reports show the royal family spent £650,000 on 188 short helicopter trips during the 2019-20 period.

The campaign group Republic’s CEO Graham Smith said: "The grant goes up and up every year, and can never go down. This is madness and the system must be scrapped."

"Public money should be allocated according to need, not just thrown at the royals because of what they want."

He added: "Why is the Government paying for Prince Andrew to go to golfing tournaments, or Princess Anne to attend a rugby match in Italy?"