Now we know how fabulously wealthy Charles is, why can’t he pay for his own coronation? | Norman Baker

If the king wants to be a moderniser, he won't let hard-pressed UK taxpayers pick up the bill for this self-serving tradition

And so here we are: days away from the coronation of Charles III. Along with much of the population, I will not be celebrating. A YouGov poll this month revealed that 64% of us don't care very much or care at all about the event, while only 9% care a great deal.

I do care, perhaps not for the same reasons as that small minority of Britons, but because it is estimated that the whole event will cost up to 100m and - in line with self-serving royal traditions in this country - the bill will be picked up by the taxpayer, not the super-rich royals.