Belgium is reining in its royals, who have caused outrage for trying to exploit tax loopholes.
Belgium is reining in its royals, who have caused outrage for trying to exploit tax loopholes.
Under a new system, approved by government this week, all royals except the king will pay taxes for the first time, and see their allowances cut. The $1.2 million annually awarded to Prince Philippe, the heir to the throne, will be reduced to a salary of $240,000, though he can now claim staff and expenses on top of that.
And Queen Fabiola, widow of the previous king, will see her annual allowance cut to $600,000 from $1.7 million. The changes stem from anger earlier this year when Fabiola attempted to avoid paying steep inheritance taxes by setting up a trust to shield her estate.