If you complain about the cost of travelling to and from the Island, spare a thought for the Royal Family – their Public Finances report contains a sobering figure.

After Prince Andrew visited the Island last September, he paid more than eleven and a half thousand pounds to charter a flight to Scotland.

Kate Skinner reports (audio file attached):

According to the annual report, the Duke of York took a chartered flight from Ronaldsway to Fife to attend the past-captains’ meeting of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club at St Andrews.

He wanted to watch the driving-in ceremony for the club’s new captain, but the RAF plane of the Queen’s flight broke down so a light aircraft had to be chartered.

The Queen’s accountant Alan Reid said this wasn’t a flight so the prince could play golf.

After questions from UK newspapers, he said criticism was unfair as the Duke of York uses more scheduled flights and trains.