However, paradoxically, the subjects of the British Crown are increasingly disillusioned with their homeland and, in search of a better life, are moving abroad for permanent residence. According to the UK National Statistics Office, last year the number of residents who chose to emigrate permanently reached a record high in the past 15 years - 196 thousand people.
Where do the Britons go? It turned out that the majority of Her Majesty's subjects prefer to emigrate to Australia: about 70 thousand people have moved there permanently over the past two years. According to British migration experts, the attractiveness of the 'green continent' in the eyes of Britons will increase even more in the near future. This is due to the fact that Australia has recently introduced new simplified entry rules for highly skilled migrants from the UK. The second and third most popular destinations are Spain (58 thousand Britons moved there) and France (42 thousand). Next come: New Zealand (30 thousand people), the USA (25 thousand), Canada and the UAE (17 thousand each), and the Netherlands (18 thousand).
Among the main reasons that force Britons to leave their homeland, the emigrants themselves cite the cold climate, rising crime, lack of stability in life, and anxiety about their children's future. British experts have calculated that about a quarter of emigrating Britons over the age of 45 move to warmer climates permanently. The remaining three quarters are young and middle-aged people who move with their families to work in other countries.
In essence, this is a 'brain drain'. According to migration expert John Salt from University College London, Britons who have received higher education in their country are in demand abroad, and young qualified personnel are eagerly invited to work in the USA, EU countries, Japan, and Australia.
The CEO of real estate company Parador Properties, Nick Hamilton, stated that about 6,500 families of native Britons annually go on specially organized tours to Spain to buy housing there for subsequent permanent relocation. According to him, about 40% of tour participants decide to buy a home during the trip.
One of the Britons who left his country forever is 64-year-old Roy Bevis, who emigrated to Italy and does not regret his decision at all. He was dissatisfied with the high cost of the British healthcare system, the high cost of transport, and the constantly rising tax burden. Now he lives in a huge house near Lake Como in Italy. "This is the best place I have ever seen in my life. It takes my breath away," he admires. "Real estate prices here are a third of the cost of housing in the UK. Now I pay low taxes and the medical care here is first-class. I only regret that I didn't move here 20 years ago."