A hole in the Queen146;s pocket

Royal officials blamed the increase of 5.3 per cent on higher maintenance and utility bills as also the increase in travel costs due to a series of foreign trips undertaken by the Queen.

Buckingham Palace disclosed in Queen8217;s annual financial report released on Friday that there is a yawning pound;32 million 8220;black hole8221; in the finances which has caused a major backlog of essential repairs.

The Queen8217;s budget for maintaining Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and other royal buildings has been frozen by the Government for the next three years. The palace is now seeking a minimum pound;4 million annual increase in the pound;15 million grant for the maintenance of the royal palaces. Ministers have pointedly refused the request from the Queen, according to TimesOnline.