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Journalism of Courage
The British Queen is short of cash to maintain royal buildings like the Buckingham Palace due to a freeze in Government grant for the monarch8217;s property, a top palace official said on Friday.
However, the cost of maintaining Queen Elizabeth II and the royal family has seen a rise of pound;2 million last year, standing at pound;40 million, according to palace accountants.
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.
