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Buckingham Palace: more tourists or bake sale?

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) on Jun 3rd 2009 at 12:00PM

In a move akin to ordering a bake sale, a parliamentary watchdog has called for more tourist availability to Buckingham Palace ... with the money raised used to fix the structure. The famous attraction is said to be "crumbling." By extending tourist access to more than 60 days a year (in the summer), the Queen's London residence could be maintained better.

The main objection has been that staying open longer would interfere with official functions – an argument that the watchdog contends isn't valid, with the White House in Washington, DC and London's House of Parliament welcoming guests on more days with no discernable problems.

At present, the Royal Household as a $52 million maintenance backlog for Windsor Castle, Clarence House (where Prince Charles lives) and the Palace of Holyrood in Edinburgh. The Royal Household only receives half that amount in government funding. Another $11 million comes from the fees paid by tourists.

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Filed under: Europe, United Kingdom

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Seymour Jun 3rd 2009 3:44PM

Hey Maffion: What does Vanessa Hudgens have to do with Buckingham Palace? Advertise your garbage somewhere else.

mikey Jun 3rd 2009 4:44PM

GGOD,, I HOPE IT CRUMBLES TO THE GROUND,AND FAST.

JR Jun 3rd 2009 8:51PM

Why?...Idiot!

mikey Jun 3rd 2009 5:46PM

GGOD,,,LET THE NEW WORLD ORDER CRUMBLE,,PRAISE GOD!

Limoman Jun 3rd 2009 6:15PM

MAkes Sense to me, open it up 120 days a yr. if not year round, it's all indoors isnt it?

And like our White House... We have seperate Qtrs for the President and family to Live...It's the West Wing that has all the action..

And where is the House of Commons? Not in the Palace..

They should bring back the TV series The White House..and just keep changing Presidents as we do in the real world..

and would be a Great PR for America as well..

susan Jun 4th 2009 12:11PM

How about the present occupants kicking in for their own home repairs.

gd Jun 3rd 2009 6:44PM

Why don't they just sell off some of the 1.6 billion in art/jewels contained in the palace to fix things up???

laszloseverance Jun 3rd 2009 11:08PM

The Windsors have plenty of money. Have them pay for it. Obviously, maintenance was ignored for years. What were the Windsors spending their money on during that time? Talk about the height of shabby genteel!!! Just another instance of the Royals being nothing but grossly overcompensated welfare recipients....

chuckie Jun 3rd 2009 7:16PM

Maybe these useless, inbred "royals" could sell off some of their jewels and crowns. That should cover the construction costs. Even with Obama in the White House, it beats the hell out of having a "royal" family.