MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Buckingham Palace to undergo US$ 455m renovation: not all taxpayers pleased to pay the bill
The Palace defended the renovations as money wisely spent because of the tourists it attracts, including half a million people who tour the mansion each summer. Buckingham Palace will undergo a ten-year US$ 455 million renovation process set to begin in April and needed to prevent potentially catastrophic building failure. It will replace decades-old wiring, radiators and lead pipes that currently put the 775-room palace at risk for fire, flood and other dangers. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, who turned 90 in April, will stay in residence during the makeover.
But not everyone in England is pleased about the costly project — or, more specifically, about who’s footing the bill. An online petition that calls for the royals — not English taxpayers — to pay for the refurbishment launched three days ago, and now has more than 134,000 signatures
“The Crown and its estates should be made to fund its own renovations,” the appeal notes. “The Crown's wealth is inestimable. This is, in a word, outrageous.“
The Palace defended the renovations as money wisely spent because of the tourists it attracts, including more than half a million people who tour the mansion each summer.
”Buckingham Palace is about to be given a £369m ($457.5m) refurbishment. Tax payers are paying for it. The Crown and its estates should be made to fund its own renovations,“ reads a description on the petition started by a person named Mark Johnson.
”There is a national housing crisis, the NHS is in crisis, austerity is forcing cuts in many front line services. Now the Royals expect us to dig deeper to refurbish Buckingham Palace. The Crown's wealth is inestimable.“
”This is, in a word, outrageous,” the petition continued.
The Royal Trustees, including the prime minister and chancellor, said that the works would be funded by a temporary increase in the Sovereign Grant, a publicly funded grant which pays for the expenses of running the Queen's household.
Top Comments
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Read all commentsThe usual complainers. They think the tax-payer is footing the bill for redecorating The Queen's private property.
Nov 23rd, 2016 - 03:59 pm +4It is not The Queen's home but an office for The Firm and is not owned by her.
90,000 people were hosted there last year on behalf of the nation.
500,000 visited.
It is the number one tourist attraction in London.
Why don't these articles mention how much money tourism brings to the U.K., or how we use our Royals to our benefit.
“The Crown's wealth is inestimable.”
Nov 23rd, 2016 - 06:47 pm +4How silly. Firstly it certainly is estimable, and secondly the Queen doesn't get it anyway. The income goes to the government and then they give a portion to the Royal family. It's supposed to cover normal running costs, not this kind of renovation.
And the Queen's private wealth was estimated as £326m, not enough to pay for the repairs even if it was her private house, which it isn't.
@ Think
Nov 24th, 2016 - 01:15 pm +3Technically treason, but Corbyn hasn't been arrested yet so I think Voice is safe.
And he is right, till the end of the Monarchy, or until Parliament decides otherwise is much more accurate than 'till the end of times'.
As long as we don't have to have a popularly elected president. I don't trust the great British public to pick the right winner on a dancing show, let alone the head of state.
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