Royals Will Pay Minimal Sum for Westminster

Are the royals really trying to do William and Kate’s wedding on the cheap? According to Britain’s Daily Mail, the family will pay only a minimal amount for the use of Westminster Abbey next spring, despite the fact that the wedding is putting a huge financial strain on the church. It is estimated that hosting the nuptials will cost the Abbey in excess of $3 million, but the payment the family has offered was described as “a mere gesture” by a senior official involved in the planning. “Contrary to what many people believe it is a gesture—a token fee—and nothing more,” the person added. The bulk of the Abbey’s burden will come in lost revenue when the building is closed to the public for a week in the buildup to the wedding. The Abbey receives no funding from the government or the crown.