The Queen Lives With Budget Cuts

Queen Elizabeth and her family will have to scrimp a little bit more this year, as the British government has cut the royal budget by $4 million. Every Brit pays 94 cents a year to have a monarchy, adding up to a $57.8 million price tag. Aware of the tough economy and austerity measures being taken across Europe, the queen is delaying key maintenance to the palace, going on fewer foreign trips, and has sold the royal helicopter. The palace’s budget for interior décor is now a paltry $455,310, down from $607,080. Likewise, uniforms for staff have been cut in half, to $151,770, as has the computer budget, now halved to $303,540. Royal family watchers insist even the queen turns down the heat in the winter.