[BlackBird]

http://sify.com/news/broke-queen-see...5mOgifbbi.html

"Broke" Queen seeks multi-million pound pay-raise
2010-05-31 12:50:00

Talks are on between the British Government and Royal Palace aides on providing a multi-million-pound pay-hike to Queen Elizabeth.

The request is likely to anger of British taxpayers in the wake of the coalition government recently announcing cuts of six billion pounds to revitalise the economy.

The Queen currently receives 7.9 million pounds annually for her official duties.

According to The Sun, her official budget is estimated to be overspent by 6 million pounds a year. It is being covered by a 35million pound emergency reserve, which is expected to run out by 2012.

Considering the surrounding circumstances, the request couldn't have been more ill-timed.

"By sheer chance, the timing is delicate and no one knew that it would be announced so soon after a change of government," said a senior royal source. (ANI)

[BlackBird]

http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2010...c_12161415.htm

英国女王20年来首次要求加薪 以填补王室开支
2010年05月31日 12:03:16 　来源： 中国新闻网 【字号 大小】【留言】【打印】【关闭】



资料图片：英女王伊丽莎白二世

　　据英国媒体31日报道，英国女王目前正要求加薪，以填补皇室600万英镑的财政赤字。据悉，这是她20 年来第一次要求加薪。

　　皇室办公人员已经和财政部提出：为了维持皇室日常的事务运作和开支，他们需要将每年皇室开支提高到79 0万英镑。这790万英镑中包括皇室的日常开支，从宴会，室内装潢到雇佣仆人。

　　英国共和党的竞选经理史密斯(Graham Smith)指出，这一要求是“国家的耻辱”。他说：“皇室要更多的钱就是因为他们太浪费，偷偷摸摸又没有 能力。”

　　但是政府账目委员会主席却称：“女皇需要更多的钱只是为了更好的完成她的职责与责任。他们花了很少的钱 ，却做了了不起的工作。”