NewsCoronavirus

Actions

Queen Elizabeth II to trim costs as COVID-19 hits income

Queen Elizabeth II to trim costs as COVID-19 hits income
Posted

LONDON (AP) — Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II and her family are facing a 35 million pound ($45 million) hit from the coronavirus pandemic, partly due to a shortage of tourists.

Keeper of the Privy Purse Michael Stevens said Friday that a lack of income from visitors to royal buildings was likely to bring a shortfall of 15 million pounds, or $19 million, over three years.

He said the impact of the pandemic is also likely to cause a 20 million pound shortfall in a 369-million-pound program to replace antiquated heating, plumbing and wiring at Buckingham Palace.

Officials have said the palace’s aging infrastructure, which had its last major upgrade after World War II, is at risk of a catastrophic failure if it’s not replaced.

Stevens said the royal household would not ask for more government money but would “look to manage the impact through our own efforts and efficiencies.”

Buckingham Palace has already introduced a staff pay freeze and a halt to hiring.

The accounts show that the monarchy cost British taxpayers 69.4 million pounds in the year to the end of March.

,

Weather

Daily Forecast

View Hourly Forecast

Day

Conditions

HI / LO

Precip

Wednesday

06/17/2026

Sunny

101° / 71°

0%

Thursday

06/18/2026

Sunny

98° / 65°

0%

Friday

06/19/2026

Sunny

93° / 61°

0%

Saturday

06/20/2026

Sunny

90° / 64°

0%

Sunday

06/21/2026

Sunny

94° / 67°

0%

Monday

06/22/2026

Sunny

98° / 69°

0%

Tuesday

06/23/2026

Sunny

102° / 73°

0%

Wednesday

06/24/2026

Sunny

104° / 75°

0%