To think this is an obscene amount for the queens home.

[heartskey]

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/nov/18/buckingham-palace-to-undergo-370m-refurbishment
Its all right for some isn't it. Sod the rest of us, we're just the mugs paying for it. What a bloody burden this family are.

The Crown Estate generates a net profit for the government. For a while some of that profit (10%) is going to restoring a property to ensure it can continue to make a profit for decades to come. I really can't see much to get worked up about tbh.

I think it's the bigger picture people get wound up about

dybil: Did you not read the next sentence? "Basically, a bulk of the upside the Royal Family provides in tourism and sales is cancelled out when you take into account how much it costs to look after them."

It wasn't a very long article.

They are an utterly pointless anachronism. The Crown Estate may be profitable but it would be a hell of a lot more profitable if it wasn't supporting a load of pointless freeloaders, living a luxurious lifestyle while their subjects live in penury.

It's despicable and indefensible.

Ridiculous! Austerity for everyone apart from the RF apparently!

Gertrude - yes I did read it all, I just don't think you understand what it says.

It isn't saying that the 1.15billion net profit is somehow wiped out, it is saying that in 2015 the royals were worth around £57billion but, because of the costs of maintaining them, they only generated a net profit of £1.15 billion.

If you can have your choice as to where your pennies go, then I can have mine and I want mine to go to Buck House.

Buckingham Palace isn't the Queen's home. It's her workplace, where she carries out her official duties as head of state. Where else should visiting dignitaries and heads of state be received and entertained, for example?

I am lost as to why they still live in their ivory tower because they were 'born' into it. That is ok then eh! They are not better/special/smarter/above anyone else. They are essentially living their 'royal' life while everyone else bobs down. It is ludricious!

Whether the family lived there or not, as a building of significant historic value it needs to be maintained.

As one of the wealthiest families in the world I do not understand why they need any help in maintaining their homes, frankly.

The tourism argument is such a stupid one. No one comes to the UK in hope of seeing the queen. I mean - tourists visit the London Dungeons even though there are no prisoners there, they go to the Tower even though there's no hope of seeing an execution. If we got rid of the royal family tomorrow we would still have plenty of tourist attractions - actually you'd have more as there wouldn't be parasitic Windsors in residence.

The monarchy is totally out of touch and irrelevant. I for one would rather my pound a year went to the NHS or the libraries - far worthier than indolent royals.

Disclaimer - definitely not a royalist (not English), kind of the opposite. BUT...there's some potential here, apprenticeships for prison leavers, long term unemployed (eg Prince Andrew ) London's poorest school leavers surely? They could make a big effort to redress the price a bit with some sort of project like that? Sounds like they need loads of sparks, plumbers etc and maybe some artisanal types like gilders, loads of opportunities to help people learn a decent trade, earn while they do it etc? I'd not be too cross if they did that.

The tourist argument isn't stupid at all. No most tourists aren't coming, hoping to see them but they are coming to see their residences. If they didn't exist then the draw would be far less and the palace would still need sorting. Selling the palace to some foreign oligarch would be the final selling off of a nation's pride. The fundamental root causes of poverty need addressing. Selling off national treasures that generate huge amounts of income isn't the way forward.

I didn't suggest "selling off the nation's pride", I meant opening it - and all the other places to the public. That would generate even more tourist income.

Do people really think that Buckingham palace is the Queen's home?

Is Buckingham Palace that interesting? It is really quite a recent building, unless you are American?

Lolling at FSVC's vision of an army of apprentice guilders, but actually that's a great idea for people learning a trade.

BP is the Queens official residence just as number 10 is the Prime Minister's or the Elysee Palace the French PM's. It is not just run as a home but as offices i.e. a business runs from it; that of the monarchy. It belongs to the country not the person and therefore the country should maintain it. Unfortunately, an old, large and prestigious building does need regular maintenance but in this case much has been left undone/put off for years so the bills are bound to be enormous; I believe it is quite run down in places and at risk in others. This place represents for many visitors (who bring a lot of money with them) our country; do all those against the work really want it to fall into ruin just so the Queen is 'punished' for being our hereditary leader?

Worth every penny.
A tenner off my annual taxes when the rest goes on all sorts of stuff, including health, education and the welfare state - is absolutely nothing.
Only the critically unthinking would consider that not maintaining national buildings was an option.
And as I volunteer for way too many hours a week, after a lengthy stint being paid by the lovely Auntie Betty, I'm comfortable that my citizenship credentials are in order.
Gawd bless her and all who sail in her. Etc etc.

She lives her life in a fish bowl, still works despite her great age and brings in millions from tourism. I think she's worth every penny

I agree

The money comes from the Crown Estates not from our taxes, the idiot who mentioned the non existent 'bedroom tax' you do realise the Queen is in her nineties and works every day she doesn't get any benefits so can't have them reduced you numpty. Geretude with your disparaging 'old woman' comments you would be rightly flamed on any other thread.

Why don't they hold a Children in Need style fundraiser to raise money for the maintenance? That would be fair, as only those that really wanted to contribute would have to contribute. The public money could then be used for essential infrastructure projects that benefit society more broadly - hospitals and homes, for example. That would make sense to me.

I'm amazed this hasn't been buried quietly somewhere - it really is a big FUCK YOU to all the many people living in poverty, sub-standard housing and relying on food banks at the moment.

Cringing in amusement at all the grovelling simpletons and forelock tuggers appearing on this thread! Has anyone come out with the old chestnut 'Her Majesty works very hard" yet?!

Actually I'm not going to have anywhere to work soon (agile working - toss.) and will be expected to hunch in my car, can't she get with the modern efficiency programme? They could just have one palace and hot desk.

They have asbestos and lead piping, it genuinely needs to be done, it's a public health hazard!