Man I think these guys are jipped!

[CW&M Mom]

Queen Elizabeth II cancels Christmas party - Yahoo! News

[COLOR=#366388 ! important][COLOR=#366388 ! important]Queen [COLOR=#366388 ! important]Elizabeth [/COLOR][COLOR=#366388 ! important]II[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] has called off this year's Christmas party at Buckingham Palace to show restraint as Britain braces for a wave of austerity cutbacks. The biennial December party for around 600 royal staff, paid for out of the queen's private money, costs around 50,000 pounds (80,000 dollars, 57,000 euros), The Sun newspaper said.
"Given the current economic climate, it was thought that it was appropriate for the household to show restraint," a [COLOR=#366388 ! important][COLOR=#366388 ! important]palace [COLOR=#366388 ! important]spokesman[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] told AFP on Thursday.
"The Queen is acutely aware of the difficult economic circumstances facing the country."
The government is to announce its spending review on October 20, which is expected to slash government department funding in a bid to rein in Britain's record deficit.
"We're all devastated as it's a great night when everyone lets their hair down," The Sun quoted one worker as saying.
"The royals mix freely with servants -- it's normal to see the Queen dancing with a footman or (her husband) [COLOR=#366388 ! important][COLOR=#366388 ! important]Prince [COLOR=#366388 ! important]Philip[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] waltzing with a maid.
"The champagne flows like water and you feel your hard work has been appreciated. This won't go down well."
This year the royals have had to accept the freezing of the "civil list", covering the expenses of the queen and Prince Philip.
The amount was set in 1990 at 7.9 million pounds per year and has not gone up since.
It is paid in return for the profits from the Crown Estate, the sovereign's property portfolio. The surplus was 210.7 million pounds for the year ending March 2010.



So the Queen needs to shave a bunch of money from the budget...so what she comes up with is the party for the staff? So the hoity toity parties with important people still go on as planned...but the party where the hard working staff goes down. I think they were jipped!

[hburnette3]

I agree with canceling the party. BUT WAIT don't bash me yet! She should divide that 80,000 thou up among the staff.

[CW&M Mom]

I agree with canceling the party. BUT WAIT don't bash me yet! She should divide that 80,000 thou up among the staff.

I'm sure they wouldn't mind that either.

[sns4063]

I don't see what the problem is? Seems like the only people that would complain that they are saving this money (no matter how much) are those that have entitlement issues.

[motherofmolly]

the queen has gotten herself in to some problems lately with money. i dont remember what "fund" it was, but she was planning on using money set aside for a project for the people for her own personal expenses.

i think "they" as the royal's need to cut back on their spending.

[CW&M Mom]

I don't see what the problem is? Seems like the only people that would complain that they are saving this money (no matter how much) are those that have entitlement issues.

If ALL the parties had been canceled...I wouldn't have a problem with it. But they only chose the "unimportant" one...aka the one for commoners.

[kval07]

It is NOT uncommon for "extras" such as holiday parties to be scaled back or cut altogether. Lots of people have had parties, bonuses, holiday gifts, etc taken away in the past few years. The lack of party won't kill them.

[BostonRed]

So when the Queen has a party for her 600 person staff at Buckingham Palace, who works the party? Because of security, you can't bring in temps and the like.

I guess the ones who really appreciate canceling the party are the ones who work in the food service end of the spectrum.

[CW&M Mom]

This money doesn't come from the taxpayers...but from the Queen's personal money. So of ALL the things she could of cut back on "like all of her children's extremely ridiculous spending habits" she cuts the party for her staff.

[faeryedark]

I agree with canceling the party. BUT WAIT don't bash me yet! She should divide that 80,000 thou up among the staff.

I agree.