Angry MPs want minor royals out of palace flats
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.MPs expressed outrage yesterday after touring apartments at Kensington Palace where minor royals enjoy sumptuous accommodation for token rents.
MPs expressed outrage yesterday after touring apartments at Kensington Palace where minor royals enjoy sumptuous accommodation for token rents.
The visit, taking in everything from Princess Diana's former rooms to staff accomm- odation for chefs and porters, left members of the powerful Commons Public Accounts Committee scathing in their criticism of the Royal Household. The committee is assessing whether taxpayers get value for money from the palace, which costs the public £1m a year and is currently running a £200,000 deficit, but still provides lavish accommodation for Prince and Princess Michael of Kent for a rent of less than £100 a week.
The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester also have a substantial flat in the palace, which has been a royal residence since 1689.
Sir Michael Peat, the Keeper of the Privy Purse, told the delegation that palace officials aimed to free the accommodation for alternative uses, but ruled out asking the royal tenants to move. He showed the MPs around his own flat in the palace as part of the three-hour tour, but MPs were not invited to see the royal apartments.
Yesterday the committee called on the Queen to find alternative accommodation for her relatives.
Geraint Davies, Labour MP for Croydon Central, said: "We have to ask the question of whether some of these minor royals should be given something more modest when they stop doing public duties." Alan Williams, Labour MP for Swansea West, said it was an "understatement" to call the situation a scandal. He added: "Think of all the anguish of people working in the public service, people who cannot afford to live in even tiny apartments, and we are having to look for cubicles in which to put our teachers and nurses.
"The issue is not the deficit, the issue is the value of the properties and what is or is not being paid for them. Some people living in them are not even paying rent, what they pay simply covers the electricity and other charges."
Ian Davidson, MP for Glasgow Pollok, said he would be astonished if the Queen did not act: "What we have discovered here is an outrage and when we report as such, I expect things to move."
The palace is home to members of staff in the royal household as well as "grace and favour" flats for minor royals.
Edward Leigh, the Conservative chairman of the committee, said he hoped the palace's residents would "do the decent thing".
He added: "The long-term plan is to empty this palace and remove the security cordon so it is open to the public and more commercial."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments