New Brit Govt. to ask Queen to take ‘at least’ five percent pay cut

LONDON - David Cameron led coalition government is expected to ask the Queen to take a pay cut from the 7.9 million pounds-a-year Civil List payment the royal family receives from taxpayers money.

The royal family had been expecting an increase when the current 10-year agreement comes to an end this year.

But senior figures in the new coalition government have warned that the royals will be advised to follow the Cabinet’s lead and accept a reduction of “at least” five percent, the Daily Star reports.

Downing Street advisers fear increases in royal spending could cause a backlash.

“The round of government cuts that are on their way are so deep, so severe, that there won’t be a single family in Britain who won’t be feeling the pinch.

“There couldn’t be a worse time for the richest family in the country to go to the taxpayer with a begging bowl,” the paper quoted an adviser, as saying.

The Queen will also be urged to make a round of royal redundancies, with low-ranking family members like the Duke of Kent and the Duchess of Gloucester being “sacked” from front-rank royal duties, losing their grace and homes.

Experts say it costs more than 40 million pounds a year to keep the royals running, plus 50 million pounds for police and security, the Daily Star reports. (ANI)