UK lockdown set to blow $33 million hole in the Queen’s finances
Even the royal family isn’t immune to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, with the lockdown threatening to blow a $33 million hole in the Queen’s finances.
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The Queen faces millions of dollars in financial losses with tourists unable to flock to royal palaces during the UK lockdown.
An email to staff from the Lord Chamberlain Earl Peel - head of the royal household - warns of a £17.8 million ($A33 million) shortfall, a third of annual royal income, The Sun reports.
“The crisis has already tested our resilience, adaptability and preparedness in many ways and at all levels across the organisation. It has also had a significant impact on the activities of the whole Royal Household,” Mr Peel told staff in an email, according to The Sun.
“Although the UK appears to be over the peak of infections, it remains unclear when measures such as social distancing will come to an end.
“We must therefore assume it could still be many weeks, if not months, before we are able to return to business as usual.
“There are undoubtedly very difficult times ahead and we realise many of you will be concerned.”
Last year tourism earned the royals more than £70 million ($A131 million) from ticket and souvenir sales.
The multimillion-dollar income the royals earn through Crown Estates and through being landlords of expensive London addresses and major shopping centres is expected to take a hit as the coronavirus pandemic wreaks havoc on the UK economy.
The taxpayer-funded Sovereign Grant, which is paid to the royals annually to fund official duties, was £82.4 million ($A154 million) last year, and included £33 million ($A62 million) for Buckingham Palace repairs.
But the Lord Chamberlain said “property spend” would be reduced - a move that could impact those planned renovations.
“The Royal Household, like most organisations, is not immune to the impact of the pandemic on our financial position,” he wrote.
“Many projects have been halted and all but essential expenditure has been suspended.
“A recruitment freeze has been implemented and no new posts will be appointed unless a very clear business case exists.
“This year’s annual pay review has also been paused.”
QUEEN’S PUBLIC DUTIES ‘ON HOLD’ AMID VIRUS FEARS
The Queen is due to withdraw from public duties for months in what could be the longest absence of her 68-year reign.
The Queen, who is 94, will remain at Windsor Castle indefinitely as the coronavirus crisis continues in the UK.
According to The Sun, Buckingham Palace will be closed to the public this summer for what is thought to be the first time in almost 30 years.
The Sunday Times reports that the Queen’s diary of engagements into the northern autumn is also on hold.
She had plans for a state visit to South Africa in October, but it is not yet known if this will go ahead.
Events including Trooping the Colour, the Order of the Garter service and her summer garden parties have already been cancelled, while Royal Ascot – which she attends annually – will only take place behind closed doors, if at all.
The Queen has recently given two public addresses to the nation.
In the first, on April 5, she echoed World War II forces’ sweetheart Dame Vera Lynn as she promised those coping with forced separation from loved ones “we will meet again”.
Some 24 million people watched the speech.
And on VE Day, she urged Britain: “Never give up – never despair.”
The monarch usually returns from Windsor to Buckingham Palace in May before taking her annual summer break at Balmoral in July.
However, royal aides say she has no engagements and will not leave Windsor until the threat from coronavirus clears.
Her last public engagement was the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey on March 9.
She has been isolating at Windsor with the Duke of Edinburgh since March 19.
Despite that, she has been in regular contact with Boris Johnson and other world leaders.
The news comes on the day British PM Boris Johnson prepares to outline his road map out of lockdown.
On Saturday, coronavirus deaths in the UK rose to 31,587 after 346 more people lost their lives to the deadly disease.
A royal source told The Times: “The Queen won’t do anything which goes against the advice of people in her [age] category and she’s going to take all the appropriate advice.
“There are discussions about what we could and couldn’t do come October.
“We haven’t cancelled a load of engagements, but nothing is going into Her Majesty’s diary at the moment.
“If there is advice in the coming months that it’s fine for her to come back to London, she may do that, but until that time, she’d want to be seen to be being responsible in her actions for the nation.”
PRINCE HARRY SHARES SURPRISE VIDEO FROM LA HOME
Meanwhile, Prince Harry has shared a surprise video to mark what would have been the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games 2020.
In the video message, filmed from his new home in Angeles, a noticeably slimmer looking Harry gave a message of support and revealed that virtual events will instead be taking place.
The Duke of Sussex acknowledged that “life has changed dramatically” and that times are hard for many people at the moment amid the pandemic.
“Life has changed dramatically for all of us since I was last in The Hague, but the IG2020 team has done an incredible job to adapt so quickly to the situation and they are busy putting plans in place for next year,” he said.
“The new dates will be shared with you very soon.”
Harry urged people to stay in touch and revealed that some virtual events will be taking place instead of the Games.
“Although we can’t be together in person, I’m really happy that there are plenty of virtual activities planned for this week and I encourage you all to get involved, if you can, because you never know, it might be fun and a change from the norm,” he said.
The video comes just days after Harry and wife Meghan Markle posted a cute clip of their son Archie.
The proud parents posted a clip of Meghan reading the book Duck, Rabbit! to Archie as part of a fundraiser for a children’s charity to celebrate his first birthday.
At the end of the book, a wriggly Archie babbles what sounds like “Duck, Rabbit!”, with a chuffed Meghan explaining his words to the camera being held by Harry.
He says “bravo” to his baby son, clearly thrilled at his son’s milestone day.
The relaxed video shows Meghan, 38, dressed in a blue shirt, with Archie in white baby clothes.
He’s not the most attentive listener, picking up a second book and throwing it on the floor at one point, which raises a chuckle in Prince Harry, 35.
The video was posted on the Save the Children UK Instagram page, with donations sought for the charity’s coronavirus response.
“As they celebrate this family moment, the Duke and Duchess wanted to continue to raise awareness around the urgency of bringing food and learning resources to millions of children.
Happy Birthday to Archie Mountbatten-Windsor who is celebrating his 1st birthday today! 🎈
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) May 6, 2020
Archie is The Queen’s eighth great-grandchild. pic.twitter.com/PMaiY6NR1a
The duchess chose to read one of Archie’s favourite stories, “Duck! Rabbit!,” a spokesman for the Sussexes said.
A lot has changed in the 12 months since Archie was born under a veil of secrecy at the private Portland Hospital in London.
The video was filmed in America, with the couple retiring from royal duties and cutting the purse strings from the royal family and leaving the UK for good.
They are also planning to release a new book in August, Finding Freedom, which some royal watchers fear will be a scathing tell all.
However, there was a united front for Archie’s birthday.
Prince William and Kate shared their love for Archie, posting a photograph from his christening.
“Wishing Archie a very happy first birthday today!,” a post on their Instagram said.
Prince Charles posted a photograph on Twitter of him with Archie and Harry.
“A very Happy Birthday to Archie, who turns one today,” Prince Charles said.
A very Happy Birthday to Archie, who turns one today. 🎈
— Clarence House (@ClarenceHouse) May 6, 2020
This photo of Archie and his grandfather was taken following his christening in July 2019.
📸 Chris Allerton Â©ï¸ Sussex Royal pic.twitter.com/AYxqkRxE1d
The Queen’s official Twitter page released a photo with Her Majesty being introduced to Archie a few days after his birth, alongside Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland.
“Happy Birthday to Archie Mountbatten-Windsor who is celebrating his 1st birthday today!” the post said.
“Archie is The Queen’s eighth great-grandchild.”
Even if Archie was in the UK the coronavirus would have prevented any birthday party celebrations.
The Queen remains in isolation at Windsor Castle with Prince Philip.