Cost of Royal Palaces.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 4292, 23 February 1884, Page 12 (Supplement)

Cost of Royal Palaces.

The Queen for nearly a quarter of a century has never occupied Buckingham Palace for more than six days in each year. It cost an enormous amount to build, and several thousands are yearly expended-on ite maintenance. It is sumptuously furniehed in every part, and contains miles of fine pictures; and there it stands year after year, nobody ever entering in it, except on four afternoons when drawing-rooms are held, and on four evenings when state balls Or concerts are given. It ought either to be understood that this Palace should be open to Royal visitors of high rank* Or it should be converted into a hospital or museum. Tho vast sum which the Queen receives every year from tho country is not given to be hoarded up, but is intended to maintain the state and dignity of the Crown. The English Court has gradually acquired a most unpleasant reputation abroad for extrome parsimony, and one would think that instead of the Civil List charges amounting to over £400,000 a year, the1 Queen was only in'receiptof a tenth-of that amount

So far as expense goes, it saves a Royal visitor little or nothing to bo a guest at •'the Palace." The tips which are given are enormous. When the Emperor Nicholas passed Ascot week at Windsor Castle, in 1544, he left £3,000 for the servants, and gave twelve gold and diamond snuff-boxes to the lords and gentlemon of the household. In 1{?35 tho Emperor Napoleon gave £1,500 to the Windsor servants, and last year the King of the Netherlands expended nearly i'I.OOU in the same way. In fact, I believe the Lord Steward keeps a regular tariff of what is expected, the amount varying according to tho rank of the guest, and this :s formally pr»o«nt9d to the principal personage in attendance on him.—" Truth."