Royal tour cost may reach $366,000

Press, 29 October 1981, Page 15

Royal tour cost may reach $366,000

Parliamentary reporter

The cost of the tour of the Queen and Prince Philip will not be known for several months yet, but may approximate the combined costs of the visits of the Duke and Duchess of Kent and Prince Charles.

.Costs of Royal tours are entered mainly against the Internal Affairs vote; any charges against the Ministry of Defence for V.I.P. flights, or the Police Department for security, come out of the regular annual budget allocations to those departments. The Internal Affairs Department meets the costs of internal ground transport and external air fares, accommodation, food and functions. and miscellaneous matters such as administration, publicity, stationery, rehearsals, and “reconnaissance” talks with local authorities and groups.

Costs to Internal Affairs of the visit for 14 days of the Duke and Duchess of Kent in November last year, and of Prince Charles from March 31 to April 12 were as follows:

The Duke and Duchess of

Kent: A total of $166,000. broke into $83,500 for ground transport and sections of overseas air travel; $37,800 for accommodation; $15,800 for functions, and $29,000 for miscellaneous items. The Royal party comprised 10 people, the New* Zealand party 12. Prince Charles, a total of $195,960, broken into $45,000 for accommodation; $68,800 for ground transport and overseas travel; $27,700 for functions; $23,800 for administration; and $30,000 for miscellaneous matters. A party of 10 accompanied the Prince, with 12 New Zealanders.

A household of 15 travelled with the Queen and Prince Philip, and 20 New Zealanders, excluding Ministers of the Crown. Although the parties were larger, and more motorcades were used, costs were offset by use of the Royal Yacht Brittania, said the Royal Tour Office. Final costs of the visit of the Queen and Prince Philip would be known when “all the bills were in, and this could take two months," said a spokesman.