We reported recently (“The Royal Family: An extraordinary bargain,” 30/6) about the enormous profit the British taxpayer makes form the Royal Family. It was good then to see a favourable comment from the London Murdoch newspaper The Sun, not normally a fan of the Royal Family. This was in an editorial on 30 June, 2009 under the headline "Cheers, Ma'am" which followed a first editorial being a strong attack on the British government.
"THE Government could learn a lesson or two about economy from the Royal Family. The 83-year-old Queen is hardworking, devoted to public service – and notoriously thrifty with taxpayers' money. The monarchy raises more in tourist revenue than we spend keeping them in castles, cars and corgis.
"And they cost just 69p a head, less than half the price of a lemonade shandy all round. Now that's what we call value for money."
Even then, the 69p is The Queen's and the taxpayer gets the surplus revenue from the Crown Estate.