Publication Date:
Thu, 2010-10-14 21:33
The royal household thought the event, paid for by the queen herself and usually staged every two years, would be unseemly as Britons cope with deep public spending cuts to bring down a record peacetime budget deficit.
“The queen is acutely aware of the difficult economic circumstances facing the country,” a palace spokeswoman said on Thursday.
The Sun newspaper said the Christmas shindig, planned for Dec. 13, cost 50,000 pounds ($79,000) and was to have been enjoyed by 1,200 guests.
“It’s the first time in memory the party’s been canceled,” one unnamed worker told the Sun. “We’re all devastated as it’s a great night when everyone lets their hair down.
“It’s normal to see the Queen dancing with a footman or Prince Philip waltzing with a maid.”
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