Palace rejects call to open doors longer to raise funds

THE QUEEN'S accountant has rejected calls for Buckingham Palace to be opened to the public all year round to raise funds needed to maintain the royal residence.

The keeper of the Privy Purse, Sir Alan Reid, said the plan was not practical and the public could not be allowed to wander around the Palace during a state visit.

The refusal comes after MPs on the public accounts committee called on royal household officials to look to the US White House, which remains open to the public for much of the year.

They say more frequent opening of the Palace, which is open for only 63 days a year, would raise much-needed funds. Royal buildings have a £32million maintenance backlog. Committee chairman Edward Leigh said: "You cannot close the whole Palace because the Duke of York is sitting in his flat upstairs."

But Sir Alan told the committee that members of the royal family were in residence for about 300 days per year. The Queen stays there for three to four days a week giving audiences, investitures take place 22 days a year and more than 100 receptions are held there.

The plan would not be financially viable as student wardens would have to work during term time to keep the Palace running, and there would be a burden of extra administration, the committee was told.

The committee said temporary buildings installed for openings could remain all year round and that it was easy to find casual staff among London's student population.