Old walls usually have to be maintained at great expense. This also applies to Buckingham Palace in London. So far, the British taxpayer has covered the costs. But it doesn’t have to stay that way.
The anti-monarchy organization Republic has called for Buckingham Palace to be open to tourists all year round.
“The ticket income could be used to finance the repairs and restoration without having to dig into the tax fund,” Republic boss Graham Smith told Sky News on Sunday.
Smith does not deny that Buckingham Palace is an important symbol of Britain and should not be neglected. At the moment, however, there is talk of cutting public sector salaries, while at the same time millions of pounds are being put into maintaining the building. “It’s an absurd waste of money,” Smith said.
The Vatican and the White House are also open to tourists almost all year round, although the Pope and the US President are at home there. Queen Elizabeth II has now completely moved to Windsor Castle, so that Buckingham Palace is no longer permanently inhabited.
Since this weekend, the palace has been open to tourists for a few weeks, as it has been for years in the summer. dpa
