CLOSURE of royal palaces during lockdown threatens to leave a £7million black hole in the Queen’s coffers.
Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle are expected to remain shut all summer as the Queen withdraws from public duties.
The closure of the royal palaces could leave a £7million black hole in the Queen’s pocket
Her Majesty received £7million from entrance tickets and gift sales from Royal Collections Trust last year.
The money from ticket and gift shop sales — which tops up the £82milllion-a-year Sovereign Grant — will have to be made up by taxpayers, it is feared.
There are also concerns rental income from Crown Estates, which owns shopping centres and residential properties, will take a massive hit.
Royal author David McClure said: “Even after the immediate crisis is over, the real risk is that, in the medium-term, foreign visitors won’t return in the same numbers.”
Most of the 1,200 royal staff are being kept on at full pay and the Queen has not signed up to the state furlough scheme.
The Royal Family received £82million last year from the Sovereign Grant.
They also receive income and the Duchys of Lancaster and Cornwall which fund the Queen and the Prince of Wales.
The Queen’s own personal wealth also boosts the royal coffers.
Windsor Castle, where Her Majesty is self-isolating, and Buckingham Palace are expected to remain shut for the duration of the summer
