Perhaps Charles should help out as he did get a nice increase last year...

S Hon, London,

The Queen's got enough money to pay for the repairs herself, you don't find other wealthy home owner asking for the government to pay for their upkeep. If she's so poor let her sell something. She already gets £37million from UK tax payers each year to have a good time, and her family avoid inheritance tax. How much more does she want?

Jax, Notts, UK

Why is the crwon responsible for so many places anyway? Maybe its time they cut down the number of houses. Buck House, Sandringham and Balmoral are surely enough for anyone? hand the rest to the national trust. Some of the art treasures can go to the national and regional galleries. The pomp and circumstance of the monarchy is a necessary part of it, but it doesn't have to be quite so vast does it?

Neil Murphy, cromer,

How about the 'dignified option' of HM The Queen paying for her own home's upkeep out of her own private fortune which has been amassed, over centuries, by royal possession of properties throughout Great Britain and real estate holdings in the United States (she owns large tracts of Madison Avenue, one of the most presitgious land masses in the USA)?

It is particularly disgraceful of the Sovereign to turn the daily military procedures of The Foot Guards (the Royal bodyguard) into a money-spinning exercise: such action will denigrate the inherently professional, military duties of those who have sworn to lay down their lives for their Sovereign and Country. That "Changing of the Guard" is not a vaudevillian turn: it is part of the core of military discipline and drill which helps to form the ethos of a fighting soldier.

Kate, london,

The sooner we rid ourselves of this useless monarchy, the better!

A H Sargeant, CHATTERIS, Cambs.

NO, NO, NO !

How much is the queen and the rest of the royal family worth ? Let them pay for their own house repairs.

Like wot I do.

They could always move to a council flat.

M Newman, Watford,

Yes you are one of the richest countrys in the world .But only by the (Sweat and Blood ) of the British.

Mabel, OKLA, U.S.A

These beautiful buildings are the nations heritage and should be paid for by the government. If you remember how much cash was poured into The millenium dome, (a building which has barely been used for the last 6 years and who's roof has a life of about 75 years) how can it be questioned that funds not be spent on these buildings which house priceless treasures. This is a disgrace.

Sarah , Ilford, Essex

The Queen should give up the civil list and instead take the income from the Crown Estates, rather than giving it to the goverment. She would then have much more money to maintain the palaces.

Anthony, London,

Why on earth should I , a supermarket worker on £5.70 an hour, help pay for one of the richest woman in the world to live in luxury?

For Lord Fawsley to justify the government forking out for the palace's repairs as it 'belongs to the nation' is a complete affront to every taxpayer in the land.

Since when has 'the nation', and not just the privileged few, been able to enjoy the oppulence and splendour of the Royal residences?

If The Queen needs cash, she can look a little closer to home in the Duchy of Lancaster.

William Taylor, Lincoln, UK

Off with her head!

Henry Adams, Manchester,

Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle make a huge indirect contribution to the nation's economy - by being two of our biggest attractions. They give vistors even more reason to visit the UK, with ramifications beyond the revenue earnt at the two venues.
While two buildings with national importance are crumbling more and more money is being diverted into the Olympic blackhole. The £400k wasted on that stupid logo would have been better spent on either building. Between the Treasury and the Lottery the money should have been found.
I once took an oath to the Queen, and despite being neither elected nor rising to her position through talent I have far greater respect and a greater sense of affection than for many of our elected "representatives"

David, Norwich, England

has Her Majesty forgotten that we pay for these guards? What a tacky idea.

the woman is hardly poverty-stricken - let her pay for her house repairs like the rest of us have to.

mac jordan, bristol, uk

They should sell one of their other properties to fund repairs to the palace.

Frank H, London.,

Why not sell one of the Rembrants? There is a huge collection of works in the possesion of the royal house hold one or two of theses could easdily pay for the work. I find it totaly immoral when in a time of rapidly rising interest rates and when home repossesions are at an all time high we should be asked to shell out once more. H.M.Q. could even force a referendum on the european constitution, I'd quite happily pay her out of the money we give the E.U. if she complied with her coronation oath.

El Gordo, Farnborough, Hants

HRH Liz should just charge some billionaire American $2mil, oh heck, $5mil, for a weekend stay at the palace. She could raise enough money to repair all her castles and be done with it.

Charge the public for the Changing of the Guard? Scanadalous!

Sue, Los Angeles, USA