Queen's lavish bash for staff

Apr 11, 2006, 15:15 GMT

Britain's Queen Elizabeth is spending £30,000 on a party for her staff.

The monarch has personally invited all of her 600 workers to celebrate her 80th birthday.

All her workers, from housemaids to high-ranking aides, have been asked to attend the party at Buckingham Palace on June 14 and each can bring a guest.

The party is also expected to be attended by several senior royals, including the queen's husband Prince Phillip, Prince Charles and his wife Camilla and Princes William and Harry are also expected to attend the celebration.

Staff will be treated to a picnic supper and a jazz band has been booked to entertain guests throughout the evening.

Revellers will also be able to enjoy a disco set in the palace gardens, which will be lit up to create a magical atmosphere.

All costs for the bash will be covered personally by the queen.

A source told Britain's The Sun newspaper: 'She knows how hard the staff work and wants to say thank you.'

The party is just one of a host of events to celebrate the milestone birthday.

The monarch has also invited 100 octogenarians to join her and Prince Phillip for a special lunch at the Buckingham Palace.

Britain's Royal Mint has also launched a new £5 coin to commemorate Elizabeth's landmark birthday. The coin features the famous portrait of the queen by Ian Rank- Broadley - which has appeared on British currency for the last eight years.

Copyright 2006 BANG Media International