Jan 27, 2009, 10:50 GMT
Britain's Queen Elizabeth's official London residence Buckingham Palace must open to the public more often to help pay for soaring costs, according to MPs.
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) - a group of politicians who began investigating the state of the royal family's palaces when it emerged there is a £32 million backlog of maintenance work - insists palaces must become more flexible and open for longer.
At present, the public can visit Buckingham Palace 63 days a year. The PAC claims it should open as often as the US President's White House in Washington D.C., which allows visitors nearly every day.
But the Keeper of the Privy Purse Sir Alan Reid - who is responsible for managing the royal family's finances - insisted access had to be restricted because royals were often staying at the palaces.
PAC chairman Edward Leigh replied: "You cannot close the whole palace because the Duke of York is sitting in his flat upstairs."
Sir Alan maintained the public should not be allowed to visit royal residences when other heads of state were there, adding tourists can visit Berkshire's Windsor Castle on 360 days of the year.
Officials insist opening Buckingham Palace more often would not save money because there would be increased administrative and staffing costs.
Last year, the queen's request for funding to repair her palaces was denied by the government.
Palace officials had asked for the £15-million-a-year grant the queen receives for the upkeep of her official residences to be increased amid growing concerns over the backlog of work at her homes.
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