UK Parliament Report Criticizes Royal Household Spending Habits

Want costs cut, appearances kept

Tighten your belt and clean yourself up a little. That's the message to the royal household of Queen Elizabeth from British members of parliament, who issued a critical report Tuesday urging the palace to do more to cut costs while keeping up appearances.

The report by the Public Accounts Committee found that for 2012-2013, the Royal Household's budget of $51.38 million — which covers buildings maintenance, staff wages and associated costs such as travel to take part in royal duties — had been exceeded by almost $4 million dollars.