This ceremony is one of the most popular regular attractions for anyone coming to visit London, and specifically Buckingham Palace. The guards who guard Queen Elizabeth are some of the best soldiers in the British Army. These soldiers are members of the Household Division, a tradition that goes back to Henry VII (1485-1509).

source

Post from: TheGloss

London’s Buckingham Palace.

Britain’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is calling for Buckingham Palace to generate income by allowing more visits by the paying public.  The projected income from the additional tours will be used to help allay the costs of maintaining the Palace and the Queen’s other residences. The residences have a £32 million maintenance backlog.

Last year, Queen Elizabeth requested for an increase to the £15-million-a-year grant that she gets for the maintenance of the buildings. The request was denied. The PAC’s position about increasing Buckingham’s accessibility is being met with resistance from the Palace. The latter cites security issues and increased administrative costs that would offset the income from additional tours.

Buckingham Palace is open to the public only 63 days a year. No matter what time of the year it is, tourists would be willing to pay to walk down some of the corridors. A compromise between the Palace and the PAC is probably the best solution. After all, the Palace doesn’t have to open up all the rooms to the public.

via: Monsters and Critics; Image: Bauer-Griffin

Post from: TheGloss