THE Prime Minister's office has rejected suggestions by Buckingham Palace that the Royals footed the bill for gifts given during the Queen's tour Down Under. The Queen and other members of the royal family have charged Aussie taxpayers thousands of dollars for gifts they gave to dignitaries.
The Queen and Prince Philip handed out dozens of framed photographs of themselves and other mementos as thanks to their hosts during their tour last October.
But the gifts were actually paid for by the Australian Government.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson today attempted to deny the Herald Sun's report that Australian taxpayers were paying for gifts handed out by the Royals.
"The Royal Household pays for gifts given by The Queen - not Australian taxpayers," the spokesperson said.
But a short time later, the PM's office has again confirmed the report.
“Consistent with longstanding practice the Australian Government will meet the costs of gifts presented by The Queen during her visit to Australia," a spokesman said.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard and about 40 other Australian officials received the gifts, which cost almost $15,000 - the spokesman reaffirmed.
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In a little-known regal protocol known as passing costs "to the realms", the practice of Commonwealth citizens paying for royal gifts has been going on for decades.
Prince Charles, during his tour of Australia several years ago, hit taxpayers for the cost of photographs, trinkets and even copies of a gardening book he co-wrote when he handed them to officials.
Charles gave away 16 framed pictures of himself, a pen knife, three wallets, a fountain pen and a planter box shaped like a sheep.
On top of the gifts, Australian taxpayers foot the bill for royal travel - estimated at about $1 million for the Queen's 2011 visit and $350,000 for Charles' 2005 tour and another $600,000 for his 1994 trip.
Those costs include flights, accommodation and phone calls as well as expenses such as meals and mini-bar bills.
"On their own they are reasonably small costs in relation to overall government expenditure," Australian Republican Movement chairman Michael Keating said.
"But if people are unhappy about these quite bizarre costs, if we want to stop kowtowing and giving these funnily funded gifts, we want to get to the real issue which is becoming a republic."
But Australians for Constitutional Monarchy chairman Prof David Flint said the Queen should not be expected to personally pay for the gifts.
He said an Australian president in any future republic would not be expected to pay.
A spokesman for the Prime Minister's office said the Queen and Prince Philip presented Ms Gillard with framed photographs and a silver box during last year's visit.
heraldsun.com.au 24 Jan 2012
An item taken in exchange for money is NOT a gift but rather a purchase.
The Australian government purchased portrails of the Queen, which can be a tax deduction for the government.
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