Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Queen Takes Lead in Royal Belt-Tightening

Royal Family curbs lavish lifestyle to commiserate with strapped Brits

By Ambreen Ali,  Newser User

Posted Nov 27, 2008 1:15 PM CST
Email

(Newser) – The British, from PM Gordon Brown on down, are turning to the queen for leadership during tough economic times, the Telegraph reports. The monarch has been curbing indulgences and meeting with Britons feeling the impact of the slowdown. Princes Harry and William are falling in line, beefing up their public military schedules and scaling back social activities.

"The Queen, as head of state and head of the nation, and members of the Royal Family are sensitive to and aware of the mood of the nation and always try to reflect that in the work that they do," a rep said. As a result, the queen has been recycling outfits and reusing old fabric for official gowns, earning her approach the label “credit crunch couture.”

The Royal Family has been told to follow the Queen's example and cut down on extravagance.
The Royal Family has been told to follow the Queen's example and cut down on extravagance.   (Getty Images)
Queen Elizabeth II greets the public on a walk around during her visit to Banbury town centre England today. She first wore this outfit at Prince William's graduation from military academy in 2006.
Queen Elizabeth II greets the public on a walk around during her visit to Banbury town centre England today. She first wore this outfit at Prince William's graduation from military academy in 2006.   (AP Photo/ Ben Birchall/PA)
The queen didn't buy a new gown for a ball during a recent visit to Slovenia, but had one stitched up from some silver-gray brocade cloth that had been on hand for more than two decades.
The queen didn't buy a new gown for a ball during a recent visit to Slovenia, but had one stitched up from some silver-gray brocade cloth that had been on hand for more than two decades.   (AP Photo/Srdjan Zivulovic, POOL)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

Queen urges family to follow her example
Associated Press

"The Queen's wish to resurrect the Blitz spirit could not chime better with the mood at Number 10"
Telegraph (UK)

UK economy shrinks, nearing recession
AFP

Brown borrows to jumpstart economy
Reuters

 
Prince William • Prince Harry • Queen Elizabeth II • England • recession • Britain • economy • financial crisis

More Newser Stories

Pound Craters After Latest Grim Stats

Sans Philip, Royal Christmas Goes on

Greenspan: We Did 'the Best We Could'

Economy Grows in Q3, Signals End of Recession

Prince Harry's B-Day Gift: $10M
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne