TIGHTENING ONE'S PURSE STRINGS
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As someone who likes to watch the pennies himself (skinflint is thy middle name—Ed) the Hawk approves of the Queen's cost-cutting measures which have seen the Royal household's road travel expenses halved in the past 10 years,
Figures from the
Royal Trustees report show that by replacing old limousines with people carriers and hiring cars for state occasions, the budget has been slashed from £82,786 in 1991 to a projected £39,350 in 2000,
Other royal economies have seen the conversion of a RollsRoyce Phantom VI and a Daimler limousine to run on liquefied petroleum gas. In all there are eight state limousines plus three Vauxhall Sintras.
The Queen herself has a Daimler saloon and a Vauxhall Omega estate. Prince Philip drives a Range Rover and for short trips around London, an LPG converted Metrocab. Of course Philip is well qualified to drive the latter as he possesses all the diplomatic skills of your irrepressible London cabby.