These are tough times. But we were surprised to learn today that the Queen of England has decided to join other London homeowners and rent out rooms during the Olympics next summer. So would you like to rent maybe with the refrigerator, at say, St. James Palace? ABC's Nick Watson is in London.
This is the oldest palace in this antique city and we were given an exclusive tour.
--When you see all this gold, it is gold.
Built nearly 500 years ago by a besotted king for his lovely queen before he chopped her head off or a lighter note, Kate and William announced their engagement here. But this is the tale of lifestyles of the rich end- frugal.
The queen is very frugal and there is a sort of ness of bill charge that she walks around the palace at certain time to switch off lights.
Her utility builds budget two million bucks. She's already ditch the royal yacht and the royal train but they still need cash to repair their crumbling grandeur.
Buckingham Palace is falling to pieces. So the queen's throwing open the doors of St. James's Palace to corporate smoothers for a rumored 50,000 dollars a day.
--Only one who has been able has passed through the rooms.
The closest Olympic venue is beach volleyball around the corner. I am not kidding.
But there is a line the queen went cross, she won't take lodgers at Buckingham Palace.
You are not gonna see any playing guests moving into Buckingham Palace at all, no matter how much money they have got.
Thank goodness, a wafe,the royal mystic remains.
Nick Watson, ABC News, London.
