Queen Beatrix Falls In Rich List

2 weeks ago 05th Nov 14:00

Holland's Queen Beatrix has fallen two places in the country's rich list - just a month after the government called for cuts to the royal budget.

Politicians had urged Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende to force the royal family to make cutbacks in the current economic climate.

But just weeks after he refused, saying it would be unfair, the royal's estimated wealth has dropped by around 20 per cent and is below the billion Euro mark for the first time.

Every downward revision brings the estimate closer to the reality.

According to Netherland's Quote magazine's annual list, the royals' estimated wealth now stands at 800 million Euros, putting them in 25th place.

In an unprecedented move, queen Beatrix's press office was so thrilled by the news they released a statement.

It confirmed the family has less than one billion Euros in the bank, adding: "Every downward revision brings the estimate closer to the reality."

The royal family's finances have been at the centre of a political storm this year, as the country battles recession.

Politicians blasted the amount of public cash the monarch receives - a personal income of 834,000 Euros annually.

The government also questioned why the annual royal hunt was subsidised by the government, and why public money is used to maintain the family's luxury yacht.

They also called for Crown Prince Willem-Alexander to abandon plans for a holiday home in Mozambique.

In addition, the queen's younger sister Princess Christina - who is not in line for the country's throne - was attacked for registering to trusts in Guernsey to protect her finances.