Prince Charles hires staff as Queen cuts back

Prince Charles seems to be on a hiring spree even as the Queen cuts back.

London: Prince Charles seems to be on a hiring spree even as the British Queen is forced to cut back on staff and official duties in the wake of the recession.

According to the `Daily Express`, the Prince of Wales has weathered the recession so well he is hiring extra housekeepers, valets and gardeners, bumping staff numbers up to 125 compared to 94 five years ago. The king-in-waiting`s personal household, which includes butlers and servants, has risen from 36 to 54. The average salary at Clarence House is 49,835 pounds – compared to just 33,221 pounds at Buckingham Palace. The Duchy of Cornwall was created in 1337 to provide an income for the Prince of Wales. Surplus estate revenues, which are passed to Charles, have risen from 7.4 million pounds to 16.5 million pounds since 2000, the report said. On the other hand, the Civil List for the Queen will remain frozen at 7.9 million pounds for yet another year. It has not risen for 20 years. The duchy has property and investments worth a 605 million pounds. Charles pays 40 per cent tax on his income but money spent on official duties is tax deductible. Spending on his official duties and charitable projects rose from 6.1 million pounds in 2005 to 9.4 million pounds last year. PTI