Ministers refused royal request, saying handouts were aimed at schools, hospitals and housing associations to help low-income families
'probable adverse press coverage'. Photograph: Alex Segre / Rex Features
The Queen requested a poverty grant to help heat her palaces, but was refused because government ministers feared it would cause a public relations backlash, it was reported today.
In an effort to cut the royal household's soaring electricity and gas bills, a senior aide wrote to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in 2004 to ask if the Queen would be eligible for a handout from a £60m energy-saving fund.
The cost of utilities doubled in 2004 and the aide said the £1m bill for the royal palaces was "untenable". He also complained that the £15m government grant to maintain the Queen's palaces was inadequate.
However, the request for a grant to replace four combined heat and power units at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle was turned down in August 2004, according to documents obtained by the Independent under the Freedom of Information Act.