MPs to visit royal homes in hunt for cost savings

A committee of MPs is to visit Kensington Palace today to check if the taxpayer is getting value for money from the building, where several members of the Royal Family have grace and favour apartments.

Among the "fringe" royals who live at the palace are Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and Princess Alice.

Each is understood to pay only a peppercorn rent for the luxurious accommodation in the heart of one of London's most exclusive and expensive residential areas. Rooms in the palace are also used by the royals' servants and officials.

Members of the Commons Public Accounts Committee will be briefed by the Keeper of the Privy Purse, Sir Michael Peat, on the operation of the palace.

Their visit follows a report in March last year in which the committee suggested the Royal Household reduce the burden on the taxpayer by letting out some properties at commercial rates.

The committee will decide after the visit whether to publish a new report.

Kensington Palace has come under renewed scrutiny since the death in February of Princess Margaret.

* A fire at Buckingham Palace on the Sunday of the Queen's golden jubilee weekend celebrations was caused by an electric heater brought in to tackle dry rot, investigators said yesterday.