Queen cancels staff Christmas party for austerity

Queen Elizabeth II has called off this year's Christmas party at Buckingham Palace to show restraint as Britain braces for a wave of austerity cutbacks.
The biennial December party for around 600 royal staff, paid for out of the queen's private money, costs around 50,000 pounds (80,000 dollars, 57,000 euros), The Sun newspaper said.
"Given the current economic climate, it was thought that it was appropriate for the household to show restraint," a palace spokesman told AFP on Thursday.
"The Queen is acutely aware of the difficult economic circumstances facing the country."