Wow, a lot of nastiness in the comments here. If you look past the high profile nature of her position, at the end of the day it's her job to be the Queen. With that in mind, why should she be expected to pay out of her own pocket to do her job, just because she has significant personal wealth?

If you won lotto, chose to keep working and your employer just froze your remuneration package because you had plenty of extra cash, then expected you to start personally funding your essential tools for work, how would you feel?

I think all commonwealth countries should contribute to the Queen/crown. The crown is the basis of our economy/society/judiciary and is the adhesive for commonwealth countries over the globe. Fact is we would neither be advanced nor free without the crown influence on the world over the centuries that bring our existence to this point.

Aahh - all you royalists with your noble comments and opinion. Quite upstanding. There are, however, numerous other counties that have successfully run their affairs for many many years without the need for royalty - and associated price tag. One wonders what outcry there would be if "the cap was on the NZ head".

It's always disappointing to be reminded that so many people in New Zealand have such a lack of respect for the monarchy. Even if the Queen and her family did nothing of real use (which is far from the truth) they are an extremely important part of our history: whose empire were we a part of until very recently again? It was only about 23 years ago, most of you should remember.

It's not like the Queen spends all this money on dresses and caviar, it's for the whole family and it's duties, which you'll find include a wide range of civil responsibilities and humanitarian projects.

It doesnt matter who she is at the end of the day if you given a job to do that costs $100 and you only get $50 back you going to be in debt no?

She has done a great deal for the country over the last 50 odd years and as for her money its not really her money is it?

As for the like of Fergie and Prince Edward etc.. Yep they are a waste of skin so cut them off the list and give the rest to the Queen who does a great job.

And John McKay your comment about dress sense? You gotta be kinding??

maybe she should cut a deal like Fergie, and allow access to some journo for a coupla million.... ? ; )

ah folks, considering that the royal palaces are owned by the UK state, and not the UK monarchy (with the exception of her two private residences Balmoral and Sandringham), and that HM only looks after them in trust for the nation, I think upping her allowance to assist with repairs is not unreasonable. And considering they are the closest thing humanity has got to acceptable caged humans, for people to gawk at and criticise, you should all be happy you are getting yet more news fodder to satiate your lower- and middle- class envy and self-righteousness.

@#17 Lynne Wilson, The Queen trained in the Womans Auxiliary Territorial Service as a Mechanic & Military truck driver & rose to Junior Commander..so no skills what so ever? Probably can do more than you will ever achieve

Well, I just don't know how she manages? Personally, I'm struggling to make ends meet on my 10 million dollars a year. Mind you, the ETS will be a huge windfall, seeing as I own 150,000 acres of trees. :-)

If there is ever any articles in Stuff about those on benefits getting more than their "fair share" or getting extra entitlements there are howls of indignation in the comments section.

The biggest Dole Bludger in the Commonwealth asks for a few million more to do what ever she does and we get people lecturing us on remembering all the good she did in the war.