Buckingham Palace boiler cash bid 'contemptible'

Buckingham Palace officials tried to apply for grants, aimed at helping low-income families, to heat royal palaces.

Aides sought cash from the Community Energy Programme to replace boilers after bills rose to more than 1 million in 2004. A spokesman for anti-monarchy group Republic said: "This is clear evidence of the contempt the Palace has for ordinary people in this country."