英国女王已经批准在2012年伦敦奥运会期间将圣詹姆斯王宫出租，每天的租金为3万英镑（约合30.5万元人民币）。英女王此举打破了500年的王室传统。在伦敦奥运会期间，商业公司可以租用圣詹姆斯王宫内的皇座室、壁画室以及安妮女王室举办派对聚会等活动，可以就近观看沙滩排球、马拉松以及游泳等项目的比赛，同时还能享受专属的王宫游览服务。一名消息人士称，官员们已经开始与那些可能对租用皇宫感兴趣的公司或慈善机构联系。另外，位于肯特郡的利兹城堡方面也于最近招募经纪，拟在奥运期间对外出租，城堡内房间每晚的费用最低为6.25万英镑，可享受高尔夫、游船夜游等全套服务。

A Royal palace is to be let out to companies for up to £30,000 a day during next year’s Olympic Games.

A Royal palace is to be let out to companies for up to £30,000 a day during next year’s Olympic Games.

In a break with nearly 500 years of Royal protocol, St James’s Palace has thrown open the doors to some of its most lavish state apartments for private firms to rent during the London Games.

The Queen has personally approved the plans to allow businesses to take their pick of the Palace’s Throne Room, its Tapestry Room and the Queen Anne Room for glamorous parties.

And wealthy pleasure-seekers can take advantage of another stately offer elsewhere - with Leeds Castle available to hire for the Olympics at £1million.

Guests at St James's will enjoy an exclusive tour of the Palace as part of the exclusive celebrations.

They will also be close to several key Olympic events, including the Beach Volleyball in Horse Guards Parade, and the marathon, which will start and finish in the Mall.

Nearby Hyde Park will be the venue for some swimming events.

One source said: ‘The Palace is exploiting its historical heritage and its prime location. Officials have already begun contacting firms and charities who they think might be interested in using the Palace.

'They are targeting organisations who have an existing link with the Royal Household and that includes those who have Royal Warrants.'

All the dates are now reportedly sold out, after an overwhelming response from big businesses looking to throw a soiree to remember.

St James’s Palace, which is still the official residence of the Sovereign, is normally closed to the public.

Now, under the hire plan, firms will be able to invite guests to events in the Tapestry Room, which boasts an original Tudor fireplace and a selection of tapestries woven for Charles II, and the Throne Room, which contains a single throne for the reigning Monarch.

The third room on offer, the upholstered Queen Anne Room, is dominated by a portrait of George III.

Companies can entertain up to 500 guests for lunch, dinner or a drinks reception. It is understood catering will be carried out by Palace staff rather than by private firms.

The three rooms have each seen their fair share of history – the treaty which established the Council of Europe, for instance, was signed in the Queen Anne Room in 1949.

David Starkey, the historian and broadcaster, said opening the Palace to the corporate world was perhaps inevitable. ‘I have attended charity functions at the Palace and it is ideal for this sort of entertaining,’ he said.

‘We are in an age where everything is up for sale so we should not be surprised when the Monarchy jumps on the bandwagon.

‘In a real sense we reap what we sow. If we begrudge the Royal Family every penny piece, then what else are the Queen and the Royal household to do?

‘Buckingham Palace, for instance, is a highly decorated slum which needs tens of millions spent on it.’

But a senior member of the Royal Household attacked the plans as unseemly, The People reported today.

'St James's has the richest history of the royal palaces and it seems improper to hire it out to the highest bidder for corporate booze-ups,' they said.

'The general feeling among staff is that this is entirely inappropriate. The state apartments should be used for ceremonial occasions as normal to retain their prestige.'

A spokesman confirmed they would run for the duration of the Games but declined to give details of fees or the organisations that had booked.

‘I think everyone is very conscious that purse strings are tight at the moment and this is an innovative way of raising funds,’ he said.

‘All the monies raised will be able to supplement the Sovereign Grant and will be spent on the upkeep of Royal residences.’

Trustees at Leeds Castle in Kent last week hired estate agent Knight Frank to make 'discreet enquiries' about who could be interested in staying there during the Games, according to the Sunday Times.

The luxurious rooms are said to be available at a minimum of £62,500 a night, with an army of staff on hand to attend to guests; every need.

A butler will deliver cocktails at dusk and a chauffeur will ferry rich visitors around the 500-acre estate.

The castle - which is around two hours' drive from the Olympic Stadium - boasts a helipad, maze, golf course and 40 opulent bedrooms.

Its wealthy guests will be able to hold banquets for 100 people, or indulge in jousting, hot-air balloon rides and driving a nearby steam train, said the newspaper.

The castle was built in 1119 and remodelled by Henry VIII for Catherine of Aragon. It has been run by a charitable trust since 1974.

It was used for Middle East and Northern Ireland peace talks and was the setting for concerts by stars including Elton John and Luciano Pavarotti.

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(Agencies)

（中国日报网英语点津 Helen 编辑）