BRITAIN'S EXPENSIVE HABIT

Queen Elizabeth cost British taxpayers $67.3 million last year. That includes salaries for 310 royal staff members, catering and royal visits. One of these visits was a trip by staff to plan Prince Charles's and Camilla's tour of the United States last fall, which cost $79,000, slightly more than my vacation. They also racked up a $509,000 bill for an eight day trip to New York, Washington, New Orleans and San Francisco.

You could buy a lot of fish and chips for $67 million. You could even buy a few more soccer players.

Still, I'm sure it's worth it. What else would the tabloids write about in London if not for the affairs and mysterious deaths of the Windors.