Queen leading UK in battle against financial crisis

London, November 28 : Queen Elizabeth II is apparently frustrated about Britain's economic woes, for she has vowed to eschew all public displays of extravagance, and urged other members of the Royal Family to follow suit.

Her own market investments are said to have plunged by an incredible 37million pounds.

Her Majesty reportedly reduced the expenditure on her State visit to Slovenia and Slovakia last month by making clothes out of recycled material.

For a banquet in the Slovenian capital of Ljubljana, the monarch carried the same grey brocade that she had been given while on a Middle Eastern tour over two decades ago, instead of buying a new gown.

Royal experts are not surprised by the Queen's move because they feel that she has always shown interest in avoiding unnecessary expenditure.

They even refer to apocryphal stories telling of her busying around Buckingham Palace turning off lights as well as conscientiously saving old string.

"It is absolutely true. In that respect she was way ahead of her time. She's got handbags that she's had for 30 and 40 years and which she continues to use," the Daily Express quoted Phil Dampier, co-author of What's In The Queen's Handbag And Other Royal Secrets, as saying. "Very often when she's at home she'll be happy to have leftovers. She's careful with money and always watches the pennies. And she doesn't indulge in new cars every year - they're maintained so well that they last years longer than you'd expect," he added.

The Queen is even said to have decided not to spend more than 50 pounds a time on festive gifts for the family this Christmas, and ordered staff to save the wrapping paper so that it can be reused.

ANI