Queen Elizabeth Orders The Royal Family To Avoid Flaunting Their Wealth

Britain's Queen Elizabeth has ordered the royal family to avoid flaunting their wealth in public during the current global financial crisis.

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The monarch - renowned for her thrifty ways - has reportedly told senior royals, including Prince Charles and his sons Prince William and Harry to swap extravagant spending for public engagements, with the younger royals advised that to be seen in nightclubs would set a bad example.

Britain's Daily Telegraph columnist Mary Riddell explained: "The changes will be largely presentational. It has been decided that the princes should stick to military careers rather than glossy, fund-raising events. 'This is not the right time for ribbon-cutting,' I am told."

The queen's diary has reportedly been altered so she can meet more people involved in caring professions and those hit hardest by the economic downturn.

A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said: "The queen, as head of state and head of the nation, and members of the royal family are sensitive to, and aware of, the mood of the nation and always try to reflect that in the work that they do."

"There has seen a long tradition of the royal family supporting charities and sectors of society that may not receive as much attention as others."

Last week, she hosted a reception at Buckingham Palace for 300 doctors, nurses, paramedics and volunteers working in the health service and Thursday will visit a new home for the disabled in Oxford.

William and Harry have been given permission by their military commanding officers to undertake more official engagements, with Harry lined up to present awards to "children of courage" next month.

Peter Hennessey, professor of modern history at Queen Mary, University of London, said: "The queen has this great gift for adapting without going for fads or fashions. But she does not need telling what is required to do. She just does it."