The annual budget of Spain's King Juan Carlos, 71, and his family will be frozen in 2010 owing to the country's economic downturn, according to an austere draft state budget tabled by Economy Minister Elena Salgado on Tuesday. The royal family will have 8.9 million euros (13 million dollars) for its expenses in 2010, the same as this year. The royal budget was frozen for the first time, media reported.
The royal palace itself had requested the measure. The king and Queen Sofia also indicated their willingness to cut expenses by shortening their summer holidays on Majorca Island. The salaries of Prime Minister Jose Luis RodriguezZapatero, his ministers and secretaries of state will also be frozen for the second consecutive year.