Pay dispute with royal staffers blows up over some very expensive cakes

Some of Queen Elizabeth's staff have gone on strike over a pension dispute.

Staff who work at the Tower of London and Hampton Court for Historic Royal Palaces (HRP) have gathered together, holding placards and picketing outside the locations after their pensions were stopped.

They say their pensions were ceased without an agreement being made.

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Michael Ainsley, regional organiser of the industrial action from the union GMB, said their existing pension program was stopped and replaced with a policy they say is "inferior".

He tells Express, "Our members are disappointed to have not reached any agreement with HRP, but their offer was simply not good enough."

He says members’ "disappointment turned to fury" when they were made aware HRP had commissioned several elaborate and very expensive cakes from a company called Choccywoccydoodah, for a new campaign launch at the same time the pension dispute was being negotiated.

"The crass insensitivity shown by HRP is squandering money in this way while telling employees that their pensions are unsustainable is incredible," he continues.

He says workers were offered an agreement by the Tower of London and Hampton Court Palace, but decided not to accept it and voted for strike action instead.

Pensions were then stopped and changed to the new policy, he claims.

The strike has lasted one day.