No Money from Paola

19 February 2007

BRUSSELS — Last year, 1,576 Belgians sent a letter to King Albert or Queen Paola asking for financial assistance. 242 of them got a cheque amounting to approximately
200 euros from the Queen’s aid fund “Hulpfonds van de Koningin”, Het Nieuwsblad writes.

According to the spokesperson at the Royal Palace, the allocated sum was made this small on purpose, as it should only be used for purchasing food or medicines by those citizens who have no other source of help due to temporary circumstances.

Subject: Belgian news