LONDON -- The Queen is celebrating her 90th birthday later this year, with several days of celebrations culminating in a street party on June 12 on The Mall -- an event her grandson, Peter Phillips, says will have a "carnival atmosphere."
It all sounds very jolly, but there's a snag: There are only 1,000 tickets available via a public ballot (the other 9,000 guests will be from organisations associated with the Queen) and they will cost £150 ($215) each.
People were not best pleased with that price tag.
Queen's 90th tickets @ £150!! If you wanted to see her that badly buy a stamp! https://t.co/2dAuknAI1s— Lisa (@aquitaine1972) January 15, 2016
£150 for Queen's 90th b'day party ticket - keep riff-raff away... but hang on, don't we all pay her upkeep? https://t.co/fRsV07xaoz— The Radical Nib (@The_Radical_Nib) January 15, 2016
So, ticket prices for the Queen's 90th are £150. Not like we're in an age of austerity or anything- Oh wait. #PrivilegedParty— Steve ★~☭ (@YorksSocialist) January 15, 2016
£150 a ticket for Queen's 90th birthday celebration on the Mall? Forget it! Should be free. Time to call time on the monarchy.— Classical Martin (@TallMartinH) January 15, 2016
Queen's 90th Birthday bash. £150 a ticket? There no early bird ticket prices?! ;)— Kristoff Tweets (@KristoffTweets) January 15, 2016
You could celebrate the Queen's 90th for £150, or, you could come celebrate mine for free the week before.— Dom Graham (@GuitaristDom) January 15, 2016
Some made comparisons between the cost and what else they could buy with the money.
"@BBCNews: Queen's 90th party tickets to cost £150 https://t.co/kD4Tcf1SWk" More expensive than a Wireless ticket — Jan23rdツ (@Mollielicious) January 15, 2016
Her Majesty has two birthdays every year -- her actual birthday on April 21 and her official birthday in June -- and the Patron's Lunch, as it's been named, isn't the only chance to celebrate the milestone.
Between May 12 and 15, some 25,000 people will be attending a four-day event at Windsor Castle, which promises to feature 550 horses and 1,200 performers including dancers, actors, musicians and artists. That event is a mere £55 ($79) in comparison. It's sold out, but ITV will broadcast it.
The party on The Mall will feature a carnival parade before the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh arrive on the stage to hear speeches marking the occasion. Hampers of food will be set out on tables up the street.
A service of thanksgiving will also be held that weekend at St Paul's Cathedral, and a Trooping the Colour ceremony will take place at Horse Guards Parade.
A spokeswoman for the Patron's Lunch insisted that the ticket price offered "genuine value," the BBC reports. She added that financial support from the event's partners didn't cover costs fully. Any surplus money from the event will go towards a Patron's Fund, which will support projects runs by the Queen's charities.