ALWAYS CONCERNED for the welfare of her staff, the Queen has intervened to prevent the Royal Parks being broken up.
At least two London councils had sought to win control of green spaces within their boroughs after plans were announced earlier this year to transfer control of the Royal Parks agency from the Government to the Greater London Authority (GLA).
However, Mandrake can disclose that council leaders were informed by Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, last week that the plans had been shelved.
When I approach Brian Coleman, a leading Conservative member of the GLA, he confirms that the monarch's intervention was decisive. "I can sympathise with the Queen," he says. "Perhaps we should take Her Majesty's advice on local issues more often, as it seems eminently sensible.
The Queen has helped to ensure that the Royal Parks, which includes Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, will not be broken up.
Johnson had announced plans to take responsibility for the parks last month in response to the Lib Dem/Conservative Coalition's decision to dismantle the Government Office for London. The mayor's proposals were immediately backed by Eric Pickles, the Communities Secretary.
Mandrake understands that the Queen had no objection to control of the agency, which manages eight royal parks and other areas of garden and parkland, being transferred from the Government to the GLA.
Management of the Royal Parks, which includes Hyde Park and St James's Park, was transferred from the monarch to the government in 1851.
Many members of the Royal family live in Kensington Palace, which overlooks Kensington Gardens, while Princess Alexandra. the Queen's cousin, resides at Thatched House Lodge, in Richmond Park.
