From correspondents in London, England, 10:00 PM IST

After more than 50 years on the British throne, Queen Elizabeth II is to buy her first private jet for seven million pounds ($13 million), The Sun newspaper reported Saturday.

The queen is expected, around Christmas, personally to choose the interior design of the jet, which will seat 13 people and be for the exclusive use of the royal family.

The royals normally fly in aircraft with high-ranking politicians and military officials, and often they have to hire planes at the last minute at huge cost to the British taxpayer.

In 2007, 5.5 million pounds was spent on official travel for the royal family, most of it on chartering aircraft, the newspaper reported.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)