Queen Sofia of Spain sets cost-cutting example

Queen Sofia of Spain has given a lesson in cost-cutting during the recession by choosing to fly to London on the budget airline Ryanair for just 13 pounds.

The Spanish royal is believed to have flown with the low-cost airline to visit her brother Constantine, the former King of Greece, who is recovering from heart surgery at a London hospital.

The 70-year-old monarch boarded the plane in the northern Spanish city of Santander on Sunday evening and arrived at Stansted airport.

A source said that it was 'common practice' for Spain's royals to use scheduled flights.

"Whenever possible the royals use Spanish airlines but in this case Ryanair was the best option," the Daily Express quoted the source as saying.