Zulu queens spent R533 000 just on clothing between June and October last year, the Mercury newspaper reported on Friday.
This came as nearly R10-million was needed to avoid the collapse of some of the royal palaces.
The spending spree emerged as the royal household appeared before the finance portfolio committee in the KwaZulu-Natal legislature on Thursday.
Acting department head Vusi Shongwe told the committee that a visit by engineers from the public works department had revealed a need for a multimillion-rand intervention at some palaces.
”According to their finding, R8,5-million is needed immediately and a further R23-million is needed for upgrades,” said Shongwe.
The visit by the engineers followed an invitation by the king to the standing committee on public accounts during the opening of the legislature when he decried the state of some palaces.
The committee criticised the runaway expenditure incurred by the royal household department, with some members pointing to the large entourage that accompanied the monarch to his engagements.
Shongwe, however, said the king had done much to reduce his entourage from hundreds to just under 50. — Sapa