It really wasn't the best time to ask for a raise, but what with inflation and spiraling servants' wages, the lady of the house went ahead with it anyway. Last week Queen Elizabeth II formally petitioned Parliament to boost the royal budget, which has stayed at $1,140,000 for nearly 20 years. Noting that she was "anxious to limit the burden that any new provision would impose on her people at this time," the Queen said that she would give up her own annual salary of $144,000 if Parliament would raise the allowance of her husband (currently $96,000) and other members of the royal family. Even if the Queen's request is not granted, the electricity is not likely to be turned off at Buckingham Palace. Elizabeth's private income from her Lancaster estates alone comes to some $720,000 yearly. British taxpayers already ante up about $4,744,800 for such items as the upkeep of various palaces, the royal seagoing yacht Britannia, two royal trains and five royal aircraft--plus the royal phone calls and postage stamps.

Actor Sean Connery made a name for himself--James Bond--in five rumbustious movies based on Ian Fleming novels. Feeling that this was too much of a good thing, he vowed nevermore to play the role. But last week Connery was once again on location, embattled in Bond as the 007 of Diamonds Are Forever. Connery is donating a big slice of his reputed $1.2 million salary to an educational fund he has helped set up. Also benefiting is Actress Jill St. John, Connery's leading lady and perhaps leading lady friend. They seem to be having a lot of fun together. But having a real romance? "Are you kidding?" said Miss St. John. "I wouldn't discuss it if I were."

There may soon be a folk-singing superstar named Robert Allen Zimmerman. Old Bob Dylan, 30 this week, says he is "thinking about" changing his name back to the one he grew up with. He became Dylan (out of his admiration for poet Dylan Thomas) about nine years ago, because "I had a lot to run away from. Now I've got a lot to return to." What he is returning to is his Jewishness. For a year or more, Dylan has been "getting into this ethnic Jewish thing," says his friend and annotator, A.J. Weberman. "He's reading all kinds of books on Judaism, books about the Jewish resistance like the Warsaw ghetto. He took a trip to Israel last year that no one was supposed to know about and even, it is rumored, gave a large donation to the Israeli government." Dylan denies giving money to Israel or to the fanatical Jewish Defense League, but he confesses great admiration for that "Never again" action group and its reckless leader Rabbi Meir Kahane. "He's a really sincere guy," says Bob. "He's really put it all together."

Australian-born Germaine Greer, sexy, literate liberationist (The Female Eunuch) and TV exponent of the movement's witty-gritty, was guest of honor at Washington's National Press Club, an organization she once would have shunned as a haven for male chauvinists. But now the club admits women, and Greer's appearance drew an audience that to M.C. Sam Fogg of United Press International sounded "just like a Schrafft's tearoom." Presented with a club tie, Germaine noted that "it will keep my hair out of my eyes during demonstrations." She swung into high Greer during the question period. When will women stop thinking of men as sex objects? "Men ought to be more conscious of their bodies as an object of delight, and women less so." Whom would she pick if the choice were between Norman Mailer and Teddy Kennedy? "If I had to breed with either, it might be just as well if the world came to a halt immediately."

It was busy, busy, busy at Triciaville last week. The Bride of the Year and her "Fast Eddie" Cox settled on an apartment for his last year at Harvard Law School--a $180-a-month, two-bedroom, third-floor walk-up in Cambridge, a few blocks from the school (the Secret Service will also have an apartment in the building). At the bustling White House Indian Treaty Room, security agents were fluoroscoping the wedding presents that were pouring in from all over. Then there were the parties to turn down. The only invitations accepted will be those of a few friends in New York and the Official Family (a shower by Mrs. Spiro Agnew, a reception by Secretary of State William Rogers). As a prospective bride, Tricia practically took over the June Ladies' Home Journal, modeling her trousseau on the cover and four pages inside, and making White House girl talk with Journal Reporter Lynda Bird Robb. Excerpts: Lynda: "Maybe I'll get Chuck to call Ed and tell him how Luci and I made it out of the White House [after the wedding]. Obviously, you don't go out any of those big gates." Tricia: "That would be the best wedding gift you could give us." Lynda: "Do you and Ed talk politics?" Tricia: "Sure. Don't you and Chuck?" Lynda: "Not very much. I never even asked my husband how he voted." Tricia: "I never asked Ed because I don't want to know."

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