Back in June when the state broadcaster travelled to London, England, to cover the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, they went so far as to pay for a private box for a special concert.

The concert featured performances by Paul McCartney, Elton John and Kylie Minogue among others, and was staged in front of Buckingham Palace.

In an e-mail released under access to information, CBC producer Allie Elwell invited Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his director of communications, Andrew MacDougall, to come by the CBC's exclusive location.

"You should come and hang out with us. We have a private box," Elwell wrote.

The CBC did not deny that they had a private box, but in an access to information request on the cost of the box the state broadcaster refused to release the amount.

CBC officials claim that the cost of a swanky private box at a public event to celebrate the Queen is protected information because it touches on their creative, programming or journalistic endeavours.

Sources with knowledge of the event have pegged the cost of a private box for the concert at between $50,000 and $75,000.