According to a new investigation, King Charles and Prince William are secretly receiving millions of pounds from cash-strapped government departments, schools, the armed forces, and even the NHS.
The monarch and heir to the throne’s respective private estates, the Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall, which generate £50 million annually, are not funded by taxpayers, according to the most recent Channel 4 Dispatches inquiry, but each receives “extensive” amounts of money from public services.
The Duchy of Lancaster is allegedly banking £11.4 million as part of a deal with Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust to house its new fleet of electric ambulances, according to newly released documents.
It also asserts that the Duchy of Cornwall has agreed to lease the inactive Dartmoor Prison to the Ministry of Justice for £37 million, that the navy has been given more than £1 million to build and use jetties and moor warships, and that rental agreements with state schools will bring in nearly £600,000 over the course of six leases.
The portfolio of land, property, and assets known as the Duchy of Lancaster spans England and Wales and is held in trust for the Sovereign. This portfolio includes important urban developments, historic buildings, high-quality farmland, and areas of outstanding natural beauty that date back to the 14th century.
The Duchy of Cornwall is a similar portfolio that pays the heir to the throne an income and is worth more than £1 billion.
Corporation Tax and Capital Gains Tax are not due on either estate.
Guy Shrubsole, a royal land expert and author, tells the documentary: It seems very odd to me that the NHS ultimately receives a lease from the Duchy of Lancaster or a warehouse or something else.
“I believe this raises some very probing questions regarding exactly how they are generating profits. For the NHS, for instance, why aren’t peppercorn rents or social rents being charged?’
The Secret Millions of the King, Prince, and Both: Tonight at 8.10 p.m. on Channel 4, Dispatches airs.
The investigation alleges that the King and Prince of Wales “take money from charities they champion.” The King and his heir are accused of making money from the causes they support.
It charges the Duchy of Cornwall has taken no less than £22 million beginning around 2005 from a portion of the rents paid on Camelford House, which sits on the banks of the Thames.
Because it houses so many charities, the building is known as the “charity towers.”
However, Marie Curie and Macmillan, two cancer charities that the King has supported for a long time, have recently reduced their operations, with Macmillan stating that it wanted to free up funds.
Last year, Charles became patron of St. John’s Ambulance, which, according to the doctor, had previously paid the Duchy of Cornwall nearly £60,000 for the use of its land.
William and Kate are also supporters of the RNLI, and the King is also a patron. However, the Duchy of Cornwall still charges the RNLI small fees to use slipways in various parts of the South West.
The program was informed by Baroness Margaret Hodge, a former Labour MP and chair of the public accounts committee: When it comes to the court of public opinion, you must always be cleaner than you appear.
‘And it just doesn’t feel quite right if there is a question mark over a charity that has royal patronage and therefore gains additional income, and that income is then used to pay rent back to the royals,’
“Hypocrites” of the royal environment Both the King and Prince William have emphasized our obligation to preserve the environment.
Charles once stated, Except if we quickly fix and reestablish nature’s extraordinary economy in light of congruity and equilibrium, which is our definitive sustainer, our own economy and survivability will be risked.’
William has also added: Our generation has clear objectives: preserve and restore nature, purify our air, revive our oceans, create a waste-free planet, and fix our climate.
However, Dispatches claims to have discovered investments made by their estates that pose a threat to the same natural world that they insist we urgently need to protect.
The Duchies own a collective tens of thousands of mineral rights and have profited from them by negotiating deals with controversial mining companies for locations across the nation.
The Duchy of Cornwall leases land in Hingston Down, a stunning natural area, to one of Europe’s largest polluters.
Working with the Mirror newspaper, the program discovered that scores of properties rented by both Duchies failed to meet minimum energy efficiency requirements for landlords, leaving some tenants shivering in homes plagued by black mold and struggling with fuel poverty. Royals’ tenants were “left shivering in cold and moldy homes.”
It found that 14% of homes leased by the Duchy of Cornwall and 13% by the Duchy of Lancaster have an energy performance rating of F or G. Since 2020, it is illegal for landlords to rent out properties that are rated below an E under the regulations governing Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards.
There are a lot of failing properties that release a lot of carbon, which hurts the environment again.
A tenant stated, In the winter, it gets incredibly cold. In my house, I can only heat two rooms. The Duchy lacks comprehension.’
Another was added: Although it is difficult and the house is cold, there is nowhere else for one to live. They shouldn’t be landlords. The curtains begin to sway when the wind blows. Upstairs, there is no heating at all.’
According to Mr. Shrubsole, “Time for change”: I believe that the light you shed on what’s going on in the Duchies of Cornwall or Lancaster is crucial to getting more people talking about things.
The Duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster ought to be abolished and merged into the Crown Estate, in my opinion. They must contribute their profits to the Treasury. The taxpayers then receive a portion of that back.
“It has nothing to do with whether or not you believe there should be a monarch. It just comes down to good management.’
Baroness Hodge stated: The monarch could use this opportunity to declare, “I’m going to be open, and I want to be treated as fairly as anyone.”
“It is public money, taxpayer money, your money, mine, and the viewers’ money,” the statement reads.
According to the accounts that were released by the estate in July, Charles’s annual income from the Duchy of Lancaster increased by 5% to £27.4 million in the years 2023 and 2024.
According to the accounts, William received more than £23.6 million in private income from the Duchy of Cornwall each year.
The Sovereign Grant, which is funded by taxpayers and pays for the monarch’s official duties, is distinct from the income from both duchies.
Although neither the King of England nor the Prince of Wales is required by law to pay income tax, they have both offered to do so.
A representative for the Duchy of Lancaster stated, The Duchy of Lancaster is a business that manages a wide range of property and land assets in England and Wales.
“It complies with all applicable UK legislation and regulatory standards for its range of business activities.”
The Duchy of Lancaster’s administration is in the hands of the Chancellor, who reports to the Sovereign. However, he or she delegated some tasks to the Duchy Council, particularly those related to asset management.
‘The Council and executive team are in charge of the day-to-day management of the portfolio, despite the fact that His Majesty the King takes a close interest in the Duchy’s work.
‘In recent years, The Duchy has made a number of significant environmental improvements, resulting in a significant increase in the number of A+, A, and B EPC ratings given to our properties as a result of renovation or restoration.
Over 87 percent of all Duchy let properties are currently rated E or higher. The remaining individuals are either exempt from UK law or awaiting scheduled improvements.
The Duchy’s annual Report and Accounts, which have been independently audited and are freely accessible on the Duchy of Lancaster website, detail the Duchy’s financial and environmental performance.
“His Majesty the King, like the late Queen Elizabeth II, voluntarily pays tax on all income received from the Duchy.”
A spokesperson for the Duchy of Cornwall said: The Duchy of Cornwall is a private estate with a commercial need. We accomplish this while also working to restore the natural environment and make a positive social impact in our communities.
‘Prince William took over as Duke of Cornwall in September 2022, and ever since then, he has pledged to make the Duchy a vastly improved place.
“This includes establishing targeted mental health support for our tenants and working with local partners to help tackle homelessness in Cornwall,” and “this includes a significant investment to make the estate net zero by the end of 2032.”
The spokesperson continued, In response to the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy, the Duchy is working with the vital minerals industry in Cornwall.
“We have granted a number of exploration licenses for three years, and all licensees are required to ensure that their activities are in strict compliance with statutory requirements and meet high environmental standards.”