Royal estates received millions from 'public bodies and charities'

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A new documentary has claimed that the royal family has received millions of pounds in rent from the NHS, schools and the armed forces.

ROYAL ESTATES RECEIVE MILLIONS FROM ‘PUBLIC BODIES AND CHARITIES’

The private estate of King Charles and Prince William reportedly hold contracts with public bodies and charities, according to an investigation by Channel 4’s Dispatches and The Sunday Times.

Dame Margaret Hodge told the BBC that the findings have raised “serious question marks” and called for a “full and transparent review” of both duchies.

It “complies with all relevant UK legislation and regulatory standards applicable to its range of business activities,” said a spokesperson for the Duchy of Lancaster, the private estate of King Charles.

Deals made by the Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall have reportedly raised around £50 million (R1.1 billion) in the past year.

PRIVATE STATUS OF ESTATES

The Duchy of Lancaster and Duchy of Cornwall emphasised their private status in statements shared with People.

“The Duchy of Lancaster manages a broad range of land and property assets. It is self-financing and does not receive any public funds in connection with its activities,” said a spokesperson from the Duchy of Lancaster to People.

“It publishes an Annual Report and Accounts that is independently audited and available to view on its website and complies with all relevant U.K. legislation and regulatory standards applicable to its range of business activities,” the spokesperson continued.

The Duchy of Cornwall spokesperson shared a similar statement.

“The Duchy of Cornwall is a private estate with a commercial imperative which we achieve alongside our commitment to restoring the natural environment and generating positive social impact for our communities,” said the spokesperson to the publication.

“Prince William became Duke of Cornwall in September 2022 and since then has committed to an expansive transformation of the Duchy. This includes a significant investment to make the estate net zero by the end of 2032, as well as establishing targeted mental health support for our tenants and working with local partners to help tackle homelessness in Cornwall,” the spokesperson continued.