London – Britain’s royal family is under growing pressure for greater transparency and reform of its private estates following allegations that they profit significantly from public bodies while benefiting from major tax exemptions. A recent investigation by Channel 4’s Dispatches and The Sunday Times claims that the estates of King Charles III and Prince William, known as the Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall, have generated substantial revenue from leases with publicly funded entities, including the NHS and government ministries, despite being exempt from UK corporation and capital gains taxes.
The probe alleges that these centuries-old estates, with extensive land and property portfolios across England and Wales, lack public disclosure regarding the extent of their assets and financial dealings. The findings have sparked calls for a parliamentary review and fueled demands from republicans to abolish the duchies.
Norman Baker, former Liberal Democrat MP and outspoken critic of the monarchy, argued that the public is being “taken for a ride,” contending, “These are Crown lands which belong to the public, and all that money should be going into the Crown Estate as a public asset.”
The royals maintain that revenues from the duchies support both public and private royal duties. Unlike the Crown Estate—whose profits are handed to the government in return for the Sovereign Grant funding royal expenses—the duchies have remained outside such agreements since 1760. This has allowed them to accrue substantial private wealth; in 2023 alone, their reported profits exceeded £50 million, elevating Charles’s net worth on The Sunday Times Rich List to £610 million.
The investigation highlights several lucrative lease agreements, including one where Charles’s estate is set to earn nearly £12 million over 15 years for housing a fleet of electric ambulances in a London hospital’s warehouse. Prince William’s estate will also reportedly receive £37.5 million over 25 years from the Ministry of Justice to lease Dartmoor Prison.
Republic’s Graham Smith claims the duchies are “doggedly pursuing profit,” while Brand Finance’s David Haigh counters that they are operating lawfully and comparable to other major family estates. Haigh argues, “Is it really unreasonable for them to expect market rate rents from government entities?”
The royal estates have denied any misconduct, emphasizing compliance with UK laws, though pressure for reform is mounting. Baker suggests that only consistent oversight can enforce change, warning, “The royals risk losing public support big time if they continue along this path.”
