The latest Channel 4 Dispatches inquiry asserts that while the monarch and heir to the throne’s respective private estatesare not funded by the taxpayer, each receives ‘extensive’ amounts of money from public services (Picture: Channel 4 Dispatches/Sunday Times)
King Charles and Prince William are secretly raking in millions of pounds from cash-strapped government departments, schools, the armed forces and even the NHS, a new investigation claims.
The latest Channel 4 Dispatches inquiry asserts that while the monarch and heir to the throne’s respective private estates – the Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall, which generate £50 million a year – are not funded by the taxpayer, each receives ‘extensive’ amounts of money from public services.
Documents made public for the first time allegedly show how the Duchy of Lancaster is 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.
It also claims the Duchy of Cornwall has signed a £37 million deal to lease the currently inactive Dartmoor Prison to the Ministry of Justice, charged the navy more than £1 million to build and use jetties and moor warships, and stands to earn nearly £600,000 from rental agreements with state schools over the lifetime of six different leases.
The Duchy of Lancaster is a portfolio of land, property and assets across England and Wales held in trust for the Sovereign, including key urban developments, historic buildings, high-quality farm land and areas of great natural beauty, dating back to the 14th century.
The Duchy of Cornwall is a similar portfolio valued at more than £1 billion which provides an income for the heir to the throne.
Both estates are exempt from paying Corporation Tax or Capital Gains Tax.
Author and royal land expert Guy Shrubsole tells the documentary: ‘[It] strikes me as very odd, that ultimately, we, the taxpayer, are paying for the NHS to have a lease or a warehouse or whatever from the Duchy of Lancaster.
‘I think this asks quite searching questions about quite how they are making their profits. Why are there not peppercorn rents or social rents being charged for the NHS, for example?’
The King, The Prince & Their Secret Millions: Dispatches airs tonight at 8.10pm on Channel 4.
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King and Prince of Wales ‘take money from charities they champion’
The investigation accuses the King and his heir of making money from the good causes they promote.
It alleges the Duchy of Cornwall has pocketed at least £22 million since 2005 from a share of the rents paid on Camelford House, which sits on the banks of the Thames.
The building is nicknamed ‘charity towers’ due to the number it houses.
But two cancer charities boasting the King as a long-term patron – Marie Curie and Macmillan – have both recently downsized, with the latter saying it wanted to free up funds.
Documents oallegedly reveal how hard-up government departments, schools and even …read more
Source:: Metro
