You won't believe how much King Charles and Prince William's estate profits from cash-strapped charities and public services

An investigation by Channel 4’s Dispatches and the Sunday Times has revealed that King Charles and Prince William’s private estates are receiving significant funds from cash-strapped charities and public services. The estates, known as the Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall, reportedly earn millions from leasing land and buildings.

The investigation found that the royals’ estates have amassed at least £50 million from leasing land to public services including the NHS, state schools, and prisons. One notable contract involves the Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS hospital trust in London, which will pay £11.4 million over 15 years to use a warehouse owned by the Duchy of Lancaster for its electric ambulance fleet.

King Charles is also expected to generate an estimated £28 million from windfarms, as the Duchy of Lancaster charges fees for cables crossing the foreshore. In addition, Prince William’s Duchy of Cornwall has agreed to lease Dartmoor prison to the Ministry of Justice for £37 million over 25 years. Despite this, the Ministry must handle all repairs for the currently unoccupied facility.


The report also highlights the financial burdens on charities. Camelford House, a 1960s tower block owned by the Duchy of Cornwall, has earned at least £22 million in rent since 2005. Two cancer charities, Marie Curie and Macmillan, have recently moved out due to high rental costs.

There are further charges levied by the royal estates. The Duchy of Cornwall charged the Royal Navy over £1 million for the construction and use of jetties, and imposed fees on the army for training on Dartmoor. Additionally, the duchy earned over £600,000 from building a fire station and nearly £600,000 from rental agreements with six state schools.

Amid the royals’ advocacy for environmental issues, many properties leased by the estates fail to meet government energy efficiency standards. The investigation found that 14% of the Duchy of Cornwall’s homes and 13% of the Duchy of Lancaster’s homes have low energy performance ratings of F or G, below the E rating required by law.

Responding to the findings, the Duchy of Lancaster stated, “Over 87% of all duchy-let properties are rated E or above. The remainder are either awaiting scheduled improvement works or are exempted under UK legislation.”

The investigation has led to calls for a parliamentary inquiry and the merging of the two duchies into the crown estate, which transfers profits to the government. Critics argue that the duchies benefit from being exempt from corporation tax and capital gains tax.

Baroness Margaret Hodge, a former chair of the Commons public accounts committee, said that the duchies should at least pay corporation tax, stating, “This would be a brilliant time for the monarch to say, I’m going to be open, and I want to be treated as fairly as anybody.”

Both duchies maintain that they are commercial entities complying with statutory disclosure requirements and emphasize their ongoing efforts to increase sustainability.