Capital Economy, Business and Finance
The King and Prince William have made millions leasing royal land to public services, according to a Sunday Times investigation.
Under arrangements that stem from the 14th century, the two royals earn income from the renting of land owned by their respective private estates – the Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall.
Analysis of 5,410 landholdings reveals the duchies have received £11 million from the NHS to rent a warehouse for ambulances; £37 million to lease Dartmoor prison to the Ministry of Justice; £22 million in rent from Thames Water over the past 19 years; £1 million from the Royal Navy since 2004 to build and use jetties; over £600,000 from six leases with state schools; and hundreds of thousands more for licence agreements with three mining projects, two of which are located in areas of natural beauty.
Spokespeople for the duchies said they were companies with commercial imperatives, and were committed to positive environmental and social impacts.
Last year the Duchy of Lancaster raised £27.4 million for the King and the Duchy of Cornwall raised £23.6 million for William.
