New insights into the financial dealings of the royal family have come to light through a recent documentary. This investigation, conducted by Channel 4’s Dispatches alongside the Sunday Times, reveals that King Charles and Prince William’s private estates have garnered substantial income from agreements with public institutions and charitable organizations.

In the past year, income generated from contracts associated with the Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall has reportedly approached £50 million. A representative for the Duchy of Lancaster, which belongs to King Charles, affirmed that it adheres to all pertinent UK laws and regulatory requirements in its business operations. Established in 1399, the Duchy of Lancaster and Prince William’s Duchy of Cornwall, founded in 1337, possess extensive land holdings and commercial properties throughout England and Wales.

Among their public contracts is a significant £37 million deal between the Duchy of Cornwall and the Ministry of Justice for leasing Dartmoor Prison, along with an £11.4 million agreement for renting a London warehouse over a period of 15 years between Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust and the Duchy of Lancaster. The documentary titled Dispatches: The King, The Prince and Their Secret Millions highlights that Parliament has not been informed about these rental agreements.

Concerns have been raised regarding the environmental implications of some contracts tied to these estates, particularly those involving mining activities. It is important to note that these private estates operate independently from the Crown Estate, which functions as a private business owned by the reigning monarch during their time on the throne.

The Royal Family is funded by the Sovereign Grant, derived from a percentage of profits generated by the Crown Estate, which is intended to cover operational costs. This grant is set to increase to £132 million next year following a rise in Crown Estate profits to £1.1 billion.

A spokesperson for the Duchy of Cornwall emphasized its commitment to balancing commercial interests with environmental restoration and positive community impacts. Regarding mining activities, they stated that the duchy operates responsibly within sustainable parameters aligned with government industrial strategies.

The Duchy of Lancaster representative noted that it functions as a commercial entity managing diverse land and property assets across England and Wales. They mentioned that certain responsibilities related to asset management are delegated to the Duchy Council, while day-to-day operations are handled by an executive team under close oversight from King Charles.

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