UK documentary exposes royal income from leasing duchy estates to public bodies

By Behlul Cetinkaya

LONDON (AA) - A documentary released on Saturday in the UK has revealed that King Charles and Prince William earn millions of pounds by leasing royal estates to public institutions.

The documentary -- The King, the Prince, and Their Secret Millions -- jointly produced by Channel 4 and the Sunday Times, examines the income generated by the Duchy of Cornwall and the Duchy of Lancaster, which are personal properties of the king and the Prince of Wales.

According to the documentary, the two duchies, which are exempt from certain taxes, not only meet the needs of the royal family but also fund charitable work.

Over 5,400 properties within these duchies are rented out to various institutions in need, including the National Health Service (NHS), for a fee.

Among these tenants is Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital in London, which, according to the documentary, paid £11.4 million ($14.7 million) to rent a warehouse owned by the Duchy of Lancaster for 15 years to store its electric ambulances.

The Duchy of Lancaster, owned by the king, also generates at least £28 million ($36.1 million) in income from energy cables running through its lands and along its shores.

The Duchy of Cornwall, held by the Prince of Wales, signed a £37 million ($47.8 million) agreement with the Ministry of Justice to lease Dartmoor Prison for 25 years.

Camelford House in London, also owned by the Duchy of Cornwall, is leased to charities such as Marie Curie and Macmillan, which support cancer patients and contribute to cancer research.

The Duchy of Cornwall billed the Royal Navy £1 million ($1.2 million) for docking its ships and earned £1.2 million ($1.5 million) from renting out a fire station and six public schools.

In response to the documentary, the two duchies stated that the King and Prince of Wales voluntarily pay certain taxes and make efforts to comply with property laws, including undertaking renovations on residential properties.

* Writing by Gizem Nisa Cebi in Istanbul