Sat Nov 09 07:19:26 UTC 2024: ## Royal Estates Under Fire for Profiteering from Public Bodies
**London, November 9, 2024** – The British royal family is facing mounting pressure for greater transparency and reform of their private estates, following an investigation alleging they are profiting from public bodies while enjoying substantial tax exemptions.
A joint probe by Channel 4’s Dispatches program and The Sunday Times uncovered lucrative deals between the Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall – the estates of King Charles III and Prince William – and the National Health Service (NHS), other government ministries, and even charities. The investigation alleges the duchies have failed to meet environmental standards in some cases.
These estates, which are exempt from UK corporation and capital gains taxes, have historically been shielded from public scrutiny. The investigation, however, claims to have revealed the extent of their holdings and commercial dealings for the first time.
Former Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker, a longtime royal critic, expressed concern over the findings, stating that the royals are “taking the public for a ride.” He argued that the profits from the duchies, which belong to the public, should be directed to the Crown Estate, a public asset.
Graham Smith, head of the anti-monarchy group Republic, echoed this sentiment, highlighting that the duchies are “doggedly pursuing profit at every turn, at huge expense to the public and charities.”
The duchies, however, have denied any wrongdoing, arguing that they operate like any large aristocratic family estate and are simply acting in the best interests of their private capital.
The investigation has reignited calls for parliamentary review and even abolition of the duchies. The issue has also sparked a debate about the future of the monarchy, with some expressing concerns about the royals losing public support due to their financial dealings.
The controversy surrounding the duchies is not new. In 2006, a parliamentary committee questioned the government’s rationale for granting them significant tax exemptions. With the latest revelations, calls for accountability are expected to intensify, potentially leading to a shift in the way the royal family manages its private estates.
First Piper 