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The Duchy of Cornwall and the Duchy of Lancaster have been in the headlines in recent days thanks to an investigation by the Sunday hours and Channel 4 which exposed some of the The financial relationships of the royal family.

Like the current Prince of WalesPrince William is the beneficiary of the Duchy of Cornwall, a hereditary estate created in 1337 by King Edward III, primarily to provide an income for the heir to the British throne. Meanwhile, King Charles, who was the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II, held the title of Duke of Cornwall until his mother died in 2022. Now the king enjoys the Duchy of Lancaster, another private estate made up of properties and other assets owned by the monarch and created in 1265.

None of these estates are funded by taxpayers and operate as a private business. However, there was some public outrage after learning how King Charles and Prince William made money from their respective duchies.

According to the Sunday hoursthe media has partnered with Channel 4 Dispatches show to conduct a five-month investigation and “uncovered how duchies earn millions of pounds each year by charging ministries, councils, businesses, mining companies and the general public via a series of commercial rents and feudal levies” . This includes the National Health Service (NHS).

The report’s findings revealed that the King and Prince of Wales have earned more than $28 million in rent from charities over the past 19 years in their respective duchies – and that some of the rental properties managed by the duchy of Cornwall are not exactly up to the task.

According to the survey (via Cornwall Live), some homes “are riddled with damp and black mold” and “do not meet minimum legal energy efficiency standards for homeowners.”

As for the NHS, King Charles’ Duchy of Lancaster landed a $14 million deal “to store a fleet of electric ambulances, owned by Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in London, in one of the NHS’s warehouses. domain for 15 years”, according to the Independent.

While many Britons took to social media to express their outrage over the report, especially amid Prince William’s speech new documentary on the end of homelessness– others have pointed out that duchies are separate from the money that taxpayers use to finance the activities of the monarchy.

“How obscene for a family to accumulate the wealth given to them (or the opportunity to purchase these investments) by their ‘subjects,’” one person commented in an interview. Dispatches Instagram post about the show.

Another offered an opposing view, writing: “Well, wondering what the state pays them is one thing, but how they run their private businesses is their business.” Every business owner makes a profit. »

According to the BBC, a spokesperson for the Duchy of Lancaster said it “complies with all UK laws and regulatory standards applicable to its range of business activities”.