King Charles and Prince William under fire for making ‘hidden millions’

King Charles and Prince William have been left in hot water following an investigation into claims the monarch and his heir made millions from charities and public services.

Sunday Times and the television programme, titled “The King, the Prince and Their Secret Millions”, allege the 75-year-old and the 42-year-old have been quietly raising money through the royal estates of the Duchy of Lancaster and the Duchy of Cornwall.

“This could be the Watergate of the royal family, especially Charles and William,” royal expert Ian Pelham Turner told Fox News Digital. “The televised scandal report (claims) that millions of people have not been publicly scrutinized.”

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King Charles and his eldest son Prince William are accused of secretly raising millions from charities and public services through their private estates. (Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)

“This runs counter to the accountability issues outlined by the new Labor Government, who have said they will crack down on companies that are not transparent about their financial affairs.”

“This will not sit well with the British people,” Pelham Turner warned. “Many suffer from huge costs for food and basic supplies.”

“The royal family has not broken any laws; instead, they are operating within an established, albeit unconventional, system,” British broadcaster and columnist Jonathan Sacerdoti told Fox News Digital. “However, public perception may change negatively as Duchies benefit from exemptions not available to ordinary citizens. Whether targeted or not, this reflects the growing expectation for transparency from all public figures, including the royal family.”

Spokesperson for Kensington Palace, which manages the offices Prince and Princess of WalesHe did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. A spokesperson for Buckingham Palace told Fox News Digital that the investigation rests with the Duchy of Lancaster.

“This could be the Watergate of the royal family, particularly Charles and William. The televised scandal report (claims) … millions of people have gone unexamined in public. … This will not sit well with the British public. expenses.”

— Ian Pelham Turner, royal expert

The investigation centers on the Duchy of Lancaster, which belongs to King Charles as sovereign, and the Duchy of Cornwall, a private estate belonging to Prince William as Prince of Wales. (Pool/Max Mumby/Getty Images)

The Duchy of Lancaster is a 44,748-acre private estate in England and Wales, sovereignly owned by the king.

“The Duchy of Lancaster manages a wide range of land and property assets,” a spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

“It is self-financing and does not receive any public funds in connection with its activities,” the spokesman said. “It publishes an Annual Report and Accounts, which are independently audited and viewable on the website, and complies with all relevant UK legislation and regulatory standards applicable to a range of business activities.”

The Duchy of Cornwall is a private estate of approximately 130,000 acres in southwestern England, owned by William, Prince of Wales. A spokesperson also emphasized its status as a Fox News Digital exclusive.

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King Charles was crowned in London on May 6, 2023. (Yui Mok – WPA Pool/Getty Images)

“The Duchy of Cornwall is a private estate with a commercial imperative alongside our commitment to restoring the natural environment and creating positive social impact for our communities,” the spokesperson said.

“Prince William became the Duke of Cornwall in September 2022 and has since committed to a comprehensive transformation of the Duchy. This includes significant investment to make the estate net zero by the end of 2032, as well as the creation of targeted mental health support for our tenants.” and we are working with local partners to help tackle homelessness in Cornwall.”

The investigation alleges private estates took millions from public institutions including the NHS, state-funded schools and the British Armed Forces. New York Post reported.

King III. Charles arrives at Buckingham Palace in London on November 6, 2024 for the International Sustainability reception. (Jordan Pettitt – WPA Pool/Getty Images)

According to the publication, the program also claimed that William’s estate received a $78,000 payment from St John’s Ambulance, a charity patronized by the king, who is battling cancer.

The king’s estate was accused of storing a new fleet of electric ambulances in its warehouse for $14.7 million over 15 years, the report said. It was also claimed that William’s estate had demanded $1.3 million from the Royal Navy since 2004 to build piers and warships in Cornwall.

The Sunday Times claimed that a five-month investigation found that the duchies “earned millions by charging government departments, councils, businesses, mining companies and the public through a series of commercial rents and feudal taxes, largely on land seized by medieval rulers”. “

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Prince William greets well-wishers during a visit to the Port of Kalk Bay to highlight the contributions of 2023 Earthshot finalist Abalobi in Cape Town, South Africa, on November 7, 2024. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

“The Duchy Files show the royal family claiming the rights to cross rivers, unload cargo ashore, lay cables under their beaches, run schools and charities and even dig graves,” the broadcaster said. “They generate revenue from toll bridges, ferries, sewer pipes, churches, village halls, pubs, distilleries, gas pipelines, boat moorings, open and underground mines, car parks, rental houses and wind turbines.”

people magazine He noted that the arrangement was problematic because the royals were said to operate as “commercial landlords” and benefit from a special agreement that “exempts them from paying taxes on their corporate profits.”

The investigation also reported that a $48 million deal was made to rent Dartmoor Prison to the Ministry of Justice.

The documentary claimed that both properties earned about $65 million from the deals last year alone, the New York Post reported.

Mist hangs over Dartmoor Prison as sheep graze on the farm. (ODD ANDERSEN/AFP via Getty Images)

“What these publications did not cover was that the royal family voluntarily paid income tax on their surplus income.” British royal expert Hilary Fordwich claimed Fox News Digital.

Sacerdoti told Fox News Digital that the revelations added “renewed scrutiny to the royal family’s unique financial privileges.”

“This challenges the careful balance they have struck between inherited privileges and public service,” Sacerdoti said. “Nevertheless, the long-standing and legally complex structure of the Duchies is unlikely to undergo fundamental changes.”

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William has particular eyes on him, as he recently starred in the two-part documentary series “Prince William: We Can End Homelessness” on ITV. In June 2023 the father of three launched a five-year project to end homelessness in the UK

He launched the initiative by visiting pilot projects, which each received grants of up to $637,000 from the Royal Foundation, the charity that supports his work. William and his wife Kate Middleton.

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The Prince of Wales also raised eyebrows over the summer when he refused to reveal how much tax the Duchy of Cornwall paid for the 2023-2024 financial year. Integrated Annual Report of the Duchy of Cornwall, Published in July, it showed he earned $30 million in his first year as Duke of Cornwall.

According to People magazine, this amount covered the official, charitable and private expenses of the prince, as well as his wife and children.

The publication also reported that the Duchy of Lancaster earned approximately $35 million for the king.

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Prince William is seen here with his wife, Catherine, Princess of Wales. King III. The eldest son of Charles and the late Princess Diana, he is the heir to the British throne. (Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty Images)

The Prince of Wales inherited his father’s fortune, worth more than $1 billion, when he ascended to the throne. Queen Elizabeth II, England’s longest-reigning monarchHe died in September 2022, aged 96.

Both properties were established hundreds of years ago to provide income for both the monarch and the heir to the throne, People magazine reported.

Prince William will meet King George III at the Royal Air Force College at Cranwell in Sleaford, England, on 12 September 2024. He watches her take part in the Sovereignty Parade in honor of Charles. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

“While increased transparency may help calm public concerns, the likelihood of significant reforms is minimal,” Sacerdoti said. “Both Charles and William may aim to improve their public messaging by emphasizing philanthropic endeavors and long-term stewardship of these estates. (But) this highlights a recurring challenge: reconciling ancient privileges with modern expectations.”

“By thoughtfully navigating this tension, the monarchy can reinforce its importance in a changing Britain, even as traditional structures remain largely intact,” he said.

Sacerdoti said the scandal would likely test the king to see if he could modernize the monarchy’s image “without shaking its foundations”.

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In February, Buckingham Palace hosted King George III. It was announced that Charles had been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer. (Carl Court/Getty Images)

“For William, this indicates complexity “The task of inheriting an institution where public service and privilege are intertwined is a challenge he will face throughout his future reign,” he said. “This may, in time, push him to shape a future monarchy that is more transparent and egalitarian, setting a precedent that balances tradition with the values ​​of the new generation.”

“Although Charles and William voluntarily paid income tax on the income of the dukedoms, these tax exemptions and legal protections demonstrate the complex, privileged status of their estates,” Sacerdoti said. he added.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.