Prince William's Duchy of Cornwall to allow some charities to use buildings rent-free after backlash

Prince William's Duchy of Cornwall will allow certain charities to use its buildings rent-free after facing criticism over multimillion-pound deals the landed estate struck with public bodies.

William's duchy, which provides him with a private income of nearly £23m a year, has launched a review which means that grassroots groups - such as an orchard used for therapeutic gardening - that are direct tenants will now have their rents waived, while local charities will see up to a 50% reduction in rent.

While the amount William receives from the duchy was also revealed at a briefing about the duchy annual "impact report", it again failed to say how much tax he pays. His private secretary Ian Patrick only confirming that "the Prince of Wales pays the highest rate of income tax".

Talking about the rent change, Will Bax, the duchy's new secretary and keeper of records said: "It would be remiss not to address the media scrutiny the duchy has experienced this past year.

"We've used these challenges as an opportunity to stop and reflect, both the duke and I are clear that we want the duchy to be world class in our approach to supporting people, communities and nature to flourish and to realise that aim, we must operate and communicate in a modern, socially-minded way."

He added: "It's clear we've entered an era of deep change, but we change, not because we disrespect our past, but precisely because we do respect it."

The change follows an investigation last November into the prince's duchy and the Duchy of Lancaster estate, which provides a private income for the King, by Channel 4's Dispatches and The Sunday Times, which found the estates had secured rental agreements worth millions of pounds with the armed forces, the NHS and state schools.

Mr Bax said the duchy was also looking at including schools in the community groups that would be eligible for the rent waiver.

The investigation last year revealed the duchy was set to earn around £600,000 over the lifetime of six different leases agreed with local state schools.

The policy review will, however, not alter commercial relationships with public bodies such as the ministries of defence and justice.

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Mr Bax said: "There are certain groups that we feel it right and proper that we have market-based arms-length relationships with in public sector terms. For example, our Management Act requires that, public sector procurement rules require that."

William is the 25th Duke of Cornwall, after becoming entitled to the duchy's profits when he became heir to the throne.

Accounts released on Monday showed the duchy generated profits of £22.9m, down £700,000 from £23.6m the previous financial year (2023-24).

The money is used to fund the charitable, private and official lives of William, the Princess of Wales and their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

It was revealed that last year the prince and princess personally donated to a number of charities and voluntary groups including organisations set up by the parents of the girls murdered in Southport last summer and funding a new car for a Norfolk charity that transports blood.

Prince William's private secretary also said the royal closely follows the ongoing humanitarian situation in the Middle East and has made donations to organisations working there. Their charity donations are subtracted before tax.

The King, as the previous Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall, disclosed the voluntary tax he paid in his annual Clarence House review - £5.892m in 2021-22.

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