Charles Windsor, heir to Britain’s chief public office, took £9.9m from the Duchy of Cornwall in the last financial year. This was an increase of £2.1m on the previous year.
Mr. Windsor receives the income from extensive land holdings in Cornwall and elsewhere in southern England as the so called Duke of Cornwall. Ownership dates from a time when there was no distinction between the state and the ruling family. When other estates were transferred to the state in the eighteenth century, in recognition that they were in fact public properties, the Duchy of Cornwall was retained. The income from it has continued to benefit an individual rather than the people of Britain to whom it rightly belongs.
Mr. Windsor also receives £3m of taxpayers’ money in direct grants. £304, 000 of this comes from the defence ministry to pay for military personnel seconded to him to act as servants. In all he has 17 personal servants and 80 other staff.