Thank you
@LadyMuck
BookWorm has carried out an exhaustive investigation into KC's finances, and says the recent Guardian report isn't accurate. Some aspects she couldn't get to.
D Mail said KC is worth 600M but this is what's left over from the Duchy of Cornwall, and this is perfectly in line with rich celebs and CEOs. So the headline is misleading. KC's fortune is largely concealed from public view so is unknown, but BookWorm believes it to be more like 2.1Billion to 2.5 Billion.
23 privately owned vehicles approx 6 Million.
600 Million capital.
2 private properties from HM, Balmoral 80 Million and Sandringham 250 Million.
Now revealed he received 2.3 Million for the Late Queen's horses.
The Stud is worth 27 Million.
Finest stamp Collection in the world, 100 Million
Jewellery gifted prior to 1995 difficult to value but Andrew Morton put a conservative figure on it of 533 Million.
Private art collection valued at 24 Million, but BookWorm believes this is higher because a Monet bought by the Queen Mother for 200,000 is now worth 20 Million.
BookWorm doesn't know how much he inherited from the Queen? 142 Million?
Annual income from Duchy of Lancaster 653 Million. But the Guardian ignored KC's private properties, offshore investments, private companies and rentals. No idea what those are.
Sovereign Grant money not added either. BP needs to be refurbished, any change left over from that?
The Coronation is a State event and should be paid for by the State.
BookWorm has no issue with wealthy people, but has an issue with how KC is spending his wealth. This issue has not been addressed anywhere, and BookWorm isn't even sure how to approach it.
At 21 years of age PC took over the Duchy of Cornwall, and has received significant income therefrom for 53 years. The Duchy of Cornwall owns properties outside of Cornwall, and spreads over 20 counties. BookWorm is fully aware of the growth of the Duchy under PC's good management.
There are serious homelessness issues in Cornwall. A FOI request in January 2023 revealed that 6,300 people were made homeless in Cornwall alone, and this number is likely to be much higher with undocumented cases. Rents continue to soar, there is a real housing crisis partly because of second home-owners, and PC was one of the landlords who evicted renters during COVID.
William is now Duke of Cornwall, and the after-effects of his father's tenure are still out there. There is a
bona vacantia system wbereby when someone dies the property reverts to the Crown, not to the Duchies.
Modular homes need to be built, refugees are being put in hotels, and BookWorm wonders if KC will ever open his own wallet to help. He's paid no attention to the problems in Cornwall. In 2020 the then Duke distributed 102,000 to the Benevolent Fund but this money came from the assets of tenants who had died. Leaseholders, not owners able to pass on their asset. He took the credit.
KC has a track record of being ruthless with money. BookWorm says it's essential to own the land upon which your house is built, but KC has fought the abolishment of the leasehold system for years. Owning the land your house is built on is the norm elsewhere. The homeowners have paid rent but there's no help from PC after years of paying. William disagrees with this leasehold system, and has more empathy and concern about homelessness. BookWorm hopes he will abolish it as it's very unfair.
BookWorm says she respects and admires KC, he's a hard worker, but it's not acceptable for him to be above the law and unaccountable. He should play by the rules and represent the people, but he's not doing that and it's not enough just to put a face to charities. The Duchy leasehold situation should be brought into line with the rest of the country, and William with a 23 Million annual income could donate some to a housing project.
KC's finances should be investigated.
Phew