Just as headlines emerged revealing the staggering earnings of Prince William and King Charles from their property portfolios, the story disappeared almost as fast as it surfaced. Prince William reportedly pocketed over £23 million last year from the Duchy of Cornwall alone, while King Charles’s Duchy of Lancaster generated approximately £27.4 million—figures that would spark scandal for anyone outside the Royal Family.
Yet, in this case, coverage of their wealth quickly vanished, shifting instead to a softer narrative of Prince William’s recent South Africa visit and his reflections on a “difficult year.” The strategic diversion appears to be an attempt to protect the Royals from scrutiny that could damage their carefully crafted image. As the press pivoted to Prince William’s public duties in South Africa, the real story—the jaw-dropping income from tax-exempt estates that benefit from public resources—was conveniently dropped.
There was no mention of the Duchy of Cornwall’s lucrative dealings with organizations like the NHS or the British Armed Forces, arrangements that would likely invite criticism and calls for accountability if made public.
The press corps, with its many Royal sycophants, fell in line, subtly steering public attention away from the Royals’ fortunes. Despite the public’s right to know how tax-exempt wealth is generated and managed, this level of influence allows the Royals to evade the kind of scrutiny that ordinary individuals or public figures would undoubtedly face. The well-trained masses returned to their admiration without question—obediently diverted from the reality.
