What reform if any is needed in relation to Crown Estate Property? Subletting of royal properties currently in the news.....

Honestly, I think our Royals own far too much property in the UK!

In my opinion, only one “professional” working property is needed for the King etc to receive dignitaries and work from, ie Buckingham Palace, along with all its traditional, then one residential home for each working royal and their families.

Nothing should be sublet to earn themselves more cash.

All remaining properties should be let to ordinary people on long safe leases.

All those flats etc in the mall, Kensington Palace etc shouldn’t be “grace and favour” additional homes for anyone!

Places like Windsor Castle can be opened to the public, as I understand it is already, and a few reception rooms and the kitchen can be used for Royal events and then rented out for other paid events by professional organisations.

I’m sure we, or the National Trust, can easily make use of all the other properties left empty half the year.

Just saying….

I don't want to lose the Royal family but they have far too much wealth. The king and queen and the immediate heirs should be maintained but they own so much property and gain income from it.
I would like to see their wealth vastly reduced in future.

Oh for goodness sake. What a miserable perspective to take. Look what fun they have in communist countries...oh wait..

My opinion, for what it is worth on a subject like this is, keep things as they were say on the 90s.

If it wasnt broke in say 1990, then dont change things now.

As Dr.Prescott said too complicated to understand, as is everything about the government and the traditions that surround the Royal Family.
We are Nation who doesn't like change but are our laws and traditions are antiquated. No government is going to change thing, it would take a lifetime and probably be just as complicated at the end.

Aveline

Oh for goodness sake. What a miserable perspective to take. Look what fun they have in communist countries...oh wait..

Are we a bit too “bah humbug”?

It’s not like I’ve said lock ‘em up in the tower and off with their heads 🤣🤣🤣🤣

fancythat

My opinion, for what it is worth on a subject like this is, keep things as they were say on the 90s.

If it wasnt broke in say 1990, then dont change things now.

You mean you’re ok with all the non-working royals having free lovely apartments for their own personal use in London?

Sorry to disagree, but I’m not!

I don’t think I’d want to live in a drafty old palace overrun with mice, which I gather is the case with Buckingham Palace! I do think the RF need other bases, too, it’s not all about London.

The royal firm is gradually being slimmed down, and rightly so.

Prince William has already made changes in the Duchy of Cornwall, and will continue to do so.

I am a royalist and happy to see the changes being implemented by the royals themselves, we shall by the next King have a modern royal family suited to the 21st century.

Would it be simplest for them all to pay inheritance tax. I hope council tax and where relevant business rates are paid on all these properties.

AGAA4 who should have their wealth reduce, Anne, the Edinburghs?

Anniebach

AGAA4 who should have their wealth reduce, Anne, the Edinburghs?

All of them.

There is an awful lot of misinformation going round on this subject

To begin with AMW paid £7.5 million for the lease on the Royal Lodge, that included money on repairs. That is the same land tenure as millions of people in this country. Leasehold tenure means you can act as if you own the property, are responsible for all repairs, but have to pay for another lease or hand it back in good order when the lease expires. This means that AMW was quite free to rent out the cottages to people, who I understood were employees or ex-employees.

The Crown Estate is a vast, independent commercial property and land portfolio in the UK. While technically owned by the reigning monarch "in right of the Crown," it is not their private property. Instead, it is managed by an independent board of commissioners, with all net profits going directly to the UK Treasury to benefit the public.

Various members of the RF do own private properties but their ownership and management are an entirely personal matter. Sandringham and Balmoral properties owned by the king as a private individual. The five largest property owning individuals in this country are: Duke of Bucleugh, Anders Holch Povlsen, Duke of Westminster, Duchy of Cornwall, Earl of Lonsdale. This list was drawn up before the Elizabeth II died. She was the 19th person on the list. James Dyson is the 13th largest personal land owner. The top 3 landowners are: The Forestry Commission. National Trust and Ministry of Defence.
tlio.org.uk/the-uks-50-biggest-landowners-revealed-lovemoney-com/

As I understand all the Royals pay a market rent or have bought a lease and the King pays the rent for AMW's daughters.

I think the whole thing is a storm in an eggcup to play to the current fashion for denigrating the RF. I am no flag waving royalist, but I like to know the facts before I jump on a band wagon and sing. The facts here seem to be perfectly normal for how house tenure, whether leasehold or rented works in this country.

Anne and Edward were given their family homes as wedding presents

"The British taxpayer does not owe palatial homes to Charles's extended family. Why are we making homes available at huge discounts to Andrew's daughters, or the late Queen's cousins?"

"Charles and William are billionaires, avoiding inheritance and other taxes, taking personal incomes from public property portfolios in excess of £50m a year. The royals can pay for their own homes."

"The Crown Estate and royal palace property portfolio is state property. It should all be used for the benefit of the public, not the private enrichment of the royals."

"The NAO's report raises far more questions than it answers. MPs need to seize this moment to push for radical reform, including removing all royals but the monarch from publicly owned accommodation."