‘Stop and reflect’: Prince William makes major change after facing ‘media scrutiny’

The Prince of Wales has taken dramatic action after experiencing intense “scrutiny” amid an investigation last year.

IN LONDON

Prince William will stop charging rent to certain charities after facing criticism following an investigation into the huge sums of money made by his private estate.

A collaboration between Channel 4’s Dispatches and The Sunday Times revealed last year that the Duchy of Cornwall, which provides the Prince of Wales with a private income of nearly£23 million (A$48 million) a year, was imposing rents charities and community groups including village halls, school playing fields, and the fire service.

The duchy funds the public, charitable and private activities of the Wales’. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

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Addressing the change in rent policy, the duchy’s new secretary and keeper of records, Will Bax, said that it would be “remiss not to address the media scrutiny” they had experienced in recent months.

“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 said.

“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.”

Under the new system, direct tenants who are grassroots groups will have their rents waived, while local charities could have their rent reduced by half.

While government departments will continue to be charged rents, the duchy said it was reviewing the amount charged to state schools.

William pays voluntary tax on the estate. Picture: Carlos Jasso – WPA Pool/Getty Images

The Duchy of Cornwall has traditionally provided the heir to the throne with a private income, while the Duchy of Lancaster does the same for the monarch.

While the King, who was the previous Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall, publicly shared the voluntary tax he’d paid on the estate, William has declined to do so. His private secretary, Ian Patrick, confirmed only that he “pays the highest rate of income tax”.

The profit from the duchy funds the public, charitable and private activities of William and his wife, the Princess of Wales, as well as their three children: Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 6.

The Wales’ donate vast sums of money to charities and volunteer groups, which last year included initiatives associated with supporting the victims and families of the Southport knife attacks.