Britain’s King Charles III appears to have profited from the deaths of thousands of people in the north-west of England by collecting their life savings, according to a study published on Thursday (Nov 23) by The Guardian. According to the story, the funds stolen from the deceased are “secretly” being utilized to repair a commercial property empire owned by his hereditary estate. The Duchy of Lancaster is a private estate of the British monarch that is nevertheless controversial for a number of reasons. However, the British king made a fortune from this land and property estate. According to the report, this land has gathered “tens of millions of pounds in recent years” through a scheme that stretches back to feudal times.
When most Britons die without a traceable heir, their assets, money, and other property are given to the Treasury
The Duchy, which derives from the medieval Dukes of Lancaster’s territories, is said to gather financial assets known as bona vacantia (vacant goods), which belonged to persons who died without a will or known next of kin. According to the investigative study, this has been going on for the previous ten years. It has raised more than £60 million ($75 million), however, it has long been claimed that the bona vacantia money is handed to charity after expenses are deducted.
When most Britons die without a traceable heir, their assets, money, and other property are given to the Treasury; however, according to this report, the royal family collects the financial assets of others who lived in specific areas linked to the Duchy of Lancaster and the Duchy of Cornwall. According to The Guardian, after reviewing and analyzing internal duchy documents, it was discovered that only a small portion of these revenues were donated to charity. The publication based its findings on the stories of various people whose life savings were utilized to improve King’s private property.
King Charles underlined that money should not be used to benefit the Privy Purse
According to the report, the duchy inherits bona vacantia money from people whose last known address was in Lancashire County Palatine, which was controlled by a duke in the Middle Ages. Lancashire, as well as parts of Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Cheshire, and Cumbria, are now included in the area. According to the publication, the renovations include new roofs, double-glazing windows, boiler installations, and door and lintel repairs.
As quoted by The Times, a spokeswoman from the Duchy of Lancaster said: “It is a long-standing principle of UK law that property or goods cannot remain ‘ownerless’. Responsibility for such assets, referred to as bona vacantia, is transferred to HM Treasury and in the County Palatine revert to the Duchy of Lancaster.” “From monies received as a result of bona vacantia, the Duchy of Lancaster makes an allocation to the late claims fund to ensure that any claims received up to 30 years following the administration of an estate can be met. The cost of administering bona vacantia and any costs associated with the upkeep of public buildings and those of architectural importance is also deducted,” she added. She went on to say that the remainder is divided among three organizations established by the late Queen to promote local community activities. According to the spokeswoman, King Charles also underlined that money should not be used to benefit the Privy Purse and should instead be used to promote local communities.
