King Charles set to make tens of millions from mining operation despite being patron of environmental charities
KING Charles is on a collision course with environmental charities he patronises over plans to make tens of millions from a controversial mining operation.
The monarch, 75, will score a bumper payday if the Woodsmith potash mine gets up and running.
The details emerged in an investigation into what the King and William earn from the Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall, which cash in from the NHS, military — and even toilets.
The proposed potash mine in North York Moors National Park would be the world’s largest.
But objections have come from two organisations that have the King as patron: the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the Campaign to Protect Rural England.
They say the project threatens tourism and wildlife habitats, warn of the impact from HGVs, and that potash mining could contaminate water supplies.
It was initially being run by Sirius, then bought by mining giant Anglo American.
There were plans for a 23-mile tunnel to send raw material for processing at Teesside, although it is unclear if that is still taking place.
The Duchy of Lancaster is still receiving £102,000 a year because of a 70-year lease with the mine.
If the mine gets up and running the King will boost annual earnings to £256,000 and collect a 2.5 per cent cut of mineral sales, expected to run into billions.
Charles’s income from the Duchy of Lancaster was £27.4million in 2023/24.
The Duchy of Cornwall made Wills £23million last year.
Both estates are exempt from corporation or capital gains tax.
Their income is separate from the taxpayer-funded Sovereign Grant which pays for the King’s official duties.
Neither Charles nor Wills are legally obliged to pay income tax but both have offered to do so.
Charles also stands to make £4million from a deal for the rights to mine gypsum rock under land near the England team’s training ground at St George’s Park, Staffs.
The FA, of which Prince William is a patron, have previously objected, saying the mines could cause the pitches to collapse.
Last year the King asked for profits from a £1billion-a-year Crown Estate wind farm deal to be used for the “wider public good” rather than as a funding boost for the monarchy.
But the investigation, by Channel 4’s Dispatches and The Sunday Times, found Charles would still make at least £28million from wind farms due to a feudal right to charge for cables crossing land belonging to the Duchy of Lancaster.
The investigation claims the Duchy of Cornwall signed a £37million deal to lease Dartmoor Prison to the Ministry of Justice, and a deal to allow the Army to train on Dartmoor.
The NHS will pay the Duchy of Lancaster at least £11million in rent over the next 15 years to store electric vehicles in a London warehouse.
The duchies have lease deals with several state schools, and will make £15million from Harrogate Ladies College in North Yorkshire over 50 years.
The investigation claims private residential properties rented by both duchies fail to meet minimum energy efficiency requirements.
Some 14 per cent of homes leased by the Duchy of Cornwall, and 13 per cent by Lancaster, have a performance rating of F or G, despite it being against the law for landlords to rent properties rated below an E since 2020.
The royals’ varied investment portfolio includes an industrial unit used by a beauty products company in Blackburn, making them £5.5million, and a Southend shopping centre, making them £1.3million.
Charles’ duchy also leases out Barthomley services in Cheshire, which houses a KFC and a Shell garage.
William gets £60 a year from the Council of the Scilly Isles for a toilet
Parks, scout huts and bridges are among the duchies’ 5,410 total assets.
Some of the King’s land in Derbyshire is rented to a portable lavatory supplier named ExcLOOSive.
William gets £60 a year from the Council of the Scilly Isles for a toilet.
A Duchy of Lancaster spokesperson said it complies with all UK legislation and regulatory standards.
They added: “Currently, over 87 per cent of all Duchy-let properties are rated E or above. The remainder are awaiting scheduled improvement works or are exempted.”
The Duchy of Cornwall said William was committed to an expansive transformation, “including making the estate Net Zero by the end of 2032, mental health support and tackling homelessness.”
Buckingham Palace declined to comment.