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Prince William dealt 1.5m a year blow as 'uncertainty' statement made

Prince William has decided he will no longer personally benefit from the controversial 1.5 million annual rent generated by the closed Dartmoor Prison in Devon, with funds redirected to support the local Princetown community

[It's a big loss]

It's a big loss(Image: WPA Pool, Getty Images)

The Prince of Wales has chosen to cease personally profiting from the contentious 1.5 million annual rent produced by the deserted Dartmoor Prison. William has requested that this sum be deducted from the multimillion-pound income he garners as heir to the throne from the Duchy of Cornwall from 2026-27 onwards, with the funds instead being used to rejuvenate the local community.

The prince's private income amounted to 21.6 million in 2025-26, according to the most recent Duchy accounts, with William also disclosing his tax bill of 7.76 million for the first time.

A Dispatches and Sunday Times probe in 2024 uncovered that the duchy had signed a 37 million contract in 2022, prior to Charles becoming King and William the Prince of Wales, to lease Dartmoor Prison to the Ministry of Justice, paying 1.5 million annually over 25 years, and an agreement with the Ministry of Defence permitting the armed forces to train on Dartmoor land.

[It opened in 1809]

It opened in 1809(Image: Andrew Aitchison, Corbis via Getty Images)

However, the category C prison in Devon has been vacant since July 2024 following the detection of high levels of radon, a poisonous gas naturally present in soil and rocks that can lead to lung cancer, in prisoners' lodgings.

A community-led regeneration fund will be initiated next year to provide social, economic and environmental advantages to Princetown, the remote rural community adjacent to the prison.

The prince's private secretary Ian Patrick stated: "Prince William knows that for many people in Princetown, the prison has long been part of the fabric of the community. Its closure has created genuine uncertainty, not just about jobs and businesses, but about the future of the town itself. The duke felt strongly that, while those questions remain unanswered, the benefit of this income should remain in the community, helping local people shape that future."

As successor to the throne, William is entitled to the yearly earnings from the billion-pound Duchy landed estate, which spans 51,800 hectares across 19 counties. William, who became the 25th Duke of Cornwall nearly four years ago, has never before disclosed his own tax return, despite the King doing so when he held the Duke of Cornwall title.

The prince made the choice personally to promote enhanced transparency, coinciding with Charles revealing his tax return for the first time as sovereign. He pays income tax voluntarily at the top rate on any net surplus, but only after official expenditure has been deducted.

The Duchy earnings are used to support the charitable, private and part of the official lives of William, the Princess of Wales and their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. William settled a 7.76 million tax bill for 2024-25 in income and capital gains tax, and paid 8.34 million in 2023-24, having now contributed more than 20 million in tax to HMRC since he became Prince of Wales.

Mr Patrick said: "The prince recognises the interest in these arrangements and the importance of appropriate transparency." Kensington Palace has revealed that the number of staff employed by the couple's household has increased to 74, up from 68.

The diversity figures indicate that 14.9% of staff come from an ethnic minority background, a rise from 13.2% the previous year. Furthermore, it was disclosed that 73% of Kensington Palace staff are female, with the remaining 27% being male.

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