Prince William is reportedly planning to introduce stricter rules on royal property when he becomes king. According to reports, the future King is considering a major review of royal housing arrangements as part of a broader effort to modernise the monarchy and make it more cost-efficient.
Central to the proposed changes is an end to arrangements that allow non-working royals to live in royal properties without paying market-related rent or fulfilling official duties. According to sources cited by The Sunday Times, William aims for his reign to ensure the monarchy is “fit for purpose in the modern era,” alongside a detailed review of the institution’s expenditure. William is also reportedly examining the practice of subletting royal properties.
The report revealed that Mountbatten-Windsor had been sub-letting three cottages on the Royal Lodge estate that he leased from the Crown Estate. It follows a National Audit Office (NAO) report, which revealed that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor had been receiving rental income estimated to be as much as £180,000 a year from sub-letting those cottages.
The report also found that King Charles is paying the rent for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, at their respective residences at St James’s Palace and Kensington Palace, with the costs covered through the Privy Purse. This was the first report into royal residences in 20 years, the BBC reports. A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said the report was “in line with the Royal Household’s commitment to transparency.”
As the eldest son of King Charles III, Prince William is the heir apparent and first in line to the British throne. When he ascends, he will reign as King William V. There has been increasing attention on how he may shape the monarchy when he eventually ascends.
During an interview with Canadian actor Eugene Levy last year, William opened up about his future role as king, telling him: “Change is on my agenda. Change for good, and I embrace that, I enjoy that change. I don't fear it, that's the bit that excites me, the idea of being able to bring some change. Not overly radical, but changes that I think need to happen.”
