Prince Charles and Queen 'given £200,000 in benefits'
Buckingham Palace described as 'the biggest council house in Britain' as royal estates cash in

THE estates of Prince Charles and the Queen reportedly received more than £200,000 in housing benefits for their tenants last year.
The Crown Estate was paid £38,539 in housing benefit payments by just one council last year, while the Duchy of Cornwall received at least £163,000, according to the Daily Mirror.
Campaigners have called for regulation of the amount of housing benefit that is paid to landlords, saying the money was helping them to "grow their property empires" rather than helping poor people.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Defend Council Housing, a campaign group, described Buckingham Palace as "the biggest council house in Britain" and called for a cap on housing benefits for landlords.
A spokeswoman for the group said more than £9bn will be paid this year to private landlords, adding that "taxpayers' money is being used to line the pockets of wealthy landlords and property speculators".
But Iain Duncan Smith, the Work and Pensions Secretary, has rejected a cap on landlord's housing benefit payments, saying: "I suspect you would end up with fewer landlords actually making properties available."
According to the National Housing Federation, housing benefits might be paid directly to landlords rather than tenants in cases where a tenant does not have a bank account, to reduce the risk of people losing their homes or to offer financial security to landlords, thus maximising their capacity to deliver affordable homes.
The Crown Estate said its properties are let to a range of tenants, including those who may receive housing benefit. "As with any landlord, there are some cases where tenants receive housing benefit and the rent is paid directly by the local authority from the tenant's benefit to the landlord," it said. "All of the Crown Estate's profits are returned to the Treasury each year for the benefit of the nation's public finances."
The Duchy estate, which is worth £847m and exempt from tax, paid Charles £19m last year while the Queen is worth £320m, says the Mirror. Meanwhile, the Crown Estate is said to be worth £8.6bn.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Prince Harry's 'bombshell' BBC interview
Talking Point Royal claims he is not safe to visit the UK and fuels speculation over King Charles' health in 'extraordinary' BBC interview
-
The Duchy Files: how bad is the scandal for King Charles?
Today's Big Question Making millions in rent from the NHS and armed forces a 'PR disaster' for royal family
-
Is Prince Harry planning a royal comeback?
In the Spotlight Duke of Sussex looking to repair relationship with King Charles and 'rehabilitate' his image back in UK
-
King Charles portrait: 'mystique' or 'monstrosity'?
Talking Points While the artist hoped to portray the 'magic' of the monarchy, critics have lambasted the 'spooky' work
-
Prince Harry returns to mark 10 years of Invictus – but he won't see the King
Speed Read Duke of Sussex will not see his father during London visit 'due to His Majesty's full programme'
-
Duchess of Gloucester: the hard-working royal you've never heard of
Under The Radar Outer royal 'never expected' to do duties but has stepped up to the plate
-
The Regency Acts: what happens if King Charles can't perform his duties
The Explainer Monarch's responsibilities could be carried out by a regent or the counsellors of state
-
King Charles diagnosed with cancer
Speed Read Monarch 'remains wholly positive about his treatment', during which senior royals are expected to stand in for him