A recent interview by Prince William has drawn sharp criticism from the UK-based anti-monarchy group Republic, which accuses the royal of hypocrisy and benefiting from public wealth under the guise of private ownership.
Prince William spoke to The Telegraph last month about his plans for the Duchy of Cornwall—a vast private estate that funds his public duties, charitable efforts, and private life. The estate, inherited upon King Charles III’s accession to the throne, generated over £23 million for William last year, according to Republic.
Reacting to the report, Republic posted on X (formerly Twitter), calling Prince William a hypocrite. “William receives millions of pounds of Duchy revenue each year, despite him having no legal right to do so,” the group stated.
In a formal statement on its website, Republic announced it is raising funds for a new campaign targeting royal control over the Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall.
“Republic is aiming to raise £10,000 for a new, bold campaign,” the group wrote. “The royals, government, and the BBC call the Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall ‘private estates’. But these huge land-owning enterprises belong to the nation. And it’s time we took them back.”
Republic further criticized the financial operations surrounding the duchies, alleging that the estates profit significantly from entities such as charities, schools, the NHS, and other public institutions.
“The Channel 4 Dispatches documentary last year exposed how Charles and William make huge profits from these estates. A lot of the money comes from charities, schools, the NHS, and other public services,” the group noted.
The statement continued: “Last year the Duchy of Cornwall gave William more than £23m and he refuses to say how much tax he pays, if he pays any at all.” Prince William, however, has expressed a desire to modernize the estate and move beyond traditional practices. In his rare media interview, he emphasized a progressive approach.
“We are not the traditional landowners,” William told The Telegraph. “We want to be more than that.” The Prince of Wales is reportedly steering the Duchy with what the newspaper described as “a reforming zeal and a refreshing disregard for formality.”
Still, for critics like Republic, the interview has only fueled long-standing concerns about royal wealth, transparency, and accountability issues that continue to spark debate over the monarchy’s role and financial privileges in modern Britain.