Britain's Parliament has long avoided discussing the monarchy, with its centuries-old constitutional monarchy seemingly unable to broach the subject. This self-imposed gag is seen as infantilizing and indefensible.
However, it appears this may be changing. The House of Commons' public accounts committee has announced an inquiry into the Crown Estate, a highly successful and profitable property company worth £15.5 billion. This probe comes in response to news that Prince Andrew and his brother Prince Edward have been paying "peppercorn rents" for extensive properties owned by the estate.
This is an unusual move, especially given the Crown Estate's independence from both the monarch and government. Since 2011, the Crown has received a generous and protected sovereign grant from the estate's profits each year. This grant may be part of the new inquiry, which should also examine the estate's value for money.
The inquiry is a necessary step towards full parliamentary accountability on royal finances. The concept of value for money is particularly relevant here, as it will undoubtedly unlock the wider debate about the workings of the monarchy. The announcement of this inquiry may signal that times are changing for the Crown, with the BBC's recent series "What's the Monarchy For?" hinting at shifting public attitudes.
The committee should not shy away from examining the terms under which royal residences were and are allocated, as well as ensuring their upkeep. This could lead to further uncomfortable stories about Prince Andrew and Buckingham Palace. Ultimately, value for money is a powerful tool of public accountability that should be applied rigorously, whether in the NHS or the monarchy.
As Norman Baker has pointed out, this inquiry will be judged in part by its ability to clarify the number of royal residences and their costs. The contrast between 272 "grace-and-favour" residences in 1993 and just 11 working royals is striking. It's high time for parliament to take a closer look at the Crown Estate and its relationship with the monarchy, sparking necessary debates about value for money and accountability.
However, it appears this may be changing. The House of Commons' public accounts committee has announced an inquiry into the Crown Estate, a highly successful and profitable property company worth £15.5 billion. This probe comes in response to news that Prince Andrew and his brother Prince Edward have been paying "peppercorn rents" for extensive properties owned by the estate.
This is an unusual move, especially given the Crown Estate's independence from both the monarch and government. Since 2011, the Crown has received a generous and protected sovereign grant from the estate's profits each year. This grant may be part of the new inquiry, which should also examine the estate's value for money.
The inquiry is a necessary step towards full parliamentary accountability on royal finances. The concept of value for money is particularly relevant here, as it will undoubtedly unlock the wider debate about the workings of the monarchy. The announcement of this inquiry may signal that times are changing for the Crown, with the BBC's recent series "What's the Monarchy For?" hinting at shifting public attitudes.
The committee should not shy away from examining the terms under which royal residences were and are allocated, as well as ensuring their upkeep. This could lead to further uncomfortable stories about Prince Andrew and Buckingham Palace. Ultimately, value for money is a powerful tool of public accountability that should be applied rigorously, whether in the NHS or the monarchy.
As Norman Baker has pointed out, this inquiry will be judged in part by its ability to clarify the number of royal residences and their costs. The contrast between 272 "grace-and-favour" residences in 1993 and just 11 working royals is striking. It's high time for parliament to take a closer look at the Crown Estate and its relationship with the monarchy, sparking necessary debates about value for money and accountability.
It's about time someone throws some light on how royal finances work, especially considering those "peppercorn rents" Prince Andrew is paying 
. I think this inquiry will be a game changer for the monarchy's transparency and accountability. Can't wait to see what other skeletons come out of the closet... like, who's really responsible for maintaining those opulent palaces? 
The fact that Parliament is finally tackling the monarchy is long overdue. I mean, £15.5 billion is a pretty penny! The concept of "peppercorn rents" does seem dodgy. It's time to shine a light on how royal finances work and what kind of value we get for our tax dollars 
. The BBC series was spot on in highlighting the need for transparency around the monarchy's role in society. It's not just about the money, but also about accountability and making sure we're getting the best value for our public funds 
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! finally some transparency around the royal finances. it's crazy that they've been getting away with paying peppercorn rents for all those properties 
. and can you imagine the number of royal residences they have? 272 is wild 
. this inquiry could spark some real conversations about value for money and how public funds are being used. let's see where this takes us 
The whole monarchy thing has always seemed kinda weird to me, like we're still stuck in some sort of old-fashioned era. It's pretty interesting that they're finally having an inquiry into the Crown Estate, which is basically a huge business deal that we taxpayers are footing the bill for.
. I mean, we're living in 2025, right? It's like they've only just woken up to the idea of transparency and value for money 
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. Time to shed the "stiff upper lip" vibe and get real 
. Let's hope this inquiry leads to some real changes and a bit more accountability 
. I mean, who wouldn't want to know where that kind of cash is coming from? This inquiry could be a game-changer for accountability and it's about time we start having an open conversation about the monarchy's value for money 
. The fact that Prince Andrew is paying "peppercorn rents" for his properties raises so many questions about the Crown Estate's management and transparency.
. The goal should be to shed light on the workings of the monarchy and ensure value for money, not to sensationalize every little detail.
. Time will tell if Parliament can strike a balance between scrutiny and respect for the institution.
for the British monarchy! The fact that they're being probed on their finances is long overdue - it's like they've been living in a bubble 
. I mean, £15.5 billion is a crazy amount of money, and to think that Prince Andrew and his bro have been paying "peppercorn rents" for these properties is just mind-boggling 
. The idea of value for money is a game-changer here, and I'm curious to see where this will lead. Will we finally get some answers on the number of royal residences and their costs? Fingers crossed! 
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. I'm all for transparency, especially when it comes to public money 
. The BBC docu-series was spot on in questioning the monarchy's relevance. We need to have a serious discussion about whether we still need the monarchy in this day and age 
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