Upon researching another post on how Great Britains Gold ended up in Fort Knox., I can across this story. It is quite dark but really true and goes on today.
You ever notice how kings and queens are real sentimental about war—until it’s time to count the money? They stand somber, heads bowed, laying wreaths for the dead, all while their pockets jingle with the coins of the fallen. It’s a neat little trick, like weeping at a funeral while checking the will.
Now, I ain’t saying royalty is in the business of collecting corpses like a banker collects debts—but, well, let’s just say the numbers don’t lie. For centuries, British monarchs have profited from an old, dusty law that scoops up the wealth of those who die without a will. And wouldn’t you know it? War has a funny way of leaving a lot of young men dead without time to scribble down a last testament.
They call it Bona Vacantia, which is Latin for “Finders Keepers”, and through it, kings have been quietly inheriting the estates of dead soldiers for generations. Of course, no one ever put that in a Remembrance Sunday speech. But that’s alright—we’ll do it for them.
The High Cost of Low Morals
Now, some folks might say, “Well, that’s just tradition.” But tradition is just history that never got around to apologizing. If the King’s coffers swell every time a soldier dies without an heir, then perhaps we ought to ask why the richest man in the land is still collecting the pennies of the poor.
The monarchy is a grand old thing—draped in velvet, wrapped in ceremony, and built on the backs of those who can’t speak up for themselves. And if you listen closely, beneath the chiming of royal gold, you can almost hear the ghosts of the fallen whispering, “You’re welcome.”
1. The Royal Family’s Role in Remembrance Sunday
Every year on Remembrance Sunday, senior members of the British royal family, including the monarch, lay wreaths at the Cenotaph in London to honor fallen soldiers from past conflicts. This is a solemn and widely respected tradition across the UK and the Commonwealth.
However, despite this public display of commemoration, there is an often-overlooked financial aspect of royal history. The video claims that successive monarchs have financially benefited from the deaths of some British service members and civilians, a claim originally reported by The Guardian in 2012.
2. Historical Ownership of Land by the British Monarchy
Historically, all land in England and Wales belonged to the monarch. Over time, the cost of governance and military upkeep became too great for any individual ruler to bear. By the 18th century, the monarchy sought financial relief from the government.
- In 1760, King George III agreed to surrender income from Crown Lands to Parliament.
- In exchange, the British government provided the monarch with a fixed annual payment, known as the Civil List.
- This agreement was renewed with each successive monarch up to the present day.
Despite this arrangement, the King and the Prince of Wales retained control over two vast estates:
- The Duchy of Lancaster (controlled by the king)
- The Duchy of Cornwall (controlled by the Prince of Wales)
These private holdings remained lucrative sources of income, exempt from many taxes.
3. The Enormous Wealth Generated by the Duchies
The duchies continue to provide substantial income to the monarch and the Prince of Wales. In the 2023-24 period:
- King Charles III received £27.4 million from the Duchy of Lancaster.
- Prince William received £23.6 million from the Duchy of Cornwall.
- In addition, the Sovereign Grant (a public-funded budget replacing the Civil List) provided £86.3 million to the monarchy.
From his private income alone, King Charles earns over £75,000 per day.
4. The Monarchy’s Business Deals
Investigations by The Sunday Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches have uncovered several controversial financial arrangements:
- Charging the NHS for parking ambulances: King Charles collects £829,000 per year from the National Health Service for using a parking depot he owns. Over 15 years, this will generate him £12.4 million.
- Charging the Ministry of Defense: The monarchy charges the British Army millions of pounds for training soldiers on Duchy-owned lands—despite being the titular head of the Armed Forces.
These findings have raised ethical concerns, particularly during a time of economic hardship and increased taxation for ordinary British citizens.
5. “Bona Vacantia” – A Source of Income from Deceased Individuals
One of the most controversial claims in the video is that British monarchs have financially benefited from the deaths of soldiers and civilians through an ancient legal principle called Bona Vacantia (Latin for “vacant goods”).
- Bona Vacantia in the Duchy of Lancaster and Duchy of Cornwall:
- When a person dies without a will (intestate) and without heirs, their estate does not go to the state.
- Instead, in these duchies, their assets are transferred directly to the monarch or the Prince of Wales.
- This has been formalized in British law since 1925.
- Impact on War Casualties:
- During World War I and World War II, the Duchy of Lancaster reportedly saw a sharp increase in Bona Vacantia income due to the deaths of soldiers and civilians.
- Since areas like Greater Manchester and Cheshire fall under the duchy’s control, many of those who died intestate had their assets funneled into the monarch’s revenue.
- Modern-Day Figures:
- Between 2013 and 2023, the Duchy of Lancaster collected millions from Bona Vacantia, even under peacetime conditions.
6. Redirection of Bona Vacantia Funds
During the 1980s, Queen Elizabeth II directed that Bona Vacantia funds be used for charity. However, in 2020, leaked documents revealed that these funds were also used to invest in profit-generating properties such as:
- Holiday rentals
- Rural cottages
- Agricultural buildings
These investments continue to generate profits for the monarch, raising ethical concerns about the original intent of the funds.
7. Public Debate on Royal Wealth and Responsibility
The video raises important questions about the monarchy’s financial dealings:
- Should a modern constitutional monarchy continue to accumulate wealth through ancient feudal laws?
- Is it ethical for the monarchy to profit from the assets of deceased soldiers and citizens?
- Should the revenues of the Duchy of Lancaster and Duchy of Cornwall be taxed like ordinary estates?
- Should Bona Vacantia funds be fully redirected to public services instead of royal estates?
These points are likely to spark strong opinions from both supporters and critics of the monarchy.
Despite the monarchy’s public role in honoring fallen soldiers, it has financially benefited from war casualties through the Duchy of Lancaster and Duchy of Cornwall. While some of these funds have been redirected to charities, recent revelations suggest that the monarchy has also used them for personal profit.
This complex and little-known aspect of royal finances adds another layer to the ongoing debate about the relevance and financial practices of the British monarchy in the 21st century.
At this point, I am so disgusted by the whole thing – I am ending it here.
EXTRA CREDIT
