Key facts
- Prince William will forgo personal benefit from £1.5 million annual rent generated by Dartmoor Prison.
- The change will be implemented from the 2026-27 financial year.
- The income will be used for community regeneration in the area surrounding the prison.
- The Duchy of Cornwall signed a £37 million deal in 2022 to lease Dartmoor Prison to the Ministry of Justice.
- Dartmoor Prison has been vacant since 2024 due to safety concerns.
Prince William has decided to cease personally benefiting from the annual £1.5 million in rent generated by Dartmoor Prison. The Prince of Wales has requested that this income, derived from the Duchy of Cornwall's lease of the facility, be redirected towards regenerating the local community of Princetown starting from the 2026-27 financial year.
Dartmoor Prison has been unoccupied since 2024 following the discovery of high levels of radon in prisoner accommodations. The Duchy of Cornwall had entered into a 25-year lease agreement valued at £37 million in 2022 with the Ministry of Justice for the prison. This arrangement was established before Charles ascended to the throne and William became Prince of Wales.
As the heir to the throne, William is entitled to the profits from the Duchy of Cornwall's extensive landholdings. His private secretary, Ian Patrick, stated that the prison's closure has caused significant uncertainty for the local community, and William feels it is important for the income to support local people in shaping their future. William voluntarily pays income tax on his net surplus from the Duchy, which amounted to £21.6 million in private income for 2025-26, with a tax bill of £7.76 million.