The Duchy of Cornwall. Beyond the Law

Prince Charles once referred to Dr John Kirkhope, one of the co-authors of this book, as 'some kind of nutter' because he had the temerity to investigate the Duchy of Cornwall. Clearly he touched a nerve as his investigations attempted answer some basic questions about this curious entity. What exactly is the Duchy? Where did it originate and is it really the private property of the Prince of Wals?Prince Charles also applied the same appellation to Lord Berkeley, both a hereditary and a life peer, who went as far as introducing a private member's bill into the House of Lords, one that would have required the Duchy to pay tax at the same level as private companies in the UK. Far from being an innocuous and consumer-friendly organisation from the land of clotted cream, pasties and wreckers, the evidence suggests the Duchy of Cornwall is secretive, unaccountable, aloof and even somewhat sinister. What's clear is that it is not subject to the various laws and criminal sanctions - should they act in breach of the law - that apply to the rest of the country and its citizens.Published with the assistance of Republic, this book challenges long-established assumptions about the Duchy, and whether it really is a private estate that should be in the hands of the heir to the throne. A vital exploration of a secretive and feudal estate, one that raises many uncomfortable questions for the royals and their supporters. REPUBLICI am not a historian but I do take some satisfaction in the fact the Duchy of Cornwall has recently, very probably, been subject to more public scrutinythan at any time in its history. JOHN KIRKHOPENo individual, irrespective of his or her status, or organisation, no matter what its purpose, make up or history, has any right to claim exemptions from, or simply ignore, the rules and laws that govern every other individual and organisation in Britain. And it is frankly disgraceful that the principle of equality before the law should be so blatantly ignored by the Duchy. PETER STUART SMITH