Late Queen was 'astute tax avoider' & Charles is a billionaire

VETERAN reporter David Dimbleby spent decades highlighting the public face of the Royal Family now he wants to reveal the full extent of their private wealth.

- NICOLA METHVEN

In his new series What is the Monarchy For?, the broadcaster brands the late Queen Elizabeth II an "astute tax avoider" and says King Charles III is the first billionaire to take the throne.

David, 87, says most of the King's wealth is from the public in the form of the annual Sovereign Grant, from his Duchy of Lancaster business and from his vast, tax-free inheritance.

"By the time of Charles' coronation, he didn't just inherit the crown, he inherited more wealth than any monarch for generations," David says.

"The taxpayer is shelling out more to fund his public duties than we did during the Queen's reign. Over the years, the royals have grown their wealth without the public really noticing" With the help of investigative journalist David Pegg, working with a team of reporters, the former Question Time presenter estimates the monarch's wealth at £1.2billion - though this is likely to be a conservative estimate as it does not include assets such as shares.

He probes politicians and insiders on whether the institution at the heart of our national life deserves to continue.

And he asks: "At a time when millions are struggling to make ends meet - How is it the Royal Family is making more money than ever?"

David feels the royal events he covered during his 63-year career helped the Palace and the people inside it present themselves as they wanted to be seen.

So he has set out to redress the balance and cast a critical eye at their power, their wealth and their image.

While Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Kensington Palace, Clarence House and St James's Palace belong to the people of the UK, the Sandringham estate in Norfolk and the Balmoral estate in Scotland are privately owned, and thought to be worth £330million.