King Charles Criticised for Charging NHS £829k for Ambulance Parking
King Charles has come under fire after it was revealed that the Duchy of Lancaster estate, which he controls, charges an NHS Foundation Trust £829,000 a year to park ambulances in a warehouse in London. The revelation has prompted accusations of greed from critics, including former minister Norman Baker.
Norman Baker's Criticism
In a Daily Expresso video, Norman Baker, a former Liberal Democrat MP and Minister of State for Home Affairs, renewed his criticism of the monarchy's financial arrangements. He stated: "The Duchy of Lancaster, which Charles is in charge of, is charging the NHS £829,000 a year to park ambulances in a derelict warehouse not far from here just over near London Bridge somewhere." Baker added: "They are greedy beyond belief and this will be their downfall."
Details of the Lease
The Duchy of Lancaster signed a 15-year lease in 2023 with Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust after the trust sought storage space for a new fleet of electric ambulances aimed at reducing waiting times. The arrangement, which charges £829,000 annually, was uncovered by a joint investigation by The Sunday Times and Channel 4's Dispatches in 2024.
King's Tax Transparency
The criticism coincides with King Charles becoming the first British monarch to publicly disclose details of his personal tax bill, as part of Buckingham Palace's annual Sovereign Grant briefing. A palace spokesperson said the decision was made to "encourage wider understanding of our accountability" and improve "transparency," adding that it was done at the "express wish of the King himself." The tax bill covers private income from the Duchy of Lancaster, which generated around £24.4 million, as well as earnings from the King's private estates at Balmoral and Sandringham, and personal investments. The King voluntarily pays income tax and capital gains tax on these sources, continuing a practice started by Queen Elizabeth II in 1993. However, he does not pay tax on the Sovereign Grant, which rose to £137.9 million for the 2026/27 financial year.
Duchy of Lancaster Response
A spokesperson for the Duchy of Lancaster defended the charges, stating: "Our focus is on responsible long-term stewardship, ensuring the Duchy is managed in a way that delivers lasting environmental, social and economic value for future generations. We charge nominal rents to many local community groups and have donated £5m to nearly 2,000 grassroots charities in the North of England over the past five years."
Broader Context
British monarchs are not legally required to pay income tax, capital gains tax, or inheritance tax on sovereign bequests. Norman Baker, who has authored books critical of the monarchy including "And What Do You Do?: What The Royal Family Don't Want You to Know" (2020) and "Royal Mint, National Debt: The shocking truth about the royals’ finances" (2025), has long called for greater accountability. The Daily Expresso, hosted by JJ Anisiobi, airs weekdays at 5pm on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.
