Prince William has given up £1.5million a year in income from the abandoned Dartmoor Prison, insisting the money should instead be invested in the local community.
The heir to the throne has instructed the Duchy of Cornwall to remove the annual rental income from his accounts and invest it locally instead while the prison’s future remains unresolved.
The category C prison, near the isolated rural town of Princetown, in Devon, has been closed since July 2024 after high levels of the toxic gas radon were detected, leaving local people facing an uncertain future.
The Ministry of Justice continues to pay rent under a lease agreement that ends in 2033 while it considers its next step. It was agreed in 2022, before William inherited the title of Duke of Cornwall from his father.
William's 'first-hand' motive for change
Announcing the move, the Prince’s private secretary Ian Patrick said: "The Duke has seen first-hand the impact that the prison’s continued closure is having on the local community and believes it is right that this money should be used to help the area build for the future while uncertainty remains.
"This decision reflects The Duke’s belief that the Duchy should be a force for positive impact in the communities it serves."
The Duchy plans to establish a community-led regeneration fund for Princetown, which will support local businesses, improve facilities including the town’s youth centre and expand environmental programmes.
"Prince William knows that for many people in Princetown, the prison has long been part of the fabric of the community," he added.
"Its closure has created genuine uncertainty, not just about jobs and businesses, but about the future of the town itself.
"The Duke felt strongly that, while those questions remain unanswered, the benefit of this income should remain in the community, helping local people shape that future."
Prince William's major changes for the Duchy of Cornwall
The move is part of Prince William’s wider overhaul of the 689-year-old Duchy, which includes selling off 20 per cent of its holdings to focus on five key areas: Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly, Dartmoor, Bath and its surrounding area and Kennington in South London.
© Andrew Parsons / Kensington PalaceCEO Will Bax said the strategy would allow the Duchy to reinvest in projects and places where it can deliver greater social and environmental impact.
"We’re moving from stewardship to active leadership, using our lands, capital and partnerships to deliver social and environmental value alongside long-term financial sustainability," he said.
How much money does Prince William make?
Prince William received a private income of £21.6 million from the vast land and property portfolio in 2025-26.
© Getty ImagesThe annual accounts also reveal that William paid £7.76 million in tax in 2025-26, the first time he has made the figure public.
Elsewhere, Kensington Palace said the number of staff employed by the couple’s household has risen to 74 from 68.
Diversity figures show that 14.9% of staff are from an ethnic minority background, up from 13.2% the year before, while 73% of Kensington Palace staff are female and 27% male.
