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The Prince of Wales's private income rose by 11% last year to more than ?13m, according to figures published today in the annual review of his finances and official activities.
The Clarence House review also revealed that the prince had received government grants of ?2,688,000 for official travel, communications and property maintenance, costing each taxpayer 4p a year.
Prince Charles received ?13,274,000 from the Duchy of Cornwall compared with ?11,913,000 in 2003-04. The increase was attributed mainly to rising income from commercial properties.
The prince's annual report shows he raised ?109m for his main charities, making him "the greatest charitable entrepreneur in the world", according to his private secretary, Sir Michael Peat. The prince also donated some ?2.5m of his own money to charity.
The report showed that Duchy Originals, the prince's organic foods company, made a ?1m profit for the second consecutive year, on increased retail sales of almost ?40m, with all profits donated to charity.
The Duchy of Cornwall, which is the prince's main source of income, was established in 1337 by Edward III to provide for his eldest son, the black prince. It now consists of around 54,850 hectares of land in 20 counties, mostly in south-west England. The duchy comprises commercial and residential property, as well as a financial investment portfolio.
The prince spends the money the duchy brings in partly on fulfilling his public duties and partly on personal expenditure. The prince's wife, Camilla, and sons, princes William and Harry all benefit from the income generated. Prince Charles pays tax at the normal rates - mainly at the top rate of 40% - on income after deductions for spending on his public duties.
The last financial year's tax and personal expenditure amounted to ?5,226,000 compared with ?4,406,000 the previous year. Staff costs were ?3,814,000, while spending on housekeeping was ?96,000, on gardens ?30,000, and on utilities like electricity, gas and water ?72,000.
Prince Charles spent ?6,145,000 carrying out official and charitable duties, and ?1,242,000 from government grants-in-aid on his London office and official residence at Clarence House. Grants-in-aid for his official travel by air and rail amounted to ?1,059,000, compared with the previous year's figure of ?825,000.
The report shows the prince undertook more than 500 engagements, 103 of them overseas, and received or entertained 7,400 official guests.
He attended 191 formal briefings and meetings, received more than 47,000 letters from the public, and wrote more than 2,300 letters personally, with a further 18,000 written on his behalf by his office.
The report from Clarence House comes after last week's publication of details of Buckingham Palace's finances. These figures showed a ?100,000 decrease in overall spending but a rise of three times that amount in the cost of royal travel.
The Queen's aides insisted the report showed the monarchy was value for money. Alan Reid, Keeper of the Privy Purse, said the royal family cost each person in the country 61p a year.
See the annual review here.
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