Back دوقية لانكاستر ARZ Ducat de Lancaster Catalan Hertugdømmet Lancaster Danish Herzogtum Lancaster German Ducado de Lancaster Spanish دوکنشین لنکستر Persian Duché de Lancastre French דוכסות לנקסטר HE Lancaster Hercegség Hungarian Kadipaten Lancaster ID
| Duchy of Lancaster | |
|---|---|
  | |
| Creation date | 6 March 1351 (673 years ago) |
| Created by | Edward III |
| First holder | Henry of Grosmont |
| Present holder | Charles III |
| Heir apparent | William, Prince of Wales |
The Duchy of Lancaster is an estate of the British sovereign. The estate has its origins in the lands held by the medieval Dukes of Lancaster, which came under the direct control of the monarch when Henry Bolingbroke, the then duke of Lancaster, ascended the throne in 1399.[1][2] In 1461 King Edward IV confirmed that the Duchy would be inherited by the monarch, but held separately from the Crown Estate, the other assets which belong to the monarch.
The Duchy consists of a portfolio of lands, properties, and assets held in trust for the sovereign. The principal purpose of the estate is to provide a source of independent income.[2][3] The Duchy consists of 18,433 ha (45,550 acres) of land holdings, including rural estates and farmland, urban developments, historic buildings, and commercial properties across England and Wales, particularly in Cheshire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, Lancashire, and the Savoy Estate in London.[4] As of the financial year ending 31 March 2022, the estate was valued at £652.8 million.[5] The net income of the duchy is paid to the reigning sovereign and amounts to about £24 million per year.[2][5]
The Duchy exercises some powers and ceremonial duties of the Crown in the historic county of Lancashire,[6] which includes the current ceremonial counties of Lancashire, Greater Manchester, and Merseyside, as well as the Furness area of Cumbria. The Duchy of Lancaster is one of two royal duchies: the other is the Duchy of Cornwall, which provides income to the Duke of Cornwall, a title which is held by the monarch's oldest son.
- ^ "About the Duchy". Duchy of Lancaster. 2015. Archived from the original on 18 January 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
- ^ a b c "FAQ". Duchy of Lancaster. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
- ^ "Privy Purse and Duchy of Lancaster". Royal Household. Archived from the original on 25 September 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
- ^ "Properties and Estates". Duchy of Lancaster. 3 December 2013. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
- ^ a b "Financial". Duchy of Lancaster. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
- ^ "County Palatine -". www.duchyoflancaster.co.uk. Archived from the original on 13 July 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2018.