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Prince Charles's secretary tries to get Duchy tax ducks in a row Prince Charles's secretary tries to get Duchy tax ducks in a row
(2 months later)
In the Commons, Prince Charles's private secretary was accounting for the heir's tax affairs. Outside, there were simultaneous demonstrations. The London Gay Men's Chorus was celebrating the imminent passage of the gay marriage bill while, a few feet away, Burmese folk were protesting against the treatment of the Rohingya minority.In the Commons, Prince Charles's private secretary was accounting for the heir's tax affairs. Outside, there were simultaneous demonstrations. The London Gay Men's Chorus was celebrating the imminent passage of the gay marriage bill while, a few feet away, Burmese folk were protesting against the treatment of the Rohingya minority.
The president of Burma was meeting David Cameron, and chaps wearing giant papier-mache heads of the two men were getting all lovey-dovey in a sarcastic comment on the talks. But it was a hot day and the masks kept slipping. "Cameron's head needs adjusting!" shouted one demonstrator, a thought no doubt echoed by many Tory backbenchers.The president of Burma was meeting David Cameron, and chaps wearing giant papier-mache heads of the two men were getting all lovey-dovey in a sarcastic comment on the talks. But it was a hot day and the masks kept slipping. "Cameron's head needs adjusting!" shouted one demonstrator, a thought no doubt echoed by many Tory backbenchers.
The chorus finished Get Me to the Church on Time and courteously waited for the Burmese to resume their chant of "Never again, never again!" The gay celebration was supported by Ben & Jerry's ice cream, which provided a metre-high wedding cake and will send free Apple'y Ever After ice cream to the first gay couple to marry. Sponsored good causes is a new one on me. I don't recall the Hewlett-Packard Million Men March, or in Ulster, the Jameson's People's Democracy. But then there is nothing which is not sponsored these days.The chorus finished Get Me to the Church on Time and courteously waited for the Burmese to resume their chant of "Never again, never again!" The gay celebration was supported by Ben & Jerry's ice cream, which provided a metre-high wedding cake and will send free Apple'y Ever After ice cream to the first gay couple to marry. Sponsored good causes is a new one on me. I don't recall the Hewlett-Packard Million Men March, or in Ulster, the Jameson's People's Democracy. But then there is nothing which is not sponsored these days.
Over the road the prince's principal private secretary, Mr William Nye, was giving evidence to the public accounts committee. He is a very thin man: thin body, thin nose, thin glasses, thin hair. You can imagine the scene at Highgrove.Over the road the prince's principal private secretary, Mr William Nye, was giving evidence to the public accounts committee. He is a very thin man: thin body, thin nose, thin glasses, thin hair. You can imagine the scene at Highgrove.
"Mr Nye is here, sir.""Mr Nye is here, sir."
"Very good, FitzTightly, slide him under the door, will you?""Very good, FitzTightly, slide him under the door, will you?"
The committee was fairly rough. Maybe Mr Nye should have brought them all a Duchy Originals goody bag, including shortbreads, camomile tea and a tub of gooseberry posset.The committee was fairly rough. Maybe Mr Nye should have brought them all a Duchy Originals goody bag, including shortbreads, camomile tea and a tub of gooseberry posset.
But it turns out that Duchy Originals now has nothing to do with the Duchy of Cornwall, sole prop: Prince Charles.But it turns out that Duchy Originals now has nothing to do with the Duchy of Cornwall, sole prop: Prince Charles.
It was very complicated. The committee insisted that the Duchy of Cornwall was actually a corporation, but a corporation that didn't pay tax.It was very complicated. The committee insisted that the Duchy of Cornwall was actually a corporation, but a corporation that didn't pay tax.
Since it owns a lot of property, including, we were surprised to hear, the Holiday Inn, Reading, it may be thought unfair to other corporations in the same line of business.Since it owns a lot of property, including, we were surprised to hear, the Holiday Inn, Reading, it may be thought unfair to other corporations in the same line of business.
Mr Nye disagreed. He kept pointing out that the duchy had been founded in 1337 as a means of giving the heir to the throne an independent income. So, he agreed, it was a medieval institution, but it had tried to keep up.Mr Nye disagreed. He kept pointing out that the duchy had been founded in 1337 as a means of giving the heir to the throne an independent income. So, he agreed, it was a medieval institution, but it had tried to keep up.
The committee seemed sceptical.The committee seemed sceptical.
Margaret Hodge kept demanding whether Kate's baby, if a girl, would one day inherit the duchy. ("Congratulations, it's a tax break!")Margaret Hodge kept demanding whether Kate's baby, if a girl, would one day inherit the duchy. ("Congratulations, it's a tax break!")
She thought the tax affairs were "shocking, shocking!"She thought the tax affairs were "shocking, shocking!"
Nick Smith MP said that if it looked like a duck, quacked like a duck and swam like a duck it must be, well, a corporation and so ought to pay.Nick Smith MP said that if it looked like a duck, quacked like a duck and swam like a duck it must be, well, a corporation and so ought to pay.
Mr Nye said that the duchy, or ducky, was no such thing. It was "a private estate, like a private estate, but in many respects is not a private estate. But that does not make it, per se, a corporation."Mr Nye said that the duchy, or ducky, was no such thing. It was "a private estate, like a private estate, but in many respects is not a private estate. But that does not make it, per se, a corporation."
So that was very clear.So that was very clear.
Meanwhile we learned that the Queen was also the Duke of Normandy. But does anyone in Normandy know? These are deep waters.Meanwhile we learned that the Queen was also the Duke of Normandy. But does anyone in Normandy know? These are deep waters.
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