West Midlands car showroom making Prince William £800,000 a year

The Prince of Wales has earned his fair share of money from the Duchy of Cornwall over the years - and his son Prince William is now profiting from the business

A well-known local car showroom turns out to have the most salubrious of owners - the future kind. Prince William is raking in a hefty sum from a car showroom in Solihull, it turns out.

The future monarch is pocketing hundreds of thousands of pounds annually from the estate let out to Johnsons Cars in Solihull. The investment earns the Duchy £800,000 a year in rent, and is home to one of Europe’s largest VW showrooms plus also houses Volvo, Skoda and Mazda dealerships.

However, it has sparked a backlash from some environmental activists. Much like his father, Prince Charles, William has carved out a reputation for advocating environmental causes, including the Earthshot Prize. However, his ties to the car showroom appear to clash with his eco-friendly principles.

Read more: Royal rule that could see kids split

William profits from the lot courtesy of the Duchy of Cornwall, which he inherited when his father ascended the throne. The Duchy snapped up the vast complex in Solihull in April 2022 for £15m when the Royal estate was still under King Charles' ownership, as per i news.

While the showroom complex does feature some electric and hybrid cars, it also hosts one of Europe's largest VW showrooms, boasting partnerships with Volvo, Skoda, and Mazda. This Royal link has raised eyebrows among environmentalists, who argue it contradicts the Royal family's green credentials.

The Duchy of Cornwall owns approximately 52,000-hectares of land across 20 counties in England. It generates income through various means, including financial investments, property development, and leasing of its land.

The Duchy was established in 1337 by King Edward III to provide an income for his son Edward, the 'Black Prince'. A Royal Charter confirmed that the Duchy's land would always be held by the eldest son of the reigning British monarch.

When his father ascended the throne, Prince William took on the responsibility of managing the Duchy of Cornwall estate. He now convenes twice a year with The Prince's Council, which offers advice on the estate's management.

In terms of daily operations, the Duchy has a Secretary and Keeper of the Records, a position held by Alastair Martin since 2013. Other roles include Land Stewards who oversee the Duchy's property interests in various areas and report to a Rural Director.

The Duchy's most recent accounts showed that Prince William received £23.6m from the business in 2023-24, the first full year after inheriting the estate from his father. Some of the profits are used to pay staff and meet any financial obligations the business has.

Any additional profit goes to Prince William as the owner of the estate.

Following his payout, Prince William made a series of personal charitable donations. He and his wife, Kate, embarked on a philanthropic campaign, making undisclosed personal contributions to charities associated with the war in Ukraine, as well as earthquake appeals in Turkey and Syria.

They also contributed to the London Air Ambulance and various mental health charities.