the Duchy of Lancaster
noun phrase

- the areas of land, mainly in the English county of Lancashire, which have been owned by the King or Queen since 1399 and which now provide the money for the payments from the Privy Purse* each year

* Privy Purse (in the UK) an amount of money that the government gives to the king or queen to pay his or her private expenses plus some official expenses

Oxford Learner’s Dictionary

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ORIGIN

The Duchy of Lancaster is a private estate of the British sovereign with 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.

The estate is owned by His Majesty The King, as Duke of Lancaster. The rural estates consist of 44,748 acres of land in England and Wales and comprise commercial, agricultural and residential properties, the majority of which are in Lancashire, Yorkshire, Cheshire, Staffordshire and Lincolnshire. Additionally the Duchy has a significant commercial property portfolio largely in the Savoy precinct off the Strand in London, a portfolio of financial investments and a small urban residential portfolio.

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KING CHARLES III - FUNNY FACTS

- His car runs on English wine

Charles runs his 39-year-old Aston Martin (which was given as a 21st birthday gift from his mum) on bio-fuel made from surplus English wine. He also has his Jaguars, Audi and Range Rovers run on 100% biodiesel made from used cooking oil.

- A very long royal name

Before the coronation, King Charles III full official title was: His Royal Highness Prince Charles Philip Arthur George, Prince of Wales, KG, KT, GCB, OM, AK, QSO, PC, ADC, Earl of Chester, Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland.

- A picky eater

Charles has boiled eggs and muffins between 4pm and 5pm. The eggs must be boiled for exactly four minutes. Chefs boil seven eggs at a time to ensure at least one is perfect.

- The Prince Charles stream tree frog

The Prince Charles stream tree frog (Hyloscirtus princecharlesi) is a species of frogs in the family Hylidae found in Ecuador. It is considered an endangered species threatened by habitat loss, climate change, pathogens, and other hazards. In June 2012, the species was described as new to science and named in honour of Charles III, King of the United Kingdom, recognising the then-Prince's work advocating rainforest conservation.

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SMUGGLE OWAD into a conversation, say something like:

“King Charles’ income from the DUCHY OF LANCASTER is coming under intense scrutiny from the British press.”

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