The Guardian view on the crown estate inquiry: a necessary probe and a wider debate | Editorial

Britain's parliament has long been averse to discussing its own royal family, a self-imposed gag that has been in place for centuries. This constitutional monarchy is unable to even broach the subject without breaking the rules, which can be seen as infantilising and indefensible.

However, it appears this may be changing. The Commons public accounts committee recently announced an inquiry into the Crown Estate, a highly successful and profitable property company worth an estimated £15.5 billion. The probe is a direct response to news that disgraced former Prince Andrew has been paying "peppercorn rents" for extensive properties owned by the estate.

The crown estate's close relationship with the royal family is particularly relevant given its generous protected "sovereign grant" from the estate's profits each year, which provides a royal windfall that might have gone to the Treasury. As such, this inquiry into the estate's value for money is likely to generate significant public interest and sparks the wider debate about the monarchy.

By scrutinizing the crown estate, parliament is holding the royal family accountable for their actions. It's an essential step towards transparency in governance and ensuring that public funds are being used wisely.

The inquiry will also shed light on issues such as the allocation of "grace and favour" residences, which have long been shrouded in secrecy. This could lead to further revelations about the royal family's financial dealings, including those involving Prince Andrew.

Ultimately, this is a necessary probe that will help lift a veil of secrecy around the monarchy's finances and ensure that public funds are being used for the greater good. As the article notes, value for money is a fundamental principle of public accountability that should be applied to all institutions, including those with royal connections.

By pushing back on the monarch's privileged position, parliament can uphold its duty to scrutinise and hold accountable those in power. The fact that this inquiry has been announced at a time when attitudes towards the monarchy are becoming increasingly sceptical suggests that times may indeed be changing for the crown.

I mean, it's about time someone did something about all those dodgy deals Prince Andrew has made off with public funds . The fact that he's been paying "peppercorn rents" for these properties is just laughable . And now parliament's finally having a sniff at the Crown Estate, it's gonna be interesting to see what they uncover .

I remember when I was younger, people used to say that the royal family was above all that, but times are changing and attitudes are shifting . It's about transparency and accountability, you know? Can't have a bunch of privileged folks making deals behind closed doors without anyone keeping an eye on 'em .

I'm not saying this is gonna lead to the end of the monarchy or anything , but maybe it'll be more like... normal . You know, a bit less secretive and a lot more open to scrutiny . That's progress, innit?

I'm not sure if I should be surprised or not that Britain is finally taking a closer look at its royal family's finances . It's about time they started being transparent, right? I mean, the idea of "peppercorn rents" sounds like something out of a bad sitcom . But seriously, it's hard to imagine how much money is actually being made and what's being done with it.

It's interesting that this inquiry comes at a time when people are starting to question the monarchy more than ever . Maybe we'll finally get some answers about how their wealth is generated and whether they're really doing anything for society other than, you know, being posh . Who knows? This might be a good thing for transparency and accountability, but I'm not holding my breath just yet .

the UK government is finally being forced to open up about how they're spending public funds , and it's about time! all those years of secrecy around the royal family's finances are a bit dodgy if you ask me... i mean, who gets "peppercorn rents" for their properties? anyway, this inquiry is a good start, but we need to see more accountability from the monarchy going forward. it's not just about the money, it's also about how they use their influence and position to shape public policy

I think it's awesome how parliament is finally shining a light on the Crown Estate . Like, can you imagine if any other super-rich company got to operate like this without being held accountable? It just doesn't seem right that the royal family gets a sweet deal just because of who they are .

It's also kinda refreshing that people are starting to question the whole monarchy thing and how it affects public funds . I mean, shouldn't we be all about transparency and accountability in governance? It's not like the Crown Estate is doing anything "royally" wrong, you know?

This inquiry is definitely long overdue, especially with Prince Andrew's dodgy dealings coming to light . Maybe it's time for the royal family to put their money where their mouth is and show us that they're not just a bunch of out-of-touch elites .

Overall, I think this is a major step forward in holding those in power accountable, even if it's the monarchy . Who knows, maybe we'll see some real change in the way they operate and prioritize the public good .

I think it's about time someone puts the royal family under scrutiny, you know? They've had a pretty sweet deal going on for centuries and it's only right we get some answers about how they're using public funds . This inquiry is a big deal because it shows parliament isn't afraid to speak up even if it's about their own kind . I'm excited to see what comes out of this - maybe we'll finally get some transparency around the Crown Estate and Prince Andrew's dodgy dealings . It's not like they've been hiding anything from us all these years, right?

Prince Andrew's got a lot of "royal" headaches comin' his way [GIF: prince andrew with a crown on his head, looking worried]

I gotta say, it's about time someone started shining a light on all that secrecy surrounding the royal family . I mean, think about it, we've been living with this self-imposed gag for centuries and it's just not right . The fact that they can't even discuss their own finances without breaking some rule is infantilizing, ya know? It's like, "Hey, we're the ones in charge here, not you!"

But seriously, this inquiry into the Crown Estate is a big deal . I mean, £15.5 billion is a lot of dosh! And Prince Andrew paying peppercorn rents for all those properties? Come on, mate! That's just not right .

I think it's great that parliament is finally holding the royal family accountable . We need to know how our public funds are being used and whether they're being spent wisely. Transparency, you know? It's like, "Hey, we've got your backs, but you've also gotta be honest with us!"

And let's not forget about those "grace and favour" residences . I mean, who gets to live in a fancy mansion for free? Sounds like some shady stuff to me!

So yeah, this inquiry is just the beginning of a bigger conversation about the monarchy and how it operates . It's time for some accountability and transparency, if you ask me .

This is gonna be good I reckon lol I've always thought it was weird how you can't even talk about the royal family in parliament without breaking the rules, seems kinda silly to me anyway, so now we're finally getting some transparency on the Crown Estate and Prince Andrew's "peppercorn rents" are just mind-blowing I mean, who pays rent on £15.5 billion worth of properties? And what's up with this sovereign grant that goes straight to the royal family instead of the Treasury? It's all about time we get some answers and maybe even see a change in how things work around there