Charles ‘King Charles III’ Windsor wearing a crown during the State Opening of Parliament, in the House of Lords, London, July 17, 2024
INDEPENDENCE campaigners YesCymru claimed today that momentum is growing for the devolution of the Crown Estates as 15 Welsh councils backed the demand.
The latest to join the campaign are Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council and the Isle of Anglesey County Council bringing the total to 15.
The Crown Estate controls 65 per cent of the foreshore and riverbed and over 50,000 acres of land in Wales.
While it profits from offshore wind and other developments, up to 75 per cent of its revenue goes directly to the Westminster government Treasury with the rest given to the monarchy.
A 2023 freedom of information request revealed the value of the Crown Estate in Wales at £853 million, with 93 per cent of that coming from offshore renewables.
A 2023 YouGov poll found that 75 per cent of people in Wales support transferring control of the Crown Estate to Wales as was done in Scotland in 2016.
