UMVA has learned that Prince William is determined to modernize the monarchy, and his plans include putting an end to the practice of subletting royal properties.
This move comes after his uncle, Andrew, was embroiled in controversy over subletting properties on the Royal Lodge estate, sparking public outrage and scrutiny surrounding his friendship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Although Andrew was technically within his rights to sublet the properties, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams noted that the optics of the situation were unfavorable, and Prince William is keen to "do things differently" and "draw a line under the past."
Fitzwilliams explained that Prince William will aim to implement this change as "tactfully as possible," taking into account that many of these practices began decades ago and were handled differently at the time.
The Prince of Wales is reportedly mindful of the fact that a lot is coming to light now that isn't appropriate in our time, and he wants to emphasize that things will alter when he is king.
This shift towards transparency is already evident in Prince William's own affairs, as he recently made the terms of Forest Lodge's lease — his and Kate Middleton's "forever home" — public, including the £307,500 annual rent and a clause prohibiting subletting.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that Prince William's goal is to ensure the monarchy is "fit for purpose in the modern era," and this includes being mindful of how much the monarchy costs and taking steps to maintain transparency.
The Palace has released a statement emphasizing its commitment to transparency, and it hopes that the findings will help correct, clarify or contextualize a number of points regarding royal properties.
