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Myth busting

We are a unique organisation with a long and complex history, and sometimes our business is not always clearly understood. For information on some common misconceptions about The Crown Estate, please read on.

The Crown Estate is the Queen’s property company.show/hide

No, this is misleading. Whilst The Crown Estate belongs to the reigning monarch 'in right of The Crown' and the monarch remains the legal owner, it is The Crown Estate which has the powers of management and control - i.e all the powers of an outright owner. This contrasts with the Queen's private estate, which includes Balmoral and Sandringham.

The Government also does not own The Crown Estate. It is managed by an independent organisation headed by a Board (also known as The Crown Estate Commissioners).

As quoted in...

The Guardian 

"The Queen's property company is putting the finishing touches to a £300m project to restore one of the most historic buildings in central London".

The Crown Estate is a quango.show/hide

This is misleading.  Quango is the acronym for 'quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisation'.

The Crown Estate is a public body, but we are different from most other public bodies in a number of important and practical ways.

Firstly, we are a net contributor to the nation's finances, each year sending our profit to the Treasury for the benefit of the nation.  Last year this was £240.2 million.

Secondly, whilst we work with the grain of government policy, we are not a delivery vehicle for government policy. So we are not a quango in this sense.

Thirdly, we are a fully independent organisation with a separate legal identity and accounts. The Treasury is our sponsor department, but we are separate from them. Our role is set out in the Crown Estate Act 1961 and not by the government of the day.

As quoted in...

The Press and Journal: "Community representatives in the far north are continuing to press the Crown Estate to reinstate its staffed presence in the area. The quango's defence of its decision to axe its former office in Thurso has failed to silence critics."

Under the Sovereign Grant, the Queen receives 15 per cent of the profits from The Crown Estate.show/hide

This isn't correct. The Crown Estate continues to pay its entire revenue surplus (or profit) to the Treasury. The Sovereign Grant simply sets the level of funding the Queen receives from the Treasury by reference to 15 per cent of The Crown Estate's profits.

As quoted in...

The Guardian

"Under the new grant the Queen receives 15 per cent of the profits from The Crown Estate, but from funds two years in arrears."