The Duchess of Edinburgh looked every inch the stately spectator this Saturday as she and Prince Edward enjoyed the thrill of the jumps at the Coral Gold Cup meeting at Newbury Racecourse.
A few days later, the spotlight was back on their home in Surrey, and some questions resurfaced.
At the racecourse, Sophie kept up the royal tradition by chatting with fellow racegoers, watching elite jumpers thunder down the course and enjoying a crisp autumn day with Edward.
But it’s a different story at home. The couple’s Bagshot Park residence is a sprawling 120-room mansion on 51 acres, which has come under scrutiny after it emerged that Edward only pays a “peppercorn rent.”
In 2007 he paid £5 million for a 150-year lease, and the ongoing rent is effectively nominal.
Critics argue that such a deal in a property of this size and value seems difficult to justify, especially when compared to publicly owned Crown Estate properties, which could benefit taxpayers more directly.
Campaigners warn the arrangement opens up the possibility of private profit from what began as public land.
So while the Duchess’s Newbury smile spoke of tradition and leisure, the Bagshot Park rental revelation is a reminder that for Britain’s royals, luxury living can come under serious scrutiny.
