Charles' raised £100m for charity last year, says review

The Prince of Wales helped to raise around £100 million for charity and travelled the equivalent of almost twice round globe for official engagements, an annual review of the royal's activities has found.

According to the Clarence House report of Prince Charles' activities and accounts in the year to the end of March 2004, he helped raise directly or indirectly to raise around £100 million for his 17 core charities.

The review shows that in 2003-4, the Prince undertook 517 official engagements, including 82 abroad, met an estimated 10,000 people and received or entertained 9,000 guests at royal residences. In 2003-04, he travelled more than 43,500 miles to and from official engagements in the United Kingdom and overseas. The cost of these journeys amounted to £825,000 in 2003-04.

In finances, the Prince saw his total income rise to just over £16 million last year, compared with £13 million in 2003.

The income from the Duchy of Cornwall rose by 20% from £9.4 million to £11.9 million principally reflecting increased rents from commercial property.

Around 50% of the Prince's income from the Duchy was spent on official duties and charitable activities. Of that £5.9 million, £3.2 million represented the cost of the staff. The Prince of Wales employs 124 full and part-time staff in his Household.

For the first time, Camilla Parker-Bowles appears in the royal's accounts.

The report stated: "In addition to paying for The Prince of Wales’s official duties and charitable activities and his income tax liability, the income from the Duchy of Cornwall is used to meet personal expenditure for The Prince of Wales, Princes William and Harry, and some personal costs of Mrs Parker Bowles."

The Prince’s organic food company, Duchy Originals, made a £1 million profit for the first time, all of which goes to charity.

The report also reveals that the Prince attended over 150 formal briefings and meetings; received over 33,000 letters from the public; and wrote over 2,000 letters personally with a further 10,000 written on his behalf by his Office.

The prince's private secretary, Sir Michael Peat, said: “People are entitled to know how the Prince of Wales fulfils his public role and seeks to make a difference for the better. The Annual Review explains his official and charitable work and how it is funded, and illustrates the range and depth of his contribution to national life.”

(gmcg)