"During the period, His Royal Highness in right of his Duchy of Cornwall, received bona vacantia (being the estate of deceased intestates resident in Cornwall and dying without next of kin) of £69,000 (2009: £34,000) before allowing for ex gratia payments and other associated costs of £22,000 (2009: £30,000). Surplus receipts of bona vacantia by His Royal Highness are paid over to The Duke of Cornwall's Benevolent Fund; £50,000 (2009: £Nil) was paid during the year. At 31st March 2010, the Duchy retained £150,000 (2009: £154,000) within creditors to meet potential future claims from individuals statutorily entitled to estates which had previously passed as bona vacantia to His Royal Highness."
At £69,000 this relic of feudalism is more than double the previous year, but would still be insufficient to pay Cornwall Council's chief executive for four months.Nevertheless, a 21st century progressive democracy might have alternative uses for the money - any suggestions?
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