Inheritance tax, property, and public money: Our first billionaire king face tough questions. The recent furore surrounding Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's title and payments has sparked a three-part documentary series, 'What's the Monarchy For?' on the royal family. The series, presented by David Dimbleby, an octogenarian with a hereditary broadcasting privilege, delves into the monarchy's role and wealth. The BBC's Dimbleby dynasty, known for their royal coverage, is now examining the monarchy's financial secrets. However, the series' ability to shed light on the royal family's finances is hampered by an editorial decision to split the episodes into power and money. The first episode revisits political moments, including Boris Johnson's proroguing of parliament, while the second focuses on the monarchy's wealth. The latter reveals the Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall's tax evasion, massive wealth portfolios, and their impact on the monarchy's financial independence. The series also highlights the lack of scrutiny on the royal family's finances, with the BBC failing to address key issues like the monarchy's tax status, royal wills, and the Windsors' political influence. The author argues that the series avoids controversial topics, such as the Andrew-Epstein scandal and the Duke of York's refusal to budge from the Royal Lodge, and instead focuses on the monarchy's image. The momentum for royal overhaul lies with young, angry outsiders, not the establishment. The series concludes that the monarchy's financial out-of-stepness with the nation is a growing concern, and real change requires a moral revolution.
