Royals cashing in on gifts – surely that's unseemly for a modern monarchy? | Duncan Hames

The perception of corruption is undermining Britain. King Charles should lead by example - and get his house in order

• Duncan Hames is director of policy at Transparency International UK

Revelations that members of the royal family may have personally benefited from gifts made to them because of their official public roles raise some serious ethical issues.

The Guardian's latest report shows that stamps that were given to the royal family as state gifts appear to have been subsumed into the privately owned" royal philatelic collection, which is worth an estimated 100m. That certain items today in that collection were, in fact, the product of a gift" from a former colonial administration less than a century ago, is most unseemly for a modern monarchy. Surely King Charles will want to put this right?

Duncan Hames is director of policy at Transparency International UK

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