Should Queen Elizabeth pay tax?
The Duchy of Lancaster, the queen’s private estate, invested millions in a Cayman Islands fund
THE grandest name associated with the “Paradise Papers”, leaked documents that shine light on offshore transactions (see article), is that of Queen Elizabeth. The papers reveal that the Duchy of Lancaster, her private estate, invested millions in a Cayman Islands fund. Many of her subjects are nonplussed. Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of the Labour Party, implied that she should apologise, though there is no suggestion of wrongdoing. Yet despite her offshore dealings, the queen actually pays more tax than legally required, not less.
As head of state, she enjoys lots of weird exemptions. Civil and criminal proceedings cannot be taken against the sovereign under British law. Passports are issued in her name, so it is unnecessary for her to possess one.
This article appeared in the Britain section of the print edition under the headline "Daylight upon magic"
Britain November 11th 2017
- Parliament’s whips have lost their edge, just as their role becomes vital
- Sex scandals and ministerial mistakes sap Theresa May’s government
- Should Queen Elizabeth pay tax?
- Freedom of information requests are being turned down more often
- What fax machines and floppy disks reveal about Britain’s productivity problem
- More English children are being excluded from school
- Mapping gay life in Britain
- Theresa May, weak and stable prime minister
From the November 11th 2017 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents
Explore the editionMore from Britain
Why so many Britons have taken to stand-up paddleboarding
It combines fitness, wellness and smugness
Why Britain’s membership of the ECHR has become a political issue
And why leaving would be a mistake
The ECtHR’s Swiss climate ruling: overreach or appropriate?
A ruling on behalf of pensioners does not mean the court has gone rogue