Royal new tenant for King’s Cross?
Published: 16 September, 2010
by DAN CARRIER
THE heir to the throne is rumoured to be in line to take over a swathe of office space in the King’s Cross redevelopment.
Prince Charles’s charities – bankrolled by donations from income from his vast inherited estates across the country, donations by rich benefactors and public bodies – are currently dotted in nine offices through London and a further six across the UK. But now the charities, made up of 20 different organisations, look set to be brought under one roof. While his aides at Clarence House will neither confirm or deny the reports, the New Journal has learned that there is substance to reports that they will take on a new-build office block in the King’s Cross railway lands development.
A spokesman for Clarence House said: “The Prince’s charities have for some time been looking to move many of the organisations within the group into one building to enable enhanced interaction and closer working between them. There are currently negotiations regarding the potential location.”
They added that because negotiations were ongoing, they could not confirm any details.
The charities include posh food company Duchy Originals and business start-up group, The Prince’s Trust. Other bodies include eco-groups The Prince’s Rainforest Trust. Prince Charles also bankrolls The School of Traditional Arts, which has close links with the oil-funded monarchy in Saudi Arabia and encourages courses in classical crafts.
The charities have been under financial pressure because of the recession and falls in the stock market and land values. They also face a further financial squeeze as some funds come from government quangos – who are in line for cuts under the Conservative and Lib-Dem coalition’s autumn budget.