The organisation stated that it 'cannot' waive rental fees

The Crown Estate is charging more than £60,000 annually in rental charges on the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) for 43 lifeboat stations and associated facilities across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The charity's busiest station, situated beside Waterloo Bridge in central London, accounts for £31,000 of this sum each year.

These revelations emerged in the Mail on Sunday, despite Prince William's Duchy of Cornwall U-turn last year, scrapping rental fees for six RNLI stations following public criticism of royal finances. That decision eliminated over £10,000 in charges.

The Crown Estate controls more than half of Britain's foreshore and substantial portions of the surrounding seabed.

A lease agreement signed in 2021 permits a floating dock just off Victoria Embankment, with rental payments rising in line with inflation.

According to the publication, the charity also faced a significant one-off expense in 2013, paying £110,000 to acquire a small section of Crown Estate seabed beneath a new facility being constructed at Mumbles Pier near Swansea.

Despite this substantial investment, the Welsh lifeboat station has remained shut for over three years owing to safety issues with the pier itself.

The RNLI, which counts the King as its royal patron, indicated that most of its remaining leases involve Crown Estate payments below £400 annually.

Norman Baker, a former Government minister with expertise in royal finances, condemned the arrangement, telling The Mail: "I think the public would be horrified to learn that the wonderful RNLI, which saves life after life, is being charged in some cases very large sums to undertake their charity work.

"This should stop immediately. The King of course is patron of the RNLI.

"He should redouble his efforts to make sure that they have to pay nothing to carry out their charity work - if necessary he should subsidise the rents they are having to pay."

The Crown Estate defended its position, stating: "Unlike the Duchy of Cornwall, The Crown Estate manages land and seabed on behalf of the nation and is required to generate a return for the public purse, meaning we cannot provide the use of our land or property at a cost to taxpayers.

"The vast majority of RNLI leases are subject to a nominal rent that covers administrative and legal costs."

The RNLI noted that the higher London fee reflects market value but is discounted due to the charity's status, with arrangements providing "long-term security and access needed to maintain an effective lifesaving service."

Crown Estate Scotland separately charges rent at 22 locations, averaging £240 yearly, and its profits go to the Scottish Government, not the monarchy.

A spokesman told the publication: "We are required by law to obtain market value and the vast majority of RNLI leases pay rents currently averaging £240 per annum."