Explained in plain English
Is all royal property public?
Not all royal property is public. The Royal Collection, including the paintings mentioned, is held in trust by the monarch for the nation, not privately owned. However, other assets like Balmoral and Sandringham are privately owned by the King, distinct from the Crown Estate, which is managed on behalf of the monarch but not privately owned.
Stories that explain this
Buckingham Palace gallery doubles its painting displayQuestions this opens up
What is the Crown Estate? Who pays for upkeep? What about private homes?This explainer came from a news story
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