A Bill to amend the succession to the title of the Duke of Cornwall, to remove the presumption of Crown Immunity applying to the Duchy of Cornwall, to remove various powers, exemptions and immunities from the Duchy of Cornwall, to confirm the right to Royal Mines within Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly vests in the Crown, to provide the right to Treasure Trove, bona vacantia and escheat within Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly lies with the Crown and to provide that any attorney or solicitor appointed in the affairs of the Duchy of Cornwall shall be called to the Bar or hold a practising certificate as appropriate; and for connected purposes
House of Lords
12 May 2016
May contain errors — check source documents for definitive information.
The Duchy of Cornwall Bill [HL] would change who can inherit the title linked to the Duchy of Cornwall and remove the Duchy’s Crown immunities and other special powers. It confirms that the Crown retains rights to Royal Mines, Treasure Trove, bona vacantia and escheat in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, and requires anyone acting for the Duchy to be properly qualified as a solicitor or barrister as appropriate.
The bill is currently at the 2nd Reading in the House of Lords. It originated in the Lords, with the first reading having taken place in 2015, and has not yet progressed beyond the 2nd Reading in this session.
Generated 21 February 2026
10 Jun 2015
First reading took place on 10 June. This stage is a formality that signals the start of the Bill's journey through the Lords.
Second reading - the general debate on all aspects of the Bill - is yet to be scheduled.
The 2015/16 session of parliament has ended and this Bill will make no further progress.
No recorded votes for this bill yet.
