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
The Duchy of Cornwall Bill [HL] changes how the Duchy is governed and its legal status. It revises succession to the title of Duke of Cornwall, ends the presumption of Crown immunity for the Duchy in some areas, and reduces various powers and immunities. It also confirms that the Crown owns certain assets and rights in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, and requires lawyers working for the Duchy to be properly qualified.
The Bill is at its Second Reading in the House of Lords. After this stage, it would typically move to Committee and Report stages.
Generated 21 February 2026
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.
