Bona Vacantia: The King's Windfall
If you die in Cornwall without a will or living relatives, your entire estate doesn't go to the government—it goes directly to the Duke of Cornwall (Prince William).
In the UK, when a person dies without a valid will (intestate) and has no identifiable blood relatives, their property and assets become 'Bona Vacantia'—meaning ownerless goods. Normally, these assets pass to the Treasury.
The Royal Exceptions
However, due to ancient medieval charters, the rules are completely different if you die in the county of Cornwall or the historic boundaries of the County Palatine of Lancaster. In Cornwall, ownerless property automatically passes to the Duchy of Cornwall (currently held by Prince William). In Lancashire, it passes to the Duchy of Lancaster (held by King Charles III).
While the Royal family historically pocketed this cash, modern practice dictates that after administrative costs are covered, the millions generated each year from these forgotten estates are donated to local charities. It serves as a stark reminder of the deeply entrenched feudal laws that still underpin UK property ownership.