The Duke of Edinburgh made a solo outing on the day his peppercorn rent deal came to light.
Prince Edward visited Reading School to commemorate the school’s 900th anniversary, marking a major milestone in the institution’s history.
During the appearance, the prince observed local school children taking part in the school’s social impact programme, Future Stories.
The students worked alongside primary pupils in tasks aimed at building confidence and expanding access to higher-quality learning opportunities.
The Duke of Edinburgh made a solo appearance at Reading School.
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PAEdward also met with Ukrainian students and witnessed creative design and Mandarin lessons.
The visit concluded with a Commemoration Service attended by the Reading School community, Matt Rodda MP and the Mayor of Reading.
Headmaster at the school, Dr Chris Evans, said: “We were honoured to welcome His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh.
“His visit recognises the significance of our 900th anniversary and celebrates the work of our students and staff to support local children through Future Stories.
Prince Edward’s visit concluded with a Commemoration Service attended by the Reading School community.
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“Today’s classroom visits demonstrated the tangible difference that practical mentorship and early aspiration-raising can make to young learners’ confidence and future choices.”
The duke’s visit came on the same day that his peppercorn rent deal at Bagshot Park came to light.
The agreement, which was branded as “obscene”, came just weeks after it was revealed that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor had a similar set-up at Royal Lodge.
Crown Estate documents show that the Duke of Edinburgh pays merely token rent for Bagshot Park, his 51-acre residence near Bracknell, following a £5million advance payment in 2007.
The revelation has sparked criticism that the property represents a taxpayer-funded subsidy for King Charles’s younger brother, as the Crown Estate’s revenues ordinarily flow to the public purse.
Campaigners argue the Bagshot Park estate could generate substantial income if leased commercially, questioning why the 15th-in-line to the throne receives such favourable terms for the property he has occupied for a quarter-century.
Prince Edward’s 2007 agreement secured a 150-year lease of the Grade II listed property.
The arrangement permits the duke to potentially profit from selling the lease, provided that any future occupant demonstrates financial capacity to maintain the mansion.
The agreement, which was branded as “obscene”, came just weeks after it was revealed that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor had a similar set-up at Royal Lodge.
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PAThis contrasts specifically with Andrew’s lease, which restricts who can inherit Royal Lodge to just Sarah Ferguson and their daughters, Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice.
Prince Edward’s lease contains no such familial limitations for his wife, the Duchess of Edinburgh and their children, Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor and James, Earl of Wessex.
Despite the criticism, the Duke of Edinburgh regularly undertakes domestic and overseas engagements as a senior working royal.
The Crown Estate maintains the £5million premium underwent market testing before approval, with usage restrictions aligned to the estate’s historical character.