Charles fuels Aston Martin on wine

Reports today reveal that the Prince of Wales has upped the income of his Duchy of Cornwall estate last year to £1.1m (total: £16.3m). Perhaps this is why he has chosen to crown the news by revealing that he runs his treasured 38-year-old Aston Martin, a 21st birthday present from the Queen, on fuel made from English wine.

The Prince sources the biofuel for the Aston from Greenfuels, a supplier based in Stonehouse, Gloucestershire. James Hygate, its managing director, said that the biethanol that powers the car is manufactured from cheese as well as surplus white wine supplied by a vineyard in Wiltshire.

The Duchy of Cornwall estate is certainly a nice little earner. This year the Prince's income from various businesses related to it, which include after-dinner mints, biscuits and gardening tools, increased to £16.3 million. Even better, despite the seven per cent rise in profits, the Prince's tax bill fell by £5,000 due to the off-setting of costs for official and charitable works.