There may be few hereditary peers in the House of Lords these days, but don't let that fool you into thinking they are finished. They may not be shaping Britain politically any more, but as landowners and property developers they are enjoying a revival in fortunes and making a growing impact on the country's economy and built environment.
A lengthening list of Europe's princes and counts are getting stuck into property development too. The massive property portfolios of middle eastern royalty are famous, even if huge debt burdens weigh heavily on some of them.
If you want to read more about how royals and aristocrats are building new property empires, and what it means for the rest of us, then read my investigative report for the Financial Times.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/300924ae-0b94-11df-8232-00144feabdc0.html
