But, John, you play into my hands when you write “swelling the already bloated coffers of a redundant feudal relic that has little relevance to our much reduced national state ?” – such a morsel is irresistible!:D

Your argument for the estate to be granted to a “non-contentious…charity” certainly has merit. Although I suppose whatever you and I might find non-contentious, such as the example you cite, might not be seen so by others. I have no quarrel with improving the system, although you would still have to preserve the ability for people to make claims for grants from the estate.