Prince William, the Prince of Wales, regularly undertakes private trips across the UK as part of his role managing the Duchy of Cornwall, leaving his wife Princess Kate and their three children at home in Windsor. These visits occur every four to six weeks, according to a previous interview with The Telegraph, and are rarely publicized, keeping them out of the official Court Circular.
Duchy of Cornwall Responsibilities
Upon becoming Prince of Wales after King Charles's ascension, William inherited the Duchy of Cornwall, a vast land and property empire that provides an annual private income of approximately £23 million. The Duchy spans 128,494 acres across 20 counties, primarily in south-west England, and is valued at over £1 billion. William's duties include chairing quarterly meetings of The Prince's Council, attending numerous committees, and communicating with staff via WhatsApp.
During these visits, William meets families and staff on Duchy farms and offices, shaking hands and asking how he can help. The Telegraph noted that loyal locals keep the visits quiet, accustomed to royal comings and goings.
Planned Portfolio Changes
In May, reports emerged that William plans to sell 20% of the Duchy portfolio over the next decade, using the proceeds to address housing and nature crises. According to The Times, he will consolidate holdings around five geographic “heartlands”: the Isles of Scilly, Cornwall, Dartmoor, the Bath area, and Kennington in south London.
Will Bax, chief executive of the Duchy of Cornwall, told the publication: “If we don’t see an opportunity for positive impact, then perhaps we don’t need to be a part of that place. But where there is social need and where there is environmental challenge and where there is an opportunity to enable change, then we’ll be a great partner in working with people to achieve that.”
Bax also revealed that William plans to invest £500 million, sourced from land sales, development income, partnerships, and borrowing, into his priorities. During a visit to Duchy farmland on Dartmoor last year, William stated: “We're not the traditional landowner - we want to be more than that. The Duchy has been a positive force for good, but we can do so much more. I think the key thing is, it’s about not losing the important community and historical links of the Duchy. But it’s also about making sure we’re building on and enhancing, modernising the Duchy. We’re going to modernise it without losing its key spirit of community.”
Impact on Family Life
These regular trips take William away from his home life at Forest Lodge in Windsor, where he lives with Kate and their children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. Despite the demands of his role, William prioritizes family time when not on duty.
