Prince William is reportedly planning to sell off a fifth of his Duchy of Cornwall estate over the next decade, a move worth £500 million that royal experts say demonstrates his commitment to tangible change. The Prince of Wales intends to divest 20 per cent of the portfolio and reinvest the proceeds into addressing the housing and nature crises.
A Radical Departure from Tradition
In the past, William has stated he does not wish to be a “traditional landowner,” and in recent months he has emphasised that change is on his agenda, particularly when he ascends to the throne. This latest initiative is seen as a concrete step in that direction.
Royal expert Jennie Bond, former BBC royal correspondent, told the Mirror: “I think this is a powerful example of William putting his money where his mouth is. He has talked about change being on his agenda, and now he is proving that he’s willing to shake things up in quite a dramatic way.”
She added: “He says he wants to be more than a traditional landowner. His goal is to prioritise things that will make people's lives better. William is all about impact and tangible results.”
The Duchy of Cornwall: A Historic Estate
The Duchy of Cornwall traces its origins to 1337, when King Edward III established the estate to provide funds for his son and heir. Today, the portfolio encompasses between 2,000 and 3,000 properties spread across 23 counties in England and Wales, covering roughly 130,000 to 140,000 acres.
William has faced criticism, especially over his crusade to help reduce and end homelessness, given his position as a member of the Royal Family. In response, he previously told an ITV documentary on his Homewards project: “I think everyone having a right to a safe and stable home benefits us all. I come with no other agenda than desperately trying to help people who are in need. And I see that as part of my role, is that, why else would I be here if I’m not using this role properly to influence and help people where I can?”
Putting Principles into Practice
Jennie Bond elaborated: “He knows that it’s all very well talking about trying to end homelessness, but he needs to take practical steps to ease the crisis. Critics say that he is just shuffling money from one part of the Duchy of Cornwall to another. But he is going to use some of it to create more affordable housing – which is so desperately needed. And there will also be funds for environmental projects which are close to his heart such as restoring peatlands and installing more solar panels on properties in the Duchy.”
She concluded: “It obviously won’t solve all the problems, but he is leading by example. And that is to be admired. I’ve no doubt that he will make further radical changes from tradition when he becomes King.”
