King Charles Reportedly ‘Dismayed’ by Prince William’s Estate Sale, Tenants Feel ‘Abandoned’
The funds from the sale are intended to support various initiatives, including homelessness and climate change.
Prince William's sale of the Bradninch Estate in Devon, a 3,000-acre property from his Duchy of Cornwall, worth about $31 million a year (£23 million a year), has drawn criticism from locals, and they are not the only ones feeling ‘dismayed’. Reports also say King Charles is displeased with the move. The sale proceeds are intended to support various initiatives, including homelessness and climate change.
William succeeded his father as the Duke of Cornwall after Charles ascended the throne in 2022. Edward III established the estate in 1337 as a source of generational wealth for future heirs to the throne. Bradninch residents have a strong connection to their royal heritage, with children attending Duchy school and the Guildhall displaying the Baron of Bradninch's coat of arms.
However, William's recent move has caused unrest, as residents fear it jeopardizes their homes and livelihoods. Possession orders issued last month require tenants to buy their properties or vacate within six months. The Observer reported that Mary Ryan, a former GP in Bradninch, criticized the Prince of Wales for discussing mental health and homelessness while negatively impacting local residents' mental health and risking homelessness. Her husband, surgeon John Palmer, expressed a sense of "abandonment" among tenants, describing William as a "custodian rather than an owner."
Meanwhile, the King is said to be dismayed by Prince William’s decision to sell parts of the Duchy of Cornwall’s rural Devon land. “It’s absolutely not what the King would ever have done,” a friend of the monarch told The Observer, according to a post on X by Rachel Sylvester.
Residents lauded Charles, calling him 'fantastic'. The monarch shared a personal connection with the tenants, knew them by name, and sent personal gifts like books and pottery. He participated in local events, including a shooting society, and often socialized with farmers over tea or whisky. "King Charles worked the room; he remembered us all. He was very emotional; he was in tears at one point," an attendee who was present during the Duchy handover stated.
He went on to claim that William was cold: "William walked in and straight up to the stage; they did their handover, then he walked out."
Meanwhile, tenants are being offered opportunities to buy their homes or farms, with strong interest among farming (eight out of nine) and residential (two-thirds) tenants. Discounts may be available based on tenure, and the Duchy could support legal costs.
However, challenges include difficulties in raising deposits, older residents potentially needing to leave long-term homes, and tenant farmers facing risks to their residences and livelihoods. "These changes are part of a long-term strategy to direct future Duchy of Cornwall investment where it can deliver the greatest long-term benefit for communities, farming, nature and the local economy," a spokesperson stated.
