Prince William Shows Off Carpentry Skills During Latest Outing — and It’s a Royal Walk Down Memory Lane
Prince William showed off his carpentry skills on the Isles of Scilly while promoting the Duchy of Cornwall's sustainable housing project.
Prince William showed off his carpentry skills during his May 22 visit to the Isles of Scilly, sharing a photo of himself hammering a nail while promoting the Duchy of Cornwall's sustainable housing project. There, he toured construction sites for new Duchy-backed eco-homes for residents. The timber-working images instantly brought back memories of his 2000 Raleigh International expedition in southern Chile, where he famously chopped logs, carried wood, and helped build village walkways in Tortel.
William's carpentry moment came during his interaction with contractors and Duchy trades teams working on the Telegraph housing project, which involves building 10 eco-friendly homes for residents to help tackle the islands' severe housing shortage. It aligned with his broader push to bring much-needed development there through such housing and environmental initiatives. He inherited the Duke of Cornwall title from his father, King Charles, after he ascended the throne, and has since focused on affordable housing, transitional accommodation, and community-led support systems. The Isles of Scilly are especially significant because the Duchy of Cornwall owns roughly 75% of the land there, making the Prince of Wales directly tied to its housing developments. Watch the video here!
After his team posted the images on Instagram, with the caption, "Opening homes committed to by @theduchyofcornwall as a step towards easing housing pressures on the Isles of Scilly…" royal watchers were instantly reminded of his time 26 years ago at the Raleigh International expedition, where he volunteered on various community projects. During his gap year before joining the University of St. Andrews, he participated in a 10-week program focused on community service, environmental work, and survival training in Patagonia. The 18-year-old future king helped build wooden walkways in the isolated village of Tortel, chopped and carried logs, repaired infrastructure, taught English to children, cleaned toilets, cooked meals, and volunteered for kayaking and trekking activities.
These aren't the only incidents where the Prince of Wales has tried experimenting with carpentry. In 2023, he visited a major London construction site to discuss mental health in the construction industry. He toured the site in a hard hat and safety gear while speaking with carpenters and workers. His volunteer engagements, like the Big Help Out the same year, also saw him renovate a Scout hut alongside his children, using tools and assisting with outdoor work. These wholesome moments reinforce his image as a hands-on future king, eager to experience life outside the royal bubble.
