What Prince William takes on as the new Duke of Cornwall
The Duchy of Cornwall estate’s land spans 20 counties, mostly in the South West
Last updated 10th Sep 2022
Following the death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince William has taken over from his father, now King Charles III, as the Duke of Cornwall. But what does that mean?
As Charles' eldest son, William automatically inherited the title The Duke of Cornwall.
He will be responsible for the Duchy of Cornwall estate’s land which spans 20 counties, mostly in the South West. It includes the Nansledan coastal housing development at Newquay,
The Prince of Wales website states: “The Duchy currently provides an annual income of £21m which The Prince uses to support himself, his children and their families as well as his philanthropic work, which raises over £100m annually for a variety of good causes”.
King Charles III confirmed his eldest son and heir, William, would become the 25th Duke of Cornwall during his first address as Monarch.
What is the Duchy of Cornwall?
The official Duchy of Cornwall website states that: "The Duchy of Cornwall is a private estate established by Edward III in 1337 to provide independence to his son and heir, Prince Edward.
"A charter ruled that each future Duke of Cornwall would be the eldest surviving son of the Monarch and heir to the throne.
It continues: "The Duchy's estate extends beyond the geographical boundaries of Cornwall – covering 52,449 hectares of land across 20 counties, mostly in the South West of England".
How big is the estate?
The website continues: "It comprises arable and livestock farms, residential and commercial properties, as well as forests, rivers, quarries, and coastline.
"Under the guidance of the current Duke of Cornwall, it is the Duchy's responsibility to manage this estate in a way that is sustainable, financially viable and of meaningful value to the local community".
The Duchy of Cornwall estate is understood to be worth £1billion.
Prince William and Kate are now the Prince and Princess of Wales, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and Cambridge.
The couple’s children are now Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis of Wales.