Royal Property Deal Reveals King Charles's Generosity Toward Camilla
Despite the ongoing controversies surrounding Prince Andrew, who continues to receive accommodation and financial support from the Royal Family at Sandringham, attention has shifted to King Charles's substantial property investments. Newly released documents have uncovered that the monarch spent an astonishing £3.75 million to acquire The Old Mill in Reybridge, Wiltshire, which sits directly next door to Queen Camilla's country retreat, Rey Mill.
A Strategic Purchase Through a New Company
The property transaction was conducted through a newly established company called Frisa Nominees Ltd, which was incorporated just one month prior to the purchase in March of last year. Land Registry filings show that Buckingham Palace served as the correspondence address for this entity. The directors listed for the company are two senior royal employees: James Chalmers, who holds the position of Keeper of the Privy Purse and Treasurer to the King, and Catherine James from the Private Secretaries Office at Buckingham Palace.
This purchase represents a significant increase from the £675,000 paid for the property by its previous owner eight years earlier. When initial reports surfaced last year about the acquisition, palace sources emphasized that private funds were utilized, citing concerns that the property might otherwise be sold and converted into a wedding venue. The establishment of a limited company for such transactions is commonly employed for tax efficiency and inheritance planning purposes, though palace officials maintain this is standard administrative practice for property management.
Camilla's Property Transfers and Family Arrangements
In related developments, ownership of Queen Camilla's beloved Rey Mill—which she purchased in 1996 for £850,000 following her divorce from Andrew Parker Bowles—has been discreetly transferred. The new registered proprietors are her son-in-law, Harry Lopes, and financier Jake Irwin. According to family friends, Lopes is acting on behalf of his wife, Laura (Camilla's daughter), while Irwin represents her son, Tom. This arrangement follows professional advice that beneficiaries should not serve as trustees themselves in such circumstances.
Other Royal and Celebrity Updates
Meanwhile, comedian Jack Whitehall's impending wedding to model Roxy Horner has his mother, Hilary Whitehall, expressing concerns about his notorious punctuality issues. She revealed employing a strategy of providing earlier arrival times to ensure timely appearances, a tactic learned from Jack's personal assistant.
In entertainment news, Graham Norton has publicly defended Claudia Winkleman's new chat show following mixed critical reception, praising her for maintaining her authentic presenting style. Norton's production company, So Television, is responsible for producing the program.
Additionally, the Army Museums Ogilby Trust continues to grapple with the unresolved disappearance of approximately £400,000 from its accounts over two years ago, with the matter still under investigation by Wiltshire Police. The trust has since severed ties with one key staff member.
