Prince William's pledge to transform the 700-year-old Duchy of Cornwall into a force for social good has been overshadowed by a series of controversies since he inherited the estate in 2022. From housing scandals and tax questions to disputes with tenant farmers, the Prince has often appeared to be reacting to headlines rather than leading.
Housing and Public Sector Deals
In 2024, a joint investigation by the Mirror and Channel 4's Dispatches found scores of Duchy rental homes blighted by damp and mould. The same year, the Sunday Times and Dispatches revealed the estate was earning millions from public bodies, including a £37 million deal to lease Dartmoor Prison to the Ministry of Justice and hundreds of thousands of pounds from leases with state schools.
For a prince who has made homelessness his signature cause, the optics were described as "nothing short of dreadful."
Rent Waivers and Tenant Farmer Dispute
William's response came the following summer, when the Duchy announced it would waive rent for grassroots groups and cut charges for local charities by up to half. While welcomed, critics argue it took a television expose to bring about the change.
This year, William unveiled plans to sell around a fifth of the estate over the next decade to fund more than £500 million of investment in affordable housing, nature recovery and renewable energy. The plan landed badly with tenant farmers on the 3,000-acre Bradninch estate in Devon, some of whose families have worked that land for generations. Possession notices gave them six months to buy or leave. After a backlash, the Duchy's rural director met tenants, apologised for underestimating how long the process would take and agreed to independent valuations.
Tax Transparency and Public vs Private
Unlike his father, William has declined to reveal how much he pays on an income of around £23 million a year. This month, an anti-corruption tsar urged him to make clear whether the Duchy is a private estate or a public asset.
The same question of public versus private hangs over his work abroad. Next week, William flies to Mumbai for the Earthshot Prize. Sources in government say there is growing frustration over a lack of engagement with the Foreign Office to build a programme around Britain's relationship with partners abroad.
William and Catherine are public servants, funded and housed by virtue of their position. The public and the government have a right to expect that position is used for the country's benefit as well as their own causes.
