Good Morning Britain contributor Kevin Maguire triggered a flood of complaints after launching a scathing attack on Prince William during a live broadcast. The 66-year-old appeared on the ITV show alongside Kwasi Kwarteng to review Wednesday's (November 11) major news stories, including the release of a special Country Life edition guest-edited by the Prince of Wales.
Prince William's Country Life Guest-Editorship
The Prince of Wales showcased his eldest son's creative talents in the 300-page bumper edition, with Prince George's illustration of a Kingfisher taking centre stage. Presenter Susanna Reid explained: "He's a major landowner through the Duchy of Cornwall and one of the purposes of editing the magazine is to set out his commitment to conservation, sustainable farming and rural communities. I'm sure the farming community will be thrilled that he's doing this, but they are currently in a bit of a political battle with the government, led, in a way, by Jeremy Clarkson."
The comments sparked Kwarteng to heap praise on the future monarch, calling him the "perfect" choice to helm Country Life Magazine. "Going back to his role, given the Duchy of Cornwall has responsibilities there, he's absolutely the perfect editor for that magazine," he stated.
Kevin Maguire's On-Air Remark
However, Kevin remained deeply sceptical, launching an on-air remark directed at Prince William. "Does it include the complaints from tenants in the Duchy of Cornwall about rents and the poor quality of some of their homes?" he questioned.
Kevin's comments ignited a fierce backlash, with one person responding: "No because it's a load of rubbish. The only home that had a problem was a tenant who wouldn't let anyone in to fix it. The rents are cheap. No one complains." Another hit back: "He gets criticism for owning land - now he will be criticised for selling off some. ALL landlords not only have expenses to cover on their property & land, but they also have the right to sell it."
Mixed Reactions and Duchy Sell-Off Reports
A third also took aim at the journalist, writing: "Any chance to tear apart William, Kevin". However, some sided with Kevin, with one user describing his remark as "spot on". Another chimed in: "Look at how quickly the two hosts change the subject bc god forbid, Prince William is put to the same level of scrutiny as his brother, who does not take a cent from taxpayers."
Earlier this year, reports emerged that William is plotting to offload roughly 20% of his Duchy of Cornwall estate, with the proceeds earmarked for reinvestment in housing and nature projects. The proposed sell-off could leave numerous tenant farmers across England facing eviction, with as many as 40 farm holdings in Devon, Cornwall, Herefordshire and the Midlands thought to be included in the disposal plans. Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV and ITVX.
