Prince William has taken part in a new interview about his ambitious work with the Duchy of Cornwall, and some of his staff members have admitted he has tough standards as a ‘man on a mission’
When King Charles took the throne, Prince William automatically inherited the Duchy of Cornwall – making him one of the UK’s biggest landowners.
Whilst William had long shadowed his father to understand how the 52,000 hectares (128,000 acres) estate worked, in a new interview with The Telegraph, the Prince of Wales has made it clear he wants to do things his own way and was described by one staff member as being a “man on a mission” of modernisation.
The staff quoted repeatedly praised William’s dedication to his vision for the Duchy – which was last year subject to some controversy with the release of a Dispatches report about how it generates its income – but one admitted that William can be a “pretty demanding” boss.
Will Bax, secretary of the Duchy, made the admission amid singing William’s praises, and added that he thought the level of demands being made was a good thing, that went hand in hand with the level of ambition William has for the Duchy of Cornwall.
He quickly clarified that it’s “great” to have the Prince at the helm as part of the the job is amplifying others: “Seeing the spark and getting the bellows out”.
Another staff member – Estate Director Ben Murphy – noted some similarities between William and his father King Charles, having worked for both, saying that William has a “healthy impatience, as his father did,” to get things done. Murphy added that in his view this impatient streak “puts the wind in our sails; he really cares”.
Last year it was revealed by The Mirror and C4 Dispatches that both the Duchy of Cornwall and the Duchy of Lancaster – held by the reigning monarch – made millions each year charging public institutions rent, including schools and the NHS, as well as the Armed Forces.
The Duchy of Cornwall – worth £1.3 billion – receives £1.5 million a year from HMP Dartmoor, which is currently not in use because the cells contain high levels of radon gas. The investigation further revealed that some of William’s residential tenants are at risk for fuel poverty, with the worst ratings for energy efficiency.
One in seven of the properties is therefore liable to become cold, damp, and mouldy. In response to the controversy, staff from the Duchy said to The Telegraph that it had motivated them to become more transparent about the work they are undertaking to support communities and modernise.
The Duchy of Cornwall paid William an income of nearly £24 million last year, and he “voluntarily” pays income tax on profits, though this figure has not been disclosed.
