Prince William's Duchy of Cornwall Plans £500m Farm Sell-Off, Tenants Face Eviction or Purchase

Prince William's Duchy of Cornwall estate is embarking on a controversial ten-year strategy to generate £500m by selling off numerous farms across England. The initiative, now overseen by William, the Duke of Cornwall, presents a stark ultimatum to tenant farmers: acquire their holdings or face eviction.

Rural advocacy groups have swiftly condemned the plan, highlighting the potential for significant disruption to agricultural communities and the displacement of families with generations-long connections to the land. Critics argue that the Duchy, a private estate established in 1337 to provide income for the heir to the throne, is prioritising financial gain over the stability of its tenant base.

The Duchy of Cornwall, which spans some 130,000 acres across 23 counties, is not subject to corporation tax, though Prince William voluntarily pays income tax on its surplus revenue. This latest strategy underlines a persistent approach to asset management, frequently seen when entities with substantial landholdings opt to liquidate property for capital, often at the expense of established tenants and local land-use patterns.