Tenant farmers on one of the Duchy of Cornwall’s oldest estates have urged Prince William not to place “profits before people” following the announcement that 10 farms will be put up for sale.
The Bradninch estate in Devon, part of the historic duchy established nearly 700 years ago, is set to be broken up as the organisation seeks to redirect resources towards areas of greater social and environmental need.
Whilst the Duchy has promised tenants first refusal at discounted rates, those working the land say they were only notified of the decision last Thursday, leaving them anxious about their futures.
Farmers have expressed that they cannot secure the funds needed to purchase their properties without burdening future generations with significant debt, effectively ending their way of life.
Tenant farmers on one of the Duchy of Cornwall’s oldest estates have urged Prince William not to place “profits before people” following the announcement that 10 farms will be put up for sale.
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The stress and anxiety among tenants have reached extreme levels, according to those affected.
One farmer described the announcement as deeply shocking, adding: “I think the old Prince of Wales [King Charles] was better, unfortunately the new one doesn’t have his father’s view of agriculture and everything else.”
Prince William has already faced scrutiny for declining to disclose how much tax he pays on income from the £1bn estate.
The estate covers approximately 52,000 hectares across 19 counties.
Prince William has already faced scrutiny for declining to disclose how much tax he pays on income from the £1bn estate.
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John Palmer, a retired surgeon residing in Bradninch, warned that the estate’s centuries-long tradition of conservation and responsible land management would be compromised if properties are sold off individually to the highest bidder.
“The Royal family are probably financially resilient enough to be able to make decisions in the round and not purely for financial gain, so one would hope that the current royal landlord is able to prioritise people over profit,” he told The Times.
Palmer described the situation as enormously distressing for both tenants and Duchy employees, noting that raising the required capital would prove extremely challenging during such difficult times for the British agricultural sector.
The Duchy of Cornwall maintained that property transactions are a routine part of estate management and that any sales would be conducted with sensitivity.
Will Bax, the Duchy’s chief executive, said: “We know there are tenants in Bradninch who have confirmed this is a very exciting moment for their families to have the opportunity to own their farm, and our job is to allow them to step into this.”
He emphasised that the restructuring aims to maximise the organisation’s social and environmental influence in communities with the greatest potential and need, insisting decisions were made carefully rather than for short-term commercial reasons.