Prince William Faces Duchy Land Use Criticism

Prince William, as Duke of Cornwall, faces criticism from local residents and tenant farmers over two recent decisions by the Duchy of Cornwall that appear to conflict with the estate's environmental and social commitments. The controversies involve a large housing development in Kent and the planned sale of farmland in Devon, both announced in recent months following William's inheritance of the 1 billion estate in 2022.

In Faversham, Kent, Swale Borough Council granted planning permission for a 2,500-home development on hundreds of acres of Duchy-owned farmland in the South East Faversham area. The project, which includes affordable housing for vulnerable families, drew 467 objections from residents concerned about the loss of green spaces and long-term disruption. Local resident Sarah Moakes described the approval as unsurprising given the applicant's royal status. "The decision wasn't much of a shock. Given the high profile of the applicant, who is going to deny a member of the Royal Family? So the plans were very much going to go ahead," she told reporters.

Moakes and others highlighted the impact on daily life, noting that the development would restrict access to areas...