Prince William is reportedly looking to sell off a fifth of his Duchy of Cornwall estate and reinvest the proceeds into housing, nature, and other causes close to his heart.
The Prince of Wales has not hidden his desire to bring change to the royal family and modernize the monarchy, with royal experts suggesting he may even look closely at long-standing traditions such as Garter Day.
William and his wife, Kate Middleton, could also upend traditional royal living arrangements, as reports suggest they may not move into Buckingham Palace when they become king and queen.
Prince William Reportedly Eyes £500 Million Duchy Sell-Off
William reportedly wants to sell parts of the Duchy of Cornwall estate and funnel the proceeds into housing and environmental projects, per The Times.
The Prince of Wales has long been passionate about sustainability and combating homelessness. By selling off a fifth of the estate over the next ten years, he could reportedly free up about £500 million to support housing and nature-focused causes.
According to the outlet, the investment would be directed toward areas where William hopes to make the biggest impact, including the Isles of Scilly, Cornwall, Dartmoor, the Bath area, Kennington, and South London.
William’s Potential Duchy Shake-Up Could Affect Future Heirs
The Duchy of Cornwall is a private landed estate established in 1337 by King Edward III to provide an independent income and land for the heir to the British throne. William inherited the Dukedom of Cornwall from his father, King Charles.
The estate reportedly provides William with a private income of about £21 million a year, which supports his family, public duties, and causes he is passionate about. Selling part of it would mean future heirs inherit a smaller estate to manage.
Will Bax, the Duchy’s chief executive, appeared to signal the shift when he said a new era of change was coming, with William keen to tackle major issues across the estate. Bax added that the Duchy hopes to “unlock about 10,000 to 12,000 homes between now and 2040.” A significant portion of the proceeds is also expected to go toward workplaces and renewable energy.
Prince William Has Been Open About His Desire For Change
William has repeatedly made it clear that he wants to modernize the monarchy and adapt it to the times.
In a 2025 episode of Apple TV’s “The Reluctant Traveler,” he told Eugene Levy that change would be high on his agenda when he becomes king, though he stressed that he is not looking to make “radical” changes.
“I think it’s safe to say that change is on my agenda. Change for good. And I embrace that, and I enjoy that change. I don’t fear it,” he said, per Hello! Magazine. “That’s the bit that excites me, is the idea of being able to bring some change.”
The future king clarified that he is not planning “overly radical change” and suggested that many traditions that have played “a huge part in all of this” will likely remain in place.
“There’s also points where you look at tradition and go, ‘Is that still fit for purpose today? Is that still the right thing to do? Are we still doing and having the most impact we could be having?’ So, I like to question things is what I’m really getting at,” he explained.
William And Kate May Reject Buckingham Palace
One major change could come in where William and Kate choose to live when they eventually become king and queen.
The Prince and Princess of Wales moved into their “forever home,” the eight-bedroom Forest Lodge, last year to give their children more access to nature and green space. Reports suggest they may remain there after ascending the throne rather than move into Buckingham Palace.
The late Queen Elizabeth II lived in the official royal residence for most of her reign, while Charles has continued living at Clarence House as the palace undergoes an extensive renovation expected to run until 2027. However, Buckingham Palace still functions as the monarchy’s headquarters, and Charles continues to use an office there.
Prince William May Also Rethink Garter Day Tradition
Many royal watchers are already speculating about what William’s appetite for change could look like in practice. On Hello! Magazine’s “A Right Royal Podcast,” co-hosts Emmy Griffiths recently sat down with The Telegraph’s Hannah Furness, where they discussed whether the future king could look closely at traditions such as Garter Day.
Garter Day is an annual royal ceremony held every June at Windsor Castle. It brings together the British monarch and members of The Most Noble Order of the Garter, the oldest and most senior order of chivalry in the UK, for a grand procession and service.
Speculating about whether William would allow the tradition to continue unchanged when he becomes king, Griffiths said, “I would say [William] is less comfortable with that degree of pomp and pageantry.”