Prince William's comment that left his father King Charles 'reduced to tears'
King Charles was reportedly moved to tears by a surprise comment from his son, Prince William, about the future. The past couple of years have seen significant changes for the Royal Family, particularly for King Charles and Prince William.
Their roles within the monarchy have shifted dramatically over the last two years, with Charles ascending to the throne following the passing of his mother, the late Queen, in September 2022. Meanwhile, William has taken on the title of Prince of Wales.
Upon becoming the heir apparent, William also inherited the title of Duke of Cornwall and the responsibility of managing the vast Duchy of Cornwall estate. This estate was previously managed by Charles for over five decades during his tenure as the Prince of Wales, and he took great pride in its success.
In an ITV documentary titled 'Prince Charles: Inside the Duchy of Cornwall', viewers got a rare glimpse into Charles' emotional side when he revealed that a remark made by his eldest son about the estate brought him to tears.
In one scene, William is seen chatting with Mervyn Keeling, a second-generation farmer, about his private estate. Reflecting on the future, William said: "I've started to think about how I will inherit the Duchy one day and what I do with it. I think it's really important, the family angle, I really do.", reports the Mirror.
A touching moment was shared as a clip of Charles reflecting on a conversation between his son and a local farmer was shown. He admitted: "When I saw it, I couldn't believe it. I was deeply touched and moved by what he said. Frankly, it reduced me to tears. It did, really. Because, I suddenly thought, well, just hearing that from him has made the last 50 years worthwhile."
Following his assumption of the title Duke of Cornwall, William now shoulders full responsibility for the Duchy of Cornwall. Beginning to imprint his personal touch, he announced plans in February to construct homes on Duchy land to combat homelessness in the South West of England - a topic the Prince is very passionate about.
The initiative involves a partnership with Cornish homeless charity St Petrocs and aims to deliver 24 homes in Nansledan, Newquay with comprehensive support for those experiencing homelessness, creating paths to permanent residency. Construction of "high quality temporary accommodation that feels like home" is scheduled to commence this September, with the first homes due for completion by next autumn, as per the estate's official statement.
Valued at over £1 billion, the Duchy of Cornwall comprises a diverse portfolio including land, property and investments that generate income for the heir apparent. In an interview last year, when queried about affordable housing plans within the Duchy, William replied: "There is. Absolutely. Social housing. You'll see that when it's ready."
