The Duchy of Cornwall is a well-managed private estate which funds the public, charitable and private activities of The Prince of Wales and his family. The Duchy consists of around 54,521 hectares of land in 23 counties, mostly in the South West of England.
The Duchy estate was created in 1337 by Edward III for his son and heir, Prince Edward, and its primary function was to provide him and future Princes of Wales with an income from its assets. A charter ruled that each future Duke of Cornwall would be the eldest surviving son of the Monarch and the heir to the throne.
The current Duke of Cornwall, HRH The Prince of Wales, is actively involved in running The Duchy and his philosophy is to improve the estate and pass it on to future Dukes in a stronger and better condition.
The Duke chooses to use a large proportion of the income from the Duchy to meet the cost of his public and charitable work. The Duchy also funds the public, charitable and private activities of The Duchess of Cornwall and Princes William and Harry.
The Estate
The agricultural estate consists of extensive woodlands, arable and livestock farms including some smallholdings. Where possible it converts its redundant farm buildings to alternative uses including holiday cottages or work places in order to encourage small businesses within the countryside and support rural communities.
Conservation is particularly important and the Duchy encourages its farming tenants to pursue practical conservation measures alongside commercial farming. The estate invests considerably in environmental projects, and The Duke has made the organic Duchy Home Farm at Highgrove an example for others to follow.
Our Philosophy
The Duchy aims to provide unique opportunities to stay in attractive period properties in stunning locations. With beautiful gardens, stylish individual interiors, and all modern conveniences, our cottages are impeccably presented to ensure that your holiday will be a truly enjoyable experience.
